Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 25 November 1, 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 is in trouble and needs fiscal help and new Sponsors. For 16 years now, I have reported back weekly how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to do that is at the end of the WDR. Thank You. And to my Supporters and Sponsors, I thank you for your confidence over the past 16 Years. >>> I will also be on WLRN 91.3 FM on Nov. 2, Monday before Election Day on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman at 1:00 p.m. on 91.3 FM, and the local elections will be one of the hot topics on the show. >>> And the Watchdog Report had a major disaster recently when my trusty 2002 Jeep Liberty, without air for five years finally died last week. And almost put me out of business, but through a miracle. I am back better than ever and I will now be able to travel more around the county again. Which I could not do in the Jeep the last few years. There will not be a Watchdog Report next week. For I have to raise money and September and October over the past 16 years have been tough financial months for some reason.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> GOP debate draws winners and losers, Bush takes a shot at Rubio over senate voting record, his response back leaves Bush stumped for a second, and Trump and Dr. Carson hanging in there, draw stark contrast with other candidates

With the second GOP debate over, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. saw his stock rise after an exchange with former governor Jeb Bush where he took a shot at Rubio for all the votes he has missed, and the first term senator shot back that Bush did not object when Sen. John Mc Cain, R-AZ ran for office and missed a number of votes himself ,and the former Florida House speaker took a dig at the media, that had the Sun-Sentinel in an editorial calling for his resignation from office, and Rubio deftly brushed that aside leaving Bush kind of hanging on the debate stage and had the younger Bush joking with reporters the next day. “Memo to file,” life is good,” and “my campaign is not on life support,” and the scion to the Bush family is soldering on but it is clear he is having trouble connecting with voters and capable of generating the necessary enthusiasm for a national campaign versus past statewide campaigns where he faced weak competition in the race for his second term in office and faced, former Gov. Buddy McKay and Bill McBride, in 2002, and they did not run very good campaigns but the national campaign field is a different story as Jeb is finding out and while he is trying to be the adult in the room, suggesting, there are “many fun things,” he could be doing rather than running for president and I’m sure he is regretting that comment in reflection but given the debate performance, the Florida native son says the campaign is going fine and he is going for the long haul, but Rubio’s compelling story is resonating with younger voices looking for a generational champion.

And the Republican candidates are carping about the questions MSNBC moderators asked, “Like is Trump a cartoon villain?” And that they were trivial and did not result in a real policy debate among the candidates that had Sen. Ron Paul on the fringes given his low poll ratings up to the debate. And one moderator asked Trump if he was a “cartoon villain?” and no real substantive debate of the economy the supposed topic for the debate, but little except for potential income tax reform and it rarely generated the excitement of the first GOP debate. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/opinion-blog/2015/10/29/no-winner-but-a-clear-loser-in-cnbcs-gop-primary-debate And Rubio sent out a email asking for money after he debate and he wrote carping about the press coverage and it’ s bias, writing in an email to the press. “But you saw Wednesday night just how difficult our task will be with the mainstream media acting as Hillary Clintons’ Super PAC,” wrote the junior senator from Florida. And gives one an idea of the hostility of the mainstream, press with GOP voters. And Bush on Sunday news shows said that when he left Florida as governor his approval rating was “76 percent,” and people will come around when they look at his record. He noted during the debate he “kept getting cut off,” by the norther candidates and Bush asserted “I have a backbone, heart and brain,” and he believes voters will see that mettle during the course of the campaign, he said on the shows.

What about the new House speaker Ryan

New House Speaker Paul Ryan, R- WI, 45 and is his election is a seminal moment he said as far as the other congressional representatives. He said the “slate was clean,” and he is a seasoned policy wonk, one of the young guns elected to office years ago and chairs the House Ways and Means Committee and was a Republican Vice presidential candidate in 2012. He is a said to respect the House traditions and the sanctity it holds with the nation’s voters, since it is the House of the People. And representatives have to run every two years, a grueling endeavor for some. And the body has a mixed bag of firebrands, long time congressional representatives including a smattering of tea party activists along with the Democratic minority party in the body and the institution has been under the gun by some for not accomplishing much after the recent grilling of expected Democratic Party Candidate Hillary Clinton at the Benghazi hearing.

>>> John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor: It is a sad state of affairs when a bona fide Renaissance man cannot get traction in the race for this nation’s Presidency. We have seen the likes of Winston Churchill – author, wit, strategist, Cabinet Minister, hero in the United Kingdom and Vaclav Havel, already an iconic poet and playwright in then Czechoslovakia, led a revolution and rose to the presidency. But not here in the United States. Guys like that don’t have a chance. The Jim Webb Story is big screen Hollywood. He grew up in a military family, served in Vietnam where he became a decorated hero, was Assistant Secretary of Defense then Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan. He also served as counsel to the House of Representatives on veteran’s affairs, taught at the US Naval Academy, and devoted much of his adult life in defending both the lives and honor of his fellow combat veterans. He defeated a popular US Senator in Virginia and left the Senate of his own volition after one term. In his perhaps most famous moment, this grizzled war hero confronted the President of the United States and chastised him for the colossal mistake of going into Iraq. He has written ten best-selling novels and is worth millions of dollars. And there is more. Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/660-what-happen

>>> Pres release: Zogby report card: Obama a ‘proud swan’ not a ‘lame duck’

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

President Obama gets a strong grade on his weekly report card for riding out his presidency with a good budget deal, thanks to the GOP, a plus to his presidency. From John Zogby: “President Obama rides out his presidency with a budget deal that lifts the imposed sequestration cuts, adds some new spending, and prevents the possibility of a government shutdown until he steps down in January 2017. Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/669-zogby-report-card-obama-a-proud-swan-not-a-lame-duck

>>> Press release: John Kasich, the Star-Kist Tuna Candidate By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor

I was the only pundit that I know of who named Ohio Governor John Kasich as one of the winners in this past week’s Republican Presidential debate. Emails and replies to my Forbes post questioned my sanity and folks I met in both Washington and my home in Upstate New York not only refused to see it, they even argued that Mr. Kasich was a big loser. I heard words like “goofy”, “desperate”, “angry”, and “too nervous” to describe him. In short, in the eyes of most, Mr. Kasich was a big loser in the debate and his candidacy makes no sense. I couldn’t help but recall the old television commercials for Star-Kist Tuna. Remember the lead character, “Charley the Tuna”? He wore shades, was slick-talking, mastered (or so he thought) just enough information to be deemed interesting, savvy, a connoisseur of all that was hip and artsy. He was always auditioning to be the one selected by Star-Kist as one of their tunas for canning and sale. But, in the end, the tag line made it very clear: “Sorry, Charley. Star Kist doesn’t want tuna with good taste. It wants tuna that tastes good. Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/668-john-kasich-the-star-kist-tuna-candidate

What about a conservatory to manage Bicentennial Park and is causing controversy in government and park activist’s circles?

Regalado Thursday also said he was not in support of the new entity that might run Museum Park. The termed out mayor noted the conservancy supporters did not “follow the process,” and in his opinion the idea “came out of the blue,” he told me. And the item was pulled from the Miami commission agenda for past Thursday’s meeting by outgoing Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. Commissioner Frank Carollo told the Watchdogreport he was hesitant of the idea. Since the Bayfront Park Trust makes money and no longer needs a $450,000 infusion from the City’s general and changed after the Trust’s CEO was arrested for embezzlement and a major expose was done by Miami Herald Reporter Tyler Bridges back in 2000 and since then various Miami Commissioners have chaired the body including currently Carollo and Sarnoff in the past and he also questions who these people are and challenges the idea that major donors want a non-government entity for such a signature Park that Bicentennial Park is and the last 30 acre parcel of public land on the waterfront and has been under siege for years with people and activists trying to protect the park that once hosted grand prix races and the park was part of the track a decade ago but suggestions for this pristine waterfront property now dotted by condominiums.

