Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 27 November 15, 2015 – EST 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot!

>>> 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 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, and hope you will consider keeping an independent news service out in our community, where what is going on with all our government entities is of critical benefit for both the public institutions but voters as well. Thank You.

And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ and this week’s report is different. Since on Saturday night my Windows 7 software failed, in a freak accident, to save the word document I had been working on since Friday, >>> In an event where I and had to start over again Saturday night and next week I will include many of these stories including the philanthropy awards winners held on Thursday, and how someone was suggested to be on “Mt. Rushmore,” for their philanthropic work, and why a JHS Jackson Health insurance plan if used by county employees could save some $77 million in Miami-Dade County savings and many more stories in next week’s Watchdog Report. And MIA is starting a phase one refurbishment of the Central terminal to the tune of $651 million and will include AA getting “nine new gates,” said staff and MIA Is creating new gates capable of handling the new massive 380 plane, that “Chicago airport,” has yet to accommodate and the upgrades to the terminal are slated to be done by 2017, said MIA staff, at a Country Commission committee meeting on Tourism. And Habitat for Humanity finished “it’s 1,000 home,” and the well run organization got a shootout from County Commissioner Dennis Moss last week when discussing the Naranja CRA an area known as the “dead zone,” in south Dade flattened by Hurricane Andrew on Aug. 1992 and has seen very little development and was why then County Commissioner Katy Sorenson helped to create the CRA, said a CRA board member last week and is one of the 11 CRA’s the County Commission has created over the years. And these stories and more in next week’s Watchdog Report.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> World mourns horrific Paris terrorist attacks, ISIL, no longer “contained,” to Syria caliphate as terrorist group forms expeditionary forces, and continues to be underestimated, not the “junior varsity,” as President Obama once quipped, coming back to haunt him

With global terrorism hitting Paris France Friday night. The world mourns again and is shocked with the six coordinated attacks claimed by ISIS leaving hundreds dead and over 300 critically wounded. And was The City of Light’s second attack over a 10 month period. And the targets were areas where young people congregated on a beautiful Friday night that erupted in death and chaos as terrorists hit at six separate sites, using the same number of terrorists wearing suicide bomber vests using a high grade explosive. And France is in a State of Emergency and the European Union is tightening its porous borders and ISIS, which believes it is a state and caliphate has said in the past. The organization was training foreigners to be an expeditionary force, in phases and included one French national said a commentator on CNN and terroist experts have been expecting such attacks, but not with this sophistication and coordination from what appears to be directed from Syria or Iraq. And the Radical ISIS is a Sunni Arab state created in March of 2015 and the radical group has extended its reach and intelligence specialist suggest the jihad group is using “dark technology,” that can’t be intercepted by authorities, and messages dissolve in a new app and the investigations are continuing but if such an attack does not convince all the earth’s country’s that terrorism in any form must be ended. For it shows none of us are safe as we travel the globe and these extremist religious groups want to create a caliphate and ISIL, which does not represent all Muslims, many who are abhorring the tragedy,

But America has underestimated the groups siren song to young fundamentalist terroist recruits and President Barack Obama I am sure is regretting calling ISIS the “JV,” team of terrorists and an organization America has “contained,” when he spoke about them in Syria and Iraq, which clearly is not the case now and many know this successful foreign attack will only embolden the terroist faction further. And this attack is remarkable similar to the terroist attack in 2008 in Mumbai, India that also left hundreds dead and shows the global nature of the threat that appears to be spreading around the world where all democracies are soft targets in a terrorists eyes and is another sad chapter in the world’s history of man’s inhumanity to man and it is clear ISIS wants to come to the west. As the movement moves into its next expected stage of attacks that one presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R Fla. called a “clash of civilizations,” and we cannot lose this battle. And America and Europe will be forced to work closer together on fighting terrorists after this tragic event that also has millions of American’s mourning the deaths. And France is getting similar sympathy from the American people they gave America after 9/11 and our own horrific terroist act that killed thousands of Americans and others from around the globe. And for more on ISIL go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant and below is the White House press release and for a update on the tragedy got to; http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article44996259.html

Featured

President Obama Offers a Statement on the Attacks in Paris. Watch Here:

President Obama gave remarks on the situation in Paris, as details surrounding the tragedy continue to unfold.