>>> History Miami on Jun. 26 to Jan.17 2016 features a major and moving Operation Pedro Pan exhibit, and includes comments from U.S. Sen. Martinez, Miami Mayor Regalado, to Codina, one of the many boys sent to freedom leaving their parents back in Cuba, unknown if parents were to be seen again and has changed the fabric of Miami since the 1960 airlift, and the exodus of 14,000 Cuban children

And the History Miami Museum is celebrating its 75^th anniversary and an upcoming moving display of Operation Pedro Pan is being chronicled and includes interviews of the 14,000 children sent from Cuba to Miami. After Fidel Castro took over and it is a moving exhibit after the Watchdog Report saw the promotional piece on the exhibit including comments from former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and a host of other children who said good bye to their parents in the Havana airport’s “fish bowl,” not knowing if they would ever be seen again or would join them in Miami. Where many were welcomed by members of their extended families and for more go to http://www.historymiami.org/events/details/pedro-pan-at-55-lawyers-and-the-legal-profession-looking-back-and-looking-forward/2015-10-22/ and for more on the Pedro Pan airlift, exodus by the Catholic Charities go to http://www.pedropan.org/category/history

>>> Dan Marino Foundation teams up with Badia Spices to help support children with autism, something appearing across all ethnic groups kids

Webpage info: Badia Spices invites consumers to join their efforts in support of children and young adults living with autism. From now through December 31st, 2015, when you purchase a bottle of Badia (1 LT) Extra Virgin Olive Oil anywhere in the world where Badia Spices are sold, Badia Spices will donate 5% of the proceeds from that sale to The Dan Marino Foundation. Badia Spices believes that being a member of a community means giving back through charitable and community investment. As such, the company supports a variety of charitable and educational organizations. Through the course of the past ten years, Badia Spices and the Badia Family have contributed millions in financial contributions and in-kind donations to a variety of local and national institutions. The family’s efforts on a broad sense have focused on education, healthcare, women’s issues, youth sports, and underserved communities. For more than 23 years, The Dan Marino Foundation has been serving the autism community through unique, impactful initiatives, like Marino Campus – a post-secondary educational opportunity for young adults with developmental disabilities, ages 18-28. The Campus, which opened in 2014, was the logical next step in furthering the Foundation’s mission of “empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.” Badia Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a rich nutty flavor with delicate notes of fruitiness. The Olive Oil is made from the first cold press of Manzanilla, Arbequina, and Lechin and Picual olives. Aside from all the attributed health benefits of olive oil, it is bottled with the promise of full aroma, freshness, rich flavor. “Badia Spices is looking forward to once again partnering with The Dan Marino Foundation,” said Joseph “Pepe” Badia, President of Badia Spices. “This partnership enables us to support the Foundation and Marino Campus, in providing state of the art programing and services for children, teens and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities on their path to independence.” Over the last three years with the support of its customers through the “Go the Extra Yard for Those with Autism Campaign”. Badia Spices has raised more than $300,000 for The Dan Marino Foundation and the Marino Campus programs for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. “We are continually grateful for the friendship and support of Pepé Badia. It is a privilege for all of us at the Foundation to be a part of the Badia Spices family, stated Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation. I hope Badia Spices and their customers realize the significant impact they have in changing the lives of the young people we serve.” ABOUT BADIA SPICES: Established in 1967 by Jose Badia, Badia Spices is the world’s leading privately Hispanic-owned spice manufacturer with 2012 sales totaling over $100 million. Badia Spices has brought to market the finest ingredients from all corners of the world, making it a favorite among all types of cooks. More than 350 different products are prepared, packaged and shipped to 70 countries and the entire United States. In addition Badia Spices is committed to offering their consumers the highest quality. Badia Spices has added an Organic and Gluten-Free line, and is proud to have its products certified by Safe Quality Foods, an audit recognized around the world as being one of the most rigorous and credible food safety management systems in the marketplace today. For more information, visit the company’s website badiaspices.com.

>>> Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge grant program open, looking for big ideas for community engagement

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge Grant Program is open Oct.1 and Knight program director Matt Haggman discussed the offering last week on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman on WLRN/NPR 91.3 F.M., https://www.newschallenge.org/ and to listen to the show got to http://wlrn.org/post/knight-cities-challenge-funding-innovators-ideas-making-cities-more-sustainable And the program is open to all even if you are not a IRS 501.C3 and all you need is a good idea to make your community more sustainable and informed, Given the Foundation is the premier organization for the Arts and innovative journalism in this changing world of the press in the digital age. Editor’s note: The Watchdog Report has been honored to have the Foundation as an initial Founding sponsor back in 2000, when Hodding Carter, III, a former Press Secretary for President Jimmy Carter. And the Princeton University graduate told me what I was doing was important and fundamental reporting. Since I was covering public meetings where other press was not there and that encouragement has been with me over the past 16-years and I am forever grateful for Carter’s words of encouragement especially when it came to security. An issue I was having in the early years. And for more on Carter who is a professor at UNC Chapel Hill go to http://www.tcf.org/experts/detail/hodding-carter-iii

>>> From the Knight Foundation’s web page: About Knight Cities Challenge

What is your best idea to make cities more successful? The Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas from innovators who will take hold of the future of our cities. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 27, 2015, we invited applicants from anywhere to tell us their ideas for making the 26 Knight communities more vibrant places to live and work. From a pool of $5 million, we’re looking to award grants at the city, neighborhood and block levels, and all sizes in between.

What is the goal?

The challenge is designed to help spur civic innovation at the city, neighborhood, and block levels, and all sizes in between. In particular, we hope to generate ideas that focus on one or all of three key drivers of city success: attracting talented people, expanding economic opportunity and creating a culture of civic engagement.

Who should apply?

The Knight Cities Challenge welcomes anyone with big ideas and the ability to realize them. Applicants may be activists, designers, artists, planning professionals, hackers, architects; everyone is welcome. You don’t have to live in one of the 26 Knight communities to apply, but your project must be located in and benefit one of those communities. No project is too small — so long as your idea is big. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article37161870.html

FLORIDA     

>>> Gov. Scott continues to appoint people with controversial backgrounds, he taps Grady for Bd. Of Education. When it comes to judicial candidates former state prosecutors tend to get the nod for bench appointees critics carp about his lack of diversity in the appointments

Gov. Rick Scott is causing controversy with the appointment of Grady Law, to the Dept. Of Education, with no educational experience and the man was a former state lawmaker and was in charge of Citizens Insurance when scandals broke out concerning hotel and meal expenses. And Scott has chosen anither controversial person for his administration and in the course of his second term he will approximately appoint 4,000 people, estimated Florida TaxWatch in a new governor’s handbook that the organization does and hid imprint is especially being felt in the judiciary where he generally appointees new judges that were former state prosecutors and critic’s cry foul when it comes to appointing judges of color, but he continues the trend of ex prosecutors and made a number of appointments this past week and includes the Judicial Nominating Councils for the state’s 59 counties that screen judge applicants looking to be appointed to the bench by the governor and the governor generally picks from the slate of potential judicial candidates.

>>> Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Tom Grady to the State Board of Education.

Grady, 57, of Naples, is an attorney with Grady Law. He previously served as a member of the Florida State House of Representatives from 2008 to 2010 and most recently served on the Board of Trustees of Florida Gulf Coast University. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and law degree from Duke University. He is appointed to fill a vacant seat for a term beginning October 30, 2015, and ending December 31, 2018. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. And for more on Grady go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article41957418.html

GOV. SCOTT PROPOSES AN ADDITIONAL $22.9 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE SAFETY OF FLORIDA CHILDREN

Press release: Governor Rick Scott announced that he will propose an additional $22.9 million in his recommended budget for the Florida Department of Children and Families to improve the safety of children in the state’s child welfare system.  This funding will allow community based care agencies to hire additional case managers and increase the availability of safety services for families whose children are at risk of being removed from the home.

Governor Rick Scott said, “It’s absolutely heartbreaking when a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. Anytime something horrific happens to an innocent child, we have to stop and think about what we can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The funding we are announcing today will help us better coordinate care across our state and give us the necessary tools to work toward stopping child abuse. As a father and a grandfather, I take the safety of our children very seriously.  While we have made significant steps forward, the reality is even one victim of child abuse is one too many.” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said, “I appreciate Governor Scott’s commitment to making sure we do all we can to protect the most vulnerable children in our state.  This funding will increase staffing levels and help caseworkers who are in the communities everyday caring for children.”

The proposed additional funding for Community Based Care Agencies will do the following: Hire an additional 272 case managers to reduce caseloads. This will provide case managers the enhanced ability to focus on the safety and well-being of Florida children. Increase availability of safety services for families whose children are at risk of being removed from their home.

>>> When it comes to redistricting lawmakers hit loggerhead, which senators will have to seek reelection, process becoming state nightmare for lawmakers

And redistricting is not having smooth sailing as both political parties sides try to draw maps that the Florida Supreme Court will approve after previous efforts to do redistricting under the Fair District amendment have failed and lawmakers had to hold another special session to get the job done spending millions in state funds. And one of the stumbling blocks now is which senators have to seek reelection in the coming cycle. And had Sen. Matt Gaetz confessing the 2012 redistricting he ran was flawed and is causing a back and forth sniping among legislators including vying for who will be next Senate president. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article41706951.html

>>> Gov. Scott signs death penalty warrant, murderer Bolin set to be executed Jan 7, after multiple murders in Pasco County

Press release: Death Warrant for Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. – The attached letter was transmitted today to Warden John Palmer of Florida State Prison, pertaining to Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr., who was sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of Teri Lynn Matthews. Bolin abducted Teri from the Land O’ Lakes Post Office and bludgeoned her to death in the early-morning hours of December 5, 1986.  Bolin brought the body of the severely beaten victim to the residence of his 13-year-old half-brother, who reported he saw the body wrapped in a sheet on the ground outside the house and heard moaning sounds.  Bolin proceeded to bludgeon Teri with a wooden club, and then sprayed the victim with a water hose and loaded her into his truck to dispose of the body.  The victim’s body was found wrapped in the sheet on the side of a road in rural Pasco County later that day; she had multiple severe head injuries and stab wounds in the neck and body.  Bolin has been convicted of two other murders in Hillsborough County, and is currently sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of Stephanie Collins, and is serving a life sentence for the 1986 murder of Natalie Holley.  The execution date has been set for Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 6 p.m.  Attached is the transmittal letter and death warrant for Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr.

What about sea-level rise and local and landmarks like Vizcaya?

Historic Vizcaya and Gardens is becoming another public face of global warming and the high tides are washing over some of the historic structures paths and is just another example along with Miami Beach and Aventura which has been experiencing extensive flooding depending on the king tides and millions in new pumps have been installed but Vizcaya does not have that option given it is on the bay and will need to be monitored in the coming years for this could be an ongoing problem that may have to be addressed.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Big transportation dogs talk traffic gridlock, on WPBT2 show Issues, includes Mayor Gimenez, Alice Bravo, transportation maven Ric Katz, Commissioner Estephan Bovo, Jr., and they discuss the challenges ahead to ease this congestion costing local businesses millions, and is a white hot topic with residents

And Helen Ferre on her show Issues interviewed a host of elected leaders regarding the traffic grid lock in Miami-Dade County and what the half-cent-sales tax accomplished and didn’t. And Ric Katz noted even he and Mayor Alex Penelas who pushed the 2002 tax was kept in the dark when it came to the projected new mass transit, “pro forma,” that was sold to voters, but over promised, would come with the new tax and in fact there was not enough funding to get the job done as it was sold to voters. And this week was a great program hosted by Helen Ferre and included County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, transit director Alice Bravo, and Mitch Biermann and to see the show go to http://www.wpbt2.org/featuredprograms.html.

>>> And Gov. Scott taps Ferre, two others, for Woman’s Hall of Fame

Gov. Scott press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the selection of Carol Jenkins Barnett, Elmira Leto, and Helen Aguirre Ferré to the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. Governor Scott chose these three individuals from a group of ten distinguished nominees selected by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.  They were considered for their work to make significant improvements in life for women and all citizens of Florida.

Barnett, 58, of Lakeland, is the president of Publix Supermarket Charities where she oversees $25 million in annual donations to non-profit organizations that support education such as Take Stock in Children. Barnett also serves as the vice chair of the Children’s Movement of Florida, and is a member of both the United Way Leadership Council and the Polk Education Foundation Board of Directors.

Leto, 65, of Key West, founded Samuels House, Inc., which includes the Mary Spottswood’s Women’s Center, an emergency shelter in Monroe County for women and children; Kathy’s Hope, a shelter for women and children; and Casa de Meredith, and a housing facility for families.

Helen Aguirre Ferré , 57, of Miami Shores, is a journalist and co-founder of Operation Saving Lives, a humanitarian task force assisting the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Latin America, which supplies medicine, food, and water to the area. Aguirre Ferré is also the first woman to chair the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade College.  She has been recognized by the Cuban Women’s Club, the American Nicaraguan Foundation, and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of the United States, amongst others, for her success. ouse Foreigns Affairs Foreign Relat2ions C

>>> Gov. Scott press release: Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nomination Commission

Daniel Fridman, 41, of Coral Gables, is a partner with White & Case, LLP. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 22, 2015, and ending July 1, 2019.

Christine Hernandez-Baldwin, 35, of Miami, is an Assistant State Attorney Division Chief at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. She is reappointed for a term beginning October 22, 2015, and ending July 1, 2019.

Roberto Pardo, 59, of Miami, has a criminal defense law practice. He is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term beginning October 22, 2015, and ending July 1, 2019.

Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nomination Commission

Raquel Rodriguez, 54, of Key Biscayne, is the Miami Managing Member of McDonald Hopkins, LLC.  She is reappointed for a term beginning October 22, 2015, and ending July 1, 2019.

Richard D. Lara, 47, of Miami, is the Managing Partner at Mase Lara, P.A. He is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term beginning October 22, 2015, and ending July 1, 2019.

>>> Jordan gives shout out to County firefighters for teaching “170 kids,” how to swim, skills can save many at risk youth from drowning

County Commissioner Barbara Jordan gave a shout out to Miami-Dade firefighters who taught “170,” children how to swim at the Betty Ferguson facility and since children who can’t swim have a tendency to drown. She said a heartfelt thank you to the firefighters, in the County Commission chambers.

What is going on with development in the Horse Country, in western Miami-Dade?

And the County’s Planning and zoning board had an extensive discussion on a new development in what is called “horse country,” and could result in “spot zoning,” said one concerned speaker opposed to the development in the last rural area in west Miami-Dade that thousands of people use for equestrian activities and some 8,000 horses are transported out of MIA yearly said county commissioner Javier Souto. And the area is a major economic generator for the county Souto has said in the past and at the meeting there was a heated discussion where the local residents people feel their lifestyles will be impacted by the intrusion and will open even more development in the rural neighborhood where many of the residents have fruit groves in their yards and residents have had to fight for years to keep the unique character of the area from development. Editor’s note: in the letters section is one proponents take on the matter written by land owner Michael Miller of the Community newspaper fame (see the letters page) and his strong feelings but the Watchdog Report believes the debate will continue. As grass roots residents continue to fight the development and with all the land use attorneys involved including Tucker Gibbs and Juan Mayo, Jr., the fiscal meter is running. And the zoning board transmitted, with a covenant, but no recommendation to ultimately to the County commission next winter to vote on.