Watch the President’s Statement

Read the President’s full remarks:

Good evening, everybody. I just want to make a few brief comments about the attacks across Paris tonight. Once again, we’ve seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.

We stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance that the government and the people of France need to respond. France is our oldest ally. The French people have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States time and again. And we want to be very clear that we stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité are not only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share. And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening. We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people.

We don’t yet know all the details of what has happened. We have been in contact with French officials to communicate our deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, to offer our prayers and thoughts to those who have been wounded. We have offered our full support to them. The situation is still unfolding. I’ve chosen not to call President Hollande at this time, because my expectation is that he’s very busy at the moment. I actually, by coincidence, was talking to him earlier today in preparation for the G20 meeting. But I am confident that I’ll be in direct communications with him in the next few days, and we’ll be coordinating in any ways that they think are helpful in the investigation of what’s happened.

This is a heartbreaking situation. And obviously those of us here in the United States know what it’s like. We’ve gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves. And whenever these kinds of attacks happened, we’ve always been able to count on the French people to stand with us. They have been an extraordinary counterterrorism partner, and we intend to be there with them in that same fashion.

I’m sure that in the days ahead we’ll learn more about exactly what happened, and my teams will make sure that we are in communication with the press to provide you accurate information. I don’t want to speculate at this point in terms of who was responsible for this. It appears that there may still be live activity and dangers that are taking place as we speak. And so until we know from French officials that the situation is under control, and we have for more information about it, I don’t want to speculate. Thank you very much.

>>> 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.

FLORIDA

>>> AG Bondi getting hammered in ads for siding with polluters, and fighting federal carbon emissions laws, she sides with Gov. Scott who has scuttled using the words climate change in his administration

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is getting hammered in ads hammering her on her environmental policies and the ads are being funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the tune of $10 million since Florida is suing the federal government on new pollution guidelines and regulations. And Bondi over the eight years in office has generated controversy periodically and these attacks suggest she is for polluters versus Floridians and could end her future political career, as the nation becomes more aware of environmental impacts caused by climate change, a word banned in the Gov. Rick Scott administration. Limiting carbon gases and is being fought in the courts. And to see the ad go to http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/11/bloomberg-airs-tv-ads-blasting-pam-bondi-for-siding-with-polluters-against-clean-power-plan.html

Bondi

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Clerk Ruvin makes the case for need for federal “super fund,” creation to pay for phased in climate change infrastructure plans, on WlRN’s Florida Round-up since not just Miami Beach but all of Miami-Dade at risk, with local water table visible in water drains in Sweetwater and other areas in west Dade

Miami-Dade County Clerk Harvey Ruvin, a long time environmentalist and headed up a county task force on the impacts of global warming, was on Florida round-up Friday and he talked about his task force’s finding on the impact of climate warming and sea level rising. And Miami Beach is not the only municipality at risk, because in Sweetwater one “can see the “water table through the drain grates,” said one speaker and while flooding is mitigated with new giant pumps in Sweetwater, likely all of the County is at risk. Given the porous aquafer where the hydraulics of saltwater intrusion are unrelenting and Ruvin believes a federal “super fund,” should be created and projects would be phased in after proper planning and scientific analysis and to hear the show go to: http://wlrn.org/programs/florida-roundup

GMCVB press release: During Fiscal Year 2014/15 (October 2014-September 2015), PortMiami reported record cruise passenger traffic, with an increase of 2.7% compared to the same time in 2013/14.