>> With demise of Dade Medical College many politicians are looking for work, including former Gables Mayor Slesnick

A lot of politicians will be looking for new jobs with the closing of Dade Medical College where a number of current or past elected people, about a dozen have worked and even included former Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick, II and the mix. But its founder Ernesto Perez, has been deviled by accusations that students were not getting a proper education at the for profit institution and students did poorly on medical certification exams and the courses were a rip off leaving students with large debts they could not pay after graduating, but Perez was a high flying man with s private jet and used his political connections to get favorable legislation for the college that has now come to an end. For more go tohttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article41967387.html

What happened to the Miami Herald investigative Reporter Michael R. Vasquez who wrote the Dade Medical College story and the schools have closed down?

Miami Herald Reporter Michael Vasquez, a former Miami beat reporter now doing educational issues was targeted by Ernesto Perez, the college’s founder and he hired a private investigator to monitor and video tape his activities and is another Miami Moment. When it comes to the media. And one controversial Spanish radio reporter years ago and had a long time Spanish radio commentator. Emilio Milian having his car blown up and the man lost his legs in the mid-1970s terroist attack and for more on the attack go to http://ballotpedia.org/Alberto_Milian And Milian’s son Al is a local circuit court judge elected to the bench in 2014.

And for more on the investigator following Vasquez go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article41884947.html   And I know the reporter fairly well since we hung out together at Miami City Hall for more than a couple of years and Vasquez and I were the only two reporters who taped a heated exchange at a Miami MESA meeting at the old Miami Arena, between then Miami Manager Joe Arriola and Commissioner Arthur Teele,Jr., who almost instructed the attending sergeant of arms to arrest Arriola for the outburst and it was a surreal exchange at the time and had reporters talking about how slow a news week it was, and then this verbal explosion came which became a hot topic and the spying on Vasquez, was out of line when a reporter is doing an investigative story and one cannot believe some of the remarks reporters hear out in the field. And the Watchdog Report gives Vasquez a Tip of The Hat for a job well done my friend.

Arriola

What about Commissioner Levine-Cava?

And new Commissioner Daniela Levine-Cava after 11 months on the dais has settled into office since she beat Lynda Bell in 2014 for the district that stretches through South Dade and much is considered a rural area and she is a none practicing attorney. Further, she remarked when she was given the commission gavel from Souto for a moment and there was a pause in the proceedings. She joked, “it was going to my head that I am chair for a few minutes,” she laughed and she is a quick learner of the legislative ropes at county hall and is putting in the time and has changed some of the dynamics on the 13 member board generally for the better when it comes to robust discussions on county matters.

>>> And County Commissioners approved the Honor Code legislation last week and the policy will be enforced by the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public trust Commission established by voters and the Office of the Inspector General was created also about the same time. And to read the ordinance go to http://www.miamidadeig.org/newsreleases2015/EmployeeProtectionOrdinanceMemo.pdf And OIG Mary Cagle in an email on the matter wrote, I just wanted to make sure you saw Commissioner Cava’s press release regarding the Amendments to the Employee Protection Ordinance that passed unanimously on October 20. Joe’s [Centrino’s, Director of the Ethics Commission] Honor Code also passed unanimously. These two companion pieces are really positive for our community. I’m excited about the Amendments because it streamlines the reporting and adds the notice to employees of the state confidentiality provision regarding the identity of the complainants in whistleblower cases. The Amendments include numerous positive components.” Wrote IG Cagle.

GMCVB press release: During the months of January – September 2015, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 10.2% compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 6.4% while total passenger arrivals increased 8.3% compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
Jan. – Sept. 2015	Jan. – Sept. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
8,595,076	7,799,590	+10.2%
International Arrivals
Jan. – Sept. 2015	Jan. – Sept. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
8,816,895	7,697,217	+6.4%
Total Arrivals
Jan. – Sept. 2015	Jan. – Sept. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
16,781,971	15,496,807	+8.3%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho makes his case on NBC 6 show hosted by Jackie Nesperal on why, district is interested in working with MLS soccer and owning new stadium in Little Havana site.

Superintended Alberto Carvalho on NBC 6 in an interview with Jackie Nesperal explained why the public schools district is talking to David Beckham about owning a new stadium for the team and he noted when it came to the project he felt it was important to be “at the table, rather than be on the plate,” he reasoned. Regarding the discussions taking place with the team and trying to lure the MLS franchise, but the devil is in the details as Michael Lewis wrote in www.miamitoday.comm In an editorial last week that he believes there are many questions to be answered before the nation’s largest public district does such a deal that would bring a number benefits to the District versus the skewed Miami Marlin’s Stadium deal. And to see the show go to http://www.nbc.com/live and the community debate on the stadium deal is just beginning and it remains to be seen how it will play out after a number of misfires, but has gained new life.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>>”Jackson First,” program designed to draw county workers to JHS, satellite medical office in Clark government center to be upgraded, JHS administration believes county employees can save money, yet get great healthcare, from “gallbladder surgeries,” to more serious diseases with the likes of Sylvester Cancer Center to Holtz Children’s Hospital, says CEO Migoya

“Jackson First,” and the new Beach Urgent Care Center clinic will include UM physicians and other U Health services said Migoya to county commissioners at joint meeting and PHT Chair Joe Arriola stressed the importance of Miami-Dade County employees using Jackson for their healthcare given the medical insurance they have and the health trust is starting a new program called “Jackson First.” And the mercurial businessman asked county commissioners for help in getting the self-insured county employees to go to Jackson which would help to defray the cost of providing so much indigent and uncompensated care. And Migoya has done a remarkable job in turning around the trust. And Arriola noted county employees would be saving money by using JHS since it gets around $350 million in public funding and the injection pf insured county employees could be a real boon to the public health system with state of the art medical care and physicians.

>>> And the Trust board has a new trustee, William Heffernan, a former banker with Total Bank before it was sold, and Moshe Kagan, Esq., was also reappointed by the County Commission and she is the vice chair of the board chaired by Joe Arriola. And here are the other board members on the PHT Recovery Board, Joe Arriola, Chairman, Mojdeh L. Khaghan, Vice Chairwoman, William J. Heffernan, Treasurer, Dr. Irene Lipof, Secretary, Ralph G. Patino, Member, Darryl K. Sharpton, Member, and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo, Member.

Latest Construction Projects Jackson is proud to begin work on major initiatives throughout Miami-Dade County, including pursuing our 100-bed inpatient… [Read More]

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Candidate Sarnoff gives voter interaction a miss, showed only Saturday briefly at polls, giving press a pass as reporters try to find her and interview her about how many sister’s she actually has and her Obama “President’s Volunteer Service Award for the Protection of Animals,” states her Teresa’s story campaign piece, but will not confirm the award to the press and it does not come up with google searches, very odd

Teresa Sarnoff (who has raised $747,886 through Oct 29,) is laying low and doing a stealth campaign since she is rarely seen at the City of Miami early voting site all week (and she was briefly spotted on Saturday while being driven to the site by a campaign worker driving her husband’s black9 Telsa). Where a host of candidates have been campaigning and candidate Ken Russell and Gracie Solaris (who has $197,145 for her campaign) are the hardest working campaigners. However, Teresa the wife of termed out Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is letting a barrage of television ads do her campaigning avoiding having to stand in the rain, hot sun, while greeting voters. And people have suggested, she has been seen at the early voting site in the County’s Hall lobby, where voters and candidates get to vote in air /conditioning and does not expose candidates to the rigors of the outdoors, something that tests the mettle of candidates which she wants to forgo apparently.

And working the polls with volunteers is a time honored tradition for most successful campaigns because it shows real heart in the candidate and a desire to be a public servant and elected official. Despite Mother Nature’s efforts and is a rite of passage into the political world, a rarefied group selected by the voters and includes a sacred bond candidates have with the electorate and given her $1 million plus campaign war chest, when a PAC is included. She has the resources to bypass the pesky voters in person (and I have only had her husband knock on my door) and the media that is asking more questions about her candidacy. And one voter last week when asked if they wanted her campaign material joked, “I have gotten enough in my mailbox of her campaign pieces,” which are nonstop and even a local postal worker joked about all the Sarnoff mail I was getting. From the candidates and there is a fine line between too much. And to date she is pulling out all the stops and even some of her strongest past supporters are crying enough is enough when it comes to a Sarnoff dynasty something Grovites are uncomfortable with and why term limits and a commission pay raise was passed by voters, in 2002, to ensure new blood on the five member commission. The Commissioner also penned a gratuitous good bye letter in The Miami Herald that is raising eyebrows when he uses the “Royal We,” to start one paragraph and has gotten a rebuttal letter from a longtime supporter Glenn Terry, a man that almost deified the husband when he first ran but all that has changed. The quirky Grovite carped and he is supporting Solaris and is helping her knock on doors one evening a few weeks ago. And Teresa is running out the campaign clock at this point and while getting the Miami Police union endorsement. The Miami firefighters gave an endorsement a miss. And their members are allowed to supply water and food to all candidates’ campaign workers as was the case last week when a few came to the Miami poll site and supported Russell, but there was no formal endorsement. And to read all the candidates’ campaign reports got to http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15.asp

And Javier Gonzalez who also ran for the Coconut Grove Village Council and won, is a brash real-estate agent who tools around in either a Maserati or Mercedes Benz and the Watchdog Report has watched all the candidates and their workers at the polls and some have gone through the harshness of nature but no Teresa since Monday morning and the rest of the week.

And when I emailed Teresa about a ‘Presidential award she references in her first campaign piece, I have yet to get a response by my deadline. And oddly there is also confusion about how many sister’s Teresa has. The “number ten, the fourth youngest of ten girls,” is what the campaign piece says but in her television ads she emphases she is one of “eight sisters,” in the family and is where she had to learn “to compromise and when to stand-up,” she intones in the frequent ads.

What about the issue of food for campaign workers?

Sarnoff’s campaign workers have been told not to sit at the polling site and they should not talk to the media and I have been stopping at the poll in the morning, afternoon and night all week but no Teresa. Though Russell, a underdog, was their most of the time I checked and he was not only engaging voters, but a van of Japanese tourists who stopped at city hall and took a group photo with the candidate who lived in Japan, speaks Spanish and some Japanese and has a Japanese mother, who will be at the poll on Sunday, the candidate said and his campaign war chest now has $158,560 as of the end of November and the real challenge for Russell is to make the runoff, where Sarnoff’s financial edge will come in handy as the airwaves get saturated prior to the final run-off where all the winner needs is 50 percent of the vote plus one to win.

What is Sarnoff is feeding her campaign workers? Who have been instructed no to sit down or speak to the press

And like an army candidate campaign workers need to be feed and on Monday. Team Sarnoff workers got Taco Bell, another day KFC fried chicken, and Subway was Friday but staffers brought the food not the candidate. And one of her paid supporters Vernon Clark at his church congregation asked parishioners if they wanted to work the polls for Teresa and they would get between $200, to $300 a day but there were no takers said a parishioner attending the event. And Clarke sits on Grand Avenue often on the bus bench with a big Sarnoff campaign sign and another campaign sign has a photo of Teresa with U.S. Rep. Fredericka Wilson, D-Miami, and Solaris is driving around district 2 with Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and the congresswoman was spotted with Sarnoff recently in a car driving through the Village West but actually seeing the candidate in the flesh is elusive and she needs to elevate her public access to be successful.

But it remains to be seen if she changes her policy of not responding to multiple emails including two I sent asking for a photo of the Presidential Award. Something I only asked because her husband embellished who his grandfather was and he was not the grandson of Gen. David Sarnoff of founding NBC fame he claimed and had a number of WTVJ NBC 6 reporters years ago stopping by to meet the man whose grandfather started the station, but they were later disappointed when they heard it was not true. And at the time I did not check that. But since she mentioned the presidential award in her campaign brochure her lack of response to my emails speaks for itself I presume, but since her husband has a trust deficit. It is surprising she doesn’t want to brag about it rather than being mute on the matter. And candidate Seth Skarley, a long shot, candidate had some large campaign signs removed by Miami code enforcement at the city hall polling site Saturday afternoon and the enforcement officer had to dismantle the large sign given its size and he was angrily taking photos of the removal claiming he would sue the city like he has done in the past and he put up the large campaign sign for Circuit Court Judge Jackie Swartz who got reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court for her outburst at the owner of the Easy Quick. And Lori Wood has not been spotted at the polls as well and for many she was a possible consensus candidate but she is no working the polls and will likely not make the runoff after election Day Nov. 3. And to see some of the debates go to And to see the most recent Event Miami candidate debate go to http://www.crespogram.com/index_public_html/INTRO_PAGE.html   And to read all the candidates campaign reports go to http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15.asp      

What lobbyist were at the Miami commission last week?

Raphael Garcia-Toledo a prominent Miami-Dade County lobbyist who is close with Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his wife Vicky an attorney who is a prominent city of Miami lobbyist and both of them were at the Miami commission meeting Thursday where the couple held court. And his wife Vicky Garcia Toledo is a former Miami attorney and she still seems to think she works there given her familiarity at commission meetings, including even going into the restricted staff area for staff once to talk to then assistant manager Alice Bravo and the area is what I call the forbidden zone, since only city employees are allowed in the area. http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=081467&file=true&yearFolder=Y2008http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?matter=081467&file=true&yearFolder=Y2008

>>>> Candidate Sarnoff skips League of Women voter’s debate, suggests race will be done on the airwaves with around $1 million to play with, airwaves target the condominium voters, and key block of voter’s candidates cannot get into see

Teresa Sarnoff the controversial candidate in the Miami District 2 race skipped the recent debate among the other eight candidates held by the League of Women voters at a restaurant at Mary Brickell Village last week and she appears to be running out the clock by the no show, and a campaign piece hit mailboxes from her today crying foul declaring say “No to negative and Dirty Campaigns,” the flyer says with a big red line over several negative ads sent out by the challengers. And the neophyte candidate is expecting her $1 million combined war chest to give her plenty of television campaign ad time, up to the Nov.3 election where a runoff is expected in the low turnout race that makes television ads so critical with Brickell voters in their secure condominiums where candidates are not allowed in except through the airwaves.

And while she says she has walked the district three times, I have had only her husband Marc the nine year commissioner, his wife is trying to follow in office has knocked on my door. And the attorney dropped off a book detailing his accomplishments while in office but no Teresa yet. And since she is promoting a women is her own person type of campaign, her absence from the debate is odd, where in past debates she looks very tense and is not used to this new enhanced public role. And another debate for the District 2 candidates is being held Oct. 20 at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce breakfast starting at 8:00 a.m., ( that hopefully she will drive to versus having her husband use a sergeant-of-arms officer to Shepard her to the event). At the downtown Hilton and for more go to https://www.miamichamber.com/ to make reservations. And candidate Grace Solaris is cleverly hitting the woman hard in attack campaign pieces that emphasizes the political flip flops the commissioner has done. From going from a Democrat, and her lack of repudiation of the act to a party that helped funding the man at the last minute in the runoff race. And catapulted Sarnoff to win his first runoff in 2006 against Linda Haskins who had a significantly larger war chest to more recently appearing in an ad with GOP Gov. Rick Scott saying he was proud to be a Democrat supporting the jobs governor. And Solaris in her campaign asks voters ominously using the bio hazard logo asking, “Are you suffering from Sarnoff Syndrome, and check your symptoms on the back it states.” And on Teresa’s webpage is a ringing endorsement from a physician at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and the FIU medical college and to see the piece written by S. Howard Wittels, M.D., go to http://www.teresasarnoff.com/testimonial/mark-johnson/

And a campaign attack ad from Solaris directed at Ken Russel has a grime image and saying he is guilty of not voting in past local elections so why is he a good candidate? Russell in an interview last week with the Watchdog Report by phone said he is a consistent voter. And in an email Russell wrote, “The allegation stating that I’ve never voted is incorrect. I have voted regularly in federal, state, and local elections since I was 18.  Like many, I was disillusioned with City of Miami government and considered it to be a broken system. Organizing my community with regard to the contaminated parks has made me realize that the system is not broken— just some of the people.” Wrote the candidate on the matter that he is being attacked on by opponents. And Russell got a nice write-up in The Miami Herald and it fleshed out the candidate more for voters and has followed similar profiles of Solaris and Teresa and to read it go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article39543000.html And the Watchdog Report is hearing lawn signs on private property are being picked up by local Miami code enforcement officers in district 2 and the signs are legal on private property and should not be touched. And people saying they are County employees have been picking up absentee ballots at retirement homes. And since it is a First Amendment Right lawn sign theft by the city should not be occurring if voters are to have a proper election for the coveted District 2 seat on the five member commission and these kind of shenanigans are unacceptable.

>>> Teresa Sarnoff runs her first campaign ad, features her mother and sister how low will she and the other candidates go for Miami District 2, seat being vacated by her termed out husband Marc?

Teresa Sarnoff kicked off her campaign ads, with a shot of her mother and one of her ten sisters speaking about how she had to get along with the crowded family of females, “learned when to compromise,” and when to stand up and she notes she helped get a smaller Home Depot versus the mega store proposed (And help catapult her husband Marc into office and was a major rallying point for many Grovites. And the spot ends with her siblings saying that people should vote for her “because she is ready to serve,” and the airwaves will burn with attack ads claiming she is just another Sarnoff, a controversial figure, and while she insists she would be independent of her husband. Nine year Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who is termed out and his wife is trying to follow him in office, but she is getting mauled for her lack of public participation prior to announcing her candidacy , saying she was ‘reserved,’ and wanted to be behind the scenes of her husband’s political career. However the couple who went to China with the world Champion NBA Miami Heat team a few years ago when LeBron James was with the team and they both were wined and dined as only the Chinese can do on the trip. And another trip to Brazil, she took with her husband Marc caught the eye of the County’s Ethics and Public Trust Commission and in her campaign pieces she does not mention any interest in transparency and openness in government. Since her husband comingles his emails doing public business, with his law firm account. And she does not address if she will follow his past policy of talking transparency but doing something else once in office. And that fact has some wondering if she has the same Machiavellian attitude on how to govern as her attorney husband, saying she is supporting all the “Sarnoff initiatives.” She also has not discussed why she went to Guatemala years before marrying her second husband and while emphasizing her large family she does not have a family of her own. And her first campaign piece a partial biography of her life called ‘Teresa’s Story,’ on the second page she proclaims ‘Family is everything,’ but she is an enigma like her husband is. To many people that have dealt with him and he has a fatigue and trust deficit with District 2 voters that she has to overcome, but has yet to address the matter and she is leery of the press and voters should ask. If she respects the institution or will be secretive when around the media like her husband was when he chaired the Center Grove homeowners Association at Coconut Grove Sailing club meetings before he ever ran for office. And he was visually uncomfortable when the Watchdog Report came into the meeting and at the time I blew it off. But he would later be reticent with the press and she needs to address this openness to the press or will she be just a public relations commissioner and have a press aide who will interface with the media. And Sarnoff once thanked me for the fairness and accuracy of a Herald story I did on his election back then but he changed while in office and is now not so pro press. And hopefully is not a tradition his wife will follow. And her sudden entry into the political world caught many people by surprise, and while she is trying to project clear sails on her political voyage, where she has raised $979, 0000, to $1 million for her run for public office. There are shoals expected ahead and a runoff in the crowded race is expected in the low turnout race for the district that snakes along the Miami coast from Coconut Grove to parts of Morningside, cut out of the district during the 2010 redistricting process. And in the last reporting period Oct. 10 she has raised $659,436 for the period and her overall war chest is around $970,000 when her husband’s Pac ( cutely named “Truth is the daughter of time,”) is included and with his help she is a fundraising juggernaut. Candidate Ken Russell has $123,000, plus endorsements from former Mayor Maurice Ferre and former Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton and in his campaign for the period, and Javier Gonzalez has $61,220 for the reporting period and Grace Solaris is reporting $175, 210 that includes a $6,000 loan to her campaign and Lori Woods trails with $23,005. For her upcoming campaign. That will likely result in a runoff race where if the winner gets one vote plus one they win in the winner take all race. And to read all the campaign reports for all the candidates’ go to: http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15/CampaignTreasurersRpt_G1_Teresa_Sarnoff_Oct09_2015.pdf

What about candidate and activist Grace Solaris?

And longtime activist and candidate Grace Solaris got a nice write up in http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article38679564.html and the longtime activist has worked in the trenches for years. Challenging the status quo at Miami in her own way but she is the candidate that probable best knows some of the shenanigans that have gone on at the city over the decades and she is getting support from Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and County Commissioner Daniela Levine-Cava for her race.

When does early voting start?

Early voting in the City of Miami starts Oct. 24 and ends Nov.1. And absentee ballots will be going out soon so readers should expect the airwaves to heat up as the candidates try to make their case why they are the best candidate for the important office.

>>> Sarnoff growing war chest raising eyebrows, With PAC contributions, grows to $900, 0000, from developers, special interests, and vendors,  

With almost continuous debates going on between all the candidates running for the Miami District 2 race some of the candidates are getting their verbal licks in and the perceived front runner Teresa Sarnoff, 60, (with $560,000, or around $900,000. If her husband’s PAC is included in her campaign war chest) is trying to follow her termed out husband Marc in the office and if she is elected could extend his influence for another 16 years and in her campaign piece entitled ‘Teresa’s Story.’ She mentions she went to the University of Miami but does not say if she graduated (she did not The Herald reports). Since her father apparently died suddenly and I contacted the candidate, who says she is ‘reserved,’ by email three times asking if she had gotten a degree but as of my publishing date. She has not responded and given the benign nature of the question, since I used both email addresses including the one on her qualification documents to run for office. For this is the big league and Miami commissioners over the years have a mixed reputation, of ignoring media inquiries and is why voters are so skeptical about their commissioners, their temperament and ability to not go nuts with the trappings of power that the commissioner wants to keep in the family.

But she is trying to run a stealth election and condones everything her husband has done and how he treats people, over the past nine years. She claims to be a “listener,” to his my way or the highway attitude, but she is running a muscle political race given the resources available to her. But Miami voters are wary since her husband has a trust deficit. First manifested when he claimed to be the grandson of Gen. David Sarnoff the founder of NBC and made RCA a powerhouse and has his own library at Princeton University. However when contacted by reporters. The family had no idea who Marc was and before a WLRN show on public private partnerships he was asked about the connection. And he responded it is “part of my linage,” he replied at the time. And Teresa has never addressed some of these inconsistencies at any of the debates and while she says she is her own woman she also says she wants to continue the “Sarnoff initiatives,” And she needs to clear the air on some of her husband’s performances including challenging someone to a “fight,” from the dais. And whether her husband is the template for how she would govern but she is mute on these haunting issues. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/marc-sarnoff-lies-about-his-lineage-6551033 and to watch one of the more recent debates go to http://www.crespogram.com/index_public_html/INTRO_PAGE.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGfdVyv4NNE

And why is the grandfather thing an issue?

When Marc first ran after he chaired the Coconut Grove Village Council (that used to be televised) the buzz around the man was did I know who he was related to. And I heard this often prior to his running and at his first inauguration, held outside of Miami City Hall. Sarnoff spoke extensively about how his grandfather instilled his deep commitment for transparency, openness, and good government. Further, he referenced quotes from JFK, RFK, and MLK, at the time in 20006 and it was a moving speech. But as one admired former attorney who retired at 92, and has since passed. When I told her the embellishment of the family line, she remarked “that is such a fundamental defect in someone’s soul,” and did not understand why someone would do that. And Teresa, who says she has made three walking sweeps through the district listening to residents’ concerns, but she seems to be condoning all her husband’s past actions, even though it is hindering her race that is expected to be a low turnout race, and absentee ballot brokers will be hard at work, and these votes will essentially assure the winner, and since her husband is knocking on doors, people challenging her commitment she says are “sexist,’ she tells the Miami Herald. But it is difficult separating the candidate from her husband. And for an updated story on the Sarnoff brand and campaign go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article37528581.html

What questions would the WDR have asked?

What about Sarnoff’s email and will it bleed into his wife’s campaign effort?

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose wife Teresa says “He is trainable.” He noted at a recent Miami commission meeting. And the Watchdog Report has become aware that the commissioner uses two email accounts when he conducts public business. And I asked his law partner Jay H. Solowsky, if his “server was secure?” last Wednesday and he said the salaw account was supposed to be used “only for business,” but that is not always the case. And Solowsky said the firm’s server “was as secure,” as one can be in today’s world he noted referencing all the cyber-attacks that have hit the nation. And at a Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority (MESA) meeting that Solowsky sits on with Commissioner Sarnoff, Willie Gort and is chaired by Mayor Tomas Regalado. A speaker making a presentation noted the people in the room were very “erudite,” and Sarnoff, quipped he must be talking about only “Solowsky,” but it was a snarky comment the others in the room did not deserve. Update: Sarnoff at Thursday’s commission meeting honored Solowsky with a proclamation saying he is one of the “five smartest people he knows,” and he is the number five,” of them and the snarky comments keep coming from the man who is clearly going to miss the life of an elected Miami commissioners and all the perks that come with it, after voters approved a salary bump for them but included commissioner term limits, something his wife is trying to get around with this election maneuver.

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado gave U.S. Justice Department community relations representative Tom Battle a Key to the City of Miami in reconition for all he and the Justice Department has done over the years to keep the peace in Miami since around 2000 and the man has helped in a number of Black shootings like Trevon Martin and more recently in Stamford. And a host if dignitaries attended the nighttime event that had Motown music waffling in the nighttime air on city hall’s balcony and school board member Dorothy Bendross Mindingall attended as well Wednesday. And the man has played a key role and met with city staff concerning some training on how to deal with the community and during Elian and subsequent years his office has been safety valve for community frustrating generally with the police and has the Justice department monitoring the city policed for abuses and has been a long time problem for Miami that also has a rare Citizens Investigative Panel (CIP) to monitor the police, has subpoena power and was approved by voters in 2002.

Village of Coconut Grove

>>> Scotty’s Landing says sayonara, ownership changed Nov. 1, but popular local hangout will remain open

Scotty’s Landing held its sayonara party Friday and Saturday and the new management takes over Nov. 1 and the iconic restaurant will be missed and was where I would initially watch what was going on at Miami City Hall back in 1996 to 99 and beyond and it was a local and tourist hangout that went through major renovations and changes after Hurricane Andrew hit in August of 1992 and that is when the umbrellas started and many of the same waiters are still there and I wish each of them well and good luck in the years ahead and know that the laid back community watering hole was a local intuition and Grovites are waiting to see what the new development has wrought, and hundreds of politicians used to walk from city hall and eat there and you saw some of the local lobbyist with certain commissioners, and not some over the last 16 years and you can learn a lot by observing who is with whom especially if there is a political undertone, which is almost always the case with Miami, empirical evidence shows. And the Grove Isle tower appears to be off the table as developers are making renovations they told some 400 unit residents Wednesday night and the condominium has been a hot topic and litigation but the owner seems to want to do a face lift and then possible sell it, one attendee considered. Editor’s note: I know the Grove is not a municipality.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Levine takes two day trip to Israel with President Bill Clinton to attend Memorial Rally for assassinated Prime Minister Rabin, man will be back on Election Day, mayor says, who is facing challenger Wieder

With Beach voters going to the polls it is ShowTime and the elections are in full swing for three slots on the commission and the top dog mayoral race featuring incumbent Philip Levine and David Wieder, an attorney on the city’s preservation board are facing off. And all these races are in a sprint mode and it is the ground game that will determine the winners in a historically low turnout race with the absentee ballot operations, a critical factor. And these ballot brokers are conclusive in many of these municipal races. Since there is such electoral indifference in many elections, and voters don’t show-up at the polls. However, races on the Beach can become a raucous affair in past years like when parking magnate Hank Soffer ran for the commission raising some $700,000 in the mid-2000s and the race hit an all-time low and had the Watchdog Report asking how low would the race go? And it went into the toilet given the fiscal firepower Soffer brought to bare on the race. And this race is not in competition with that last election and the city goes through cycles of activism and one issue dominating a race over the decades. And I contacted Levine by phone asking him how the race was going and on Saturday he texted back that he was in Israel with former President Bill Clinton for the “Itzhak Rabin Memorial rally,” after the prime minister was assassinated back in 1995 by a right wing Israeli who disagreed with the peace accords the nation was doing with Jordan and the mayor said it was a two day trip, and he will be back Election day. And for more on Rabin go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhak_Rabin

And Levine wrote, he also wants to keep Miami Beach moving and not like the “days of “analysis paralysis,” of the previous administration,” the incumbent mayor, who is self-financing his race texted back. And the incumbent is facing attorney David Wiener and the race has become heated and I am sure both candidates can’t wait for it to be over. And both men appeared on Michael Putney’s show This Week in South Florida and it was a great interview and debate and Levine admitted his involvement with a legal PAC created by Commissioner Jonah Wolfson and raised $1.5 million and has since been dissolved was “bone headed.” “And you live and learn and even though legal [it was] not for us,” Levine told Putney and to see the show go to http://www.local10.com/livestream-newscast/this-week-in-south-florida-livestream/23509324

What about former Commissioner Ed Tobin?

Termed out Commissioner Ed Tobin, an attorney, has finally got his childhood dream to be a police officer with the City of Miami and he will be a rookie for the next six months before he is let out on his own and for more on Tobin’s law enforcement journey go to http://.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article41963016.html

And the Watchdog Report has never had a problem with Tobin while he was in office even though he sometimes sparred with his peers, especially Wolfson on the dais but he is now moving on.

And Miami Beach is at a key juncture now that the commission approved the contract for a new and $500. plus million convention center that will be the pride of the city if all goes as planned for such a major undertaking and Levine would not have faced a challenger if not for a couple of self-inflicted political wounds and a stupid PAC, that was legal, called request for proposal (RFP) and had some $1.5 million in the PAC now dissolved by termed out Commissioner Jonah Wolfson who formed it. And the entrepreneur has been a good front man for the tony city that acts much larger than the 100,000 residents would suggests. And since tourism and the Beach brand are critical economic drivers, the new convention center should be a captivating draw for large scale meetings like The American Heart Association that stopped coming back in 1980 after a Philippine Cardiologist was murdered. And part of the reason was the old center could not accommodate such a large group of physicians and their associated demands for space and suites and exhibits all hall marks of big medical conventions.   And for more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article40797528.html Further, Levine the mass transit maven has been pushing hard for some form of mass transit from Miami to Miami Beach at the County’s MPO board and the University of Michigan graduate has taken the lead on climate change where some bad luck with the tides and torrential rains highlighted how vexing the water intrusion and flooding has become and is something he must finish after his second term and the businessman is termed out in four years. And the city is getting ready for Art Basel and the construction of a new convention center will begin after the mega art event that brings collectors and artists from around the world and is a huge economic generator And show cases the tony city’s attractions and island beauty and includes a host of celebrities coming many in their own private jets and is an economic shot in the arm for all of Miami-Dade and not just the beach. So please vote.

>>> Candidates Arriola and Weithorn going head to head for Commission V seat on the dais, how low will they go to win coveted spot, but risky political maneuver from Weithorn, whose wife is termed out on the commission

The race for the three open commission seats on the dais is getting heated and candidate Ricky Arriola who has a contract with the city says if he is elected. He will terminate the relationship http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article36330018.html and he is facing Mark Weithorn whose wife Deede is on the dais, but is termed out   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article34974060.html and because there are just two candidates in the race Arriola, a former Chair of the Arsht Center of the Performing Arts and is a businessman well known in the community. And Weithorn is trying a similar political maneuver as Teresa Sarnoff, trying to follow her husband in office and Deede has been very active on the County’s Homeless Trust board, where she notes the Beach commits considerable resources to the effort and the Certified Public Accountant is well respected and was a good addition to the commission and she has done a solid job, but her husband Mark, a real estate broker will have to convince voters he will be just as vigilant as she was.   http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article17132219.html   and with three commissioners leaving the dais Weithorn, Ed Tobin, and Jonah Wolfson because of term limits. Beach residents will have new faces something voters wanted when they voted for term limits.

SARASOTA COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott taps Hunter Carroll to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court.

Press release: Carroll, 40, of Sarasota, is currently an attorney with Matthews Eastmoore practicing commercial litigation. He previously practiced with Carlton & Carroll from 2005-2008 and with Carlton Fields from 2002-2005. Carroll began his legal career as the Senior Staff Attorney to Chief Justice Wells of the Florida Supreme Court. Carroll is the President –Elect of the Sarasota County Bar Association and has been recognized in the Best Lawyers and Florida Legal Elite publications. He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida. Carroll fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge James S. Parker. Governor Rick Scott said, “Hunter brings a broad understanding of the law and experience to the bench. I am honored to appoint him to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court.”

St. John’s County          

>>> Press release: Rick Scott taps Hunter Conrad as the St. Johns County Clerk of Courts.

Conrad, 29, of St. Augustine, is an attorney at Canan Law and previously worked as an assistant state attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. He is also a member of the Jacksonville, St. Johns County, and Florida Bar associations. Conrad volunteers with several organizations including the Rotary Club of St. Johns County, the United Way of St. Johns County, and the Women’s Refuge of St. Johns County.  Conrad received his bachelor’s degree from North Greenville University and his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.  He is appointed to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Cheryl Strickland, for a term beginning October 30, 2015, and ending January 2, 2017.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Animal lover’s mecca claws for Paws at Joe’s Stone Crab, Nov. 15, Champaign brunch, honoring reporter Jacey Birch of WPLG Local 10 for investigative reports and a moving pet adoption segment every day – The iconic Joe’s Stone Crabs on Miami Beach is hosting the annual Claws for Paws Champaign Lunch Sunday Nov. 15 and animal advocate Jacey Birch, a reporter with WPLG Local 10 and the time honored event is not only a special treat, with delicious food but brings together a large swath of animal lovers and for more and tickets go to http://www.eventbrite.com/e/claws-for-paws-tickets-17957588631

Editorials

>>> Field of District 2 candidates heating up, ads hitting the airwaves, but the question is will you vote as pathetic electoral turnout mires candidates sacred bond with voters?

With the Miami District 2 Commission race coming down to the wire on Nov. 3, voters have a choice to change the commission culture and start to curtail the Imperial nature the Miami commission has become. Further since most of the candidates running have been activists in some manner over the years they all probable share something in common and that is an event. In the Watchdog Report’s case. It occurred when a major political operative, who was running the 29 year veteran Commissioner J.L. Plummer campaign, outside Miami City Hall in 1998 said. “You F…ing little people we are going to crush you,” he threatened and the man later passed about five months later. And no I did not kill him as some people suggested at the time, and Plummer lost the election.

But that exchange is what started me to dive into the deep end of our local and county politics for most people have no idea or the time to find out what is going on at their public institutions and how their billions of public dollars are being spent. And who voters chose to be their elected leader is a decision that has repercussions in the years to come and the biggest challenge is will voters turnout something in the past has been pathetic around six to 10 percent of the electorate in any given race. And when voters back in 2002 passed paying Miami commissioners a decent salary some $90,000 and up from $5,000. They also passed term limits because they wanted the option of new faces on the dais over the years and even with term limits. For example Commissioner Willy Gort is still in the mix and he was first termed out in 2001, when he lost his bid for Miami mayor to Manny Diaz. But the orderly transition of leaders in office is one of the fundamental things about America.

Leaders, from the President on have to actually leave when they are termed out and professional politicians who go from office to office are out of style and their UBD is passed and voters are also looking for the authentic candidate, and even money is becoming a lightning rod with voters since the candidate appears to be bought or paid for and is one of the reasons Donald Trump, who is self-financing his campaign, is so high in the polls. While the more traditional candidates are flat, because people want to elect people that are not self-absorbed prima donnas. And restrain their use of the trappings of power, and hopefully don’t require an entourage like Commissioner Marc Sarnoff did when the commissioner showed up, at a meeting where three separate cars were used, including his media person driving one of them versus Congresswoman U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R Miami who drove a black Ford Taurus, put money in the meter and had a meeting with Sarnoff, about the cutting of the tress at the Coconut Grove Post Office Parking lot, a federal facility. But I marveled at the difference since she at the time was chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, versus a municipal local leader. So Miami District 2 voters have a choice to either continue “The Sarnoff initiatives,” says his wife in a campaign television ad hitting the airways, but the real question is now what? You did not run yourself, will you at least vote in the municipal elections because local government is the most important form of government representation one gets and determines your own local quality of life?

LETTERS

>>> Subject: Horse Country Needs Your Help

A developer wants to put a strip mall into Horse Country and we need your help. Please click on the link to change.org and read what’s going on. You can help protect and preserve Horse Country by putting your name on this petition, which will be given to the County Commission on November 18th.If the Master Comprehensive Plan is changed at the corner of SW 127 Ave and SW 56 ST, as requested by the developer, it would allow a strip mall and will most assuredly trigger multiple applications for more non-agricultural uses, such as grocery stores, offices, gas stations, restaurants and more businesses all along SW127 Ave from Sunset Drive to Bird Road ,as well as east on Sunset Drive and east on Miller Drive. This is a very important issue and you can make a difference by standing up to developers that want to dismantle Horse Country, which is from SW 40 St to SW 72 St and the Turnpike to SW 127 Aventis matter is very important to all those that love Horse Country and your help would be very much appreciated. Here’s what you can do: Just sign the petition and share, share and share. If you have any questions, please feel to call me at 786-543-3872. BTW, Did I mention that if you sign this and share it, you’ll make a difference?https://www.change.org/p/miami-dade-county-commission-keep-horse-country-agricultural-for-miami?recruiter=410088364&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Michael Miller

Community Newspapers

>>> Great story on the Pets’ Trust.  I’d love to speak with you and tell you more.  You are right…..it will be an issue in the Mayor’s race.  

Please watch this…      Pets’ Trust…the Story    password is     movie         

 And read this……..  http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/joe-cardona/article2087823.html

Michael Rosenberg

President Pets’ Trust

Rita Schwartz Cofounder

>>> We are having an incredible exhibit at the Warehouse of Anselm Kiefer, one of the foremost artists this century. Anselm will be here October 21st for an intimate dinner with the proceeds to benefit Lotus House. It is the best exhibit we have ever had in our fifteen years. Please make sure you see it when we open in late October.
Marty Margulies

>>> 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

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things 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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>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

>>> 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

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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 HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

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

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors 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 fourth 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 250 reports and Extras have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. I welcome letters via e-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

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2015, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> 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

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

>>>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/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

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 –www.miami.com/mld/MiamiHerald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/

 

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