Record PortMiami Passengers
Total Cruise Passengers
Fiscal Year 2014/15	Fiscal Year 2013/14	% Change vs. 2014
4,900,000	4,770,000	+2.7%

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> IF all County employees used new Jackson First Select health plan it could save Miami-Dade some $77 million, says PHT CEO Migoya at county commission committee meeting

Carlos Migoya the president and CEO of Jackson Health System made a presentation to a county commission committee meeting that detailed the savings the county could receive if all county employees enrolled in the Jackson First Select healthcare plan. He noted some $77 million in savings could be achieved if these workers considered “this option,” he predicted to committee commissioners and when asked if the health trust had the “capacity,” to deal with all these new patients by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. Migoya noted there were “14 outpatient clinics and noted of the 10,000 workers at Jackson some 6 to 20 percent of the employees were participating in the Jackson First program that also features all the physicians at the U Health System and includes a host of hospitals said Migoya and they are offering the select program “as an option,” and many of the County’s unions are buying into the idea and “six of the county’s unions,” have agreed to the plan in their negotiating contracts,, said to be “none starter,” by Vice Mayor Ed Marquez but that situation may change and the negotiations with the other unions is continuing, said Migoya and county administrative staff during the discussion. And for more on his check out next week’s WDR.

>>> PAST WDR: And the Trust is facing a big fiscal torpedo in the coming years with the state legislature not expanding Medicaid as the Affordable Care Act proposes and cutting what is known as Lower Income patients (LIP) funding by some $50 million and will hit Jackson a public hospital particularly hard since it gives some $365 million in charity and uncompensated care. And for more on these LIP cuts go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article39511626.html

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 BEACH

>>> Judge Wolfson’s financial disclosures benign though she has benefited from hot real estate market, net worth in June 2014 was $543,000, jumps to $1.108 million with two rental properties showing major growth

With Miami Beach Commissioner Jonah Wolfson leaving the dais because of term limits, the Watchdog Report thought it might be useful to review his wife Andrea Dottie Ricker Wolfson a local county judge’s financial disclosures for 2014 and the women has benefited from the hot real estate market the beach has become.

What do we know about her financials?

On Jun.1, 2014 the judge’s net worth was $543,000 and her home is valued at $550,000 and two rental properties, a triplex and fourplex are worth $500,000 and $800,000 respectively and by the end of the year Dec. 31, 2014 her net worth rose to $1.108 million and the rentals rose to $925,000 and $640,000 and her salary as a judge is $138,000. The judge reelected in 2012 is a hearty campaigner, through rain and lightning when she last ran and essentially lived at the mother of all polling sites, the West Dade Regional Library where long lines of voters snacked to the polls and she really never left the site or her husband stayed, who coordinated her campaign that she won handily by getting 53.8 percent of the countywide vote back then.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

As a subscriber of our email list, you and your support of the Arsht Center and our Arts Education programs mean so much to us. In conjunction with our 2015 Give Miami Day campaign, we are officially unveiling a special AileyCamp Miami video that highlights young teens who attended the dance and personal development camp this summer, adopting “gratitude” as their theme. We invite you to be one of the first to see it!

Click here to visit our 2015 Give Miami Day page to watch the video and learn about how your support annually benefits more than 30,000 Miami-Dade schoolchildren. Share with your friends and family, and let them know to join us this November 19 on Give Miami Day!

#ArshtSpirit     #GiveMiamiDay   @ArshtCenter

>>> Press release: Join us for a presentation by Dr. Charlene Senn, University of Windsor, “Interventions to reduce campus sexual assault: What works and why?” on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 11:00 – 12:30 pm, MARC Pavilion. Space is limited so please RSVP below to reserve a spot. To RSVP, please CLICK HERE or ON THE FLYER below. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there!

>>>The Next King Mango Strut Meeting and gathering will be held TUES., Nov. 17th, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at GREENSTREET CAFE 3468 MAIN HIGHWAY, COCONUT GROVE Select Happy Hour drinks, some free appetizers Come join us for our meeting of the Mangoheads & Mangominds. We can’t wait to poke fun at any and everything, satirizing  the people and events that made news during the year.  Put the word out to your friends, family and anyone who you think would want to join the Mango Madness! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mark your calendar for upcoming meetings and events. Wed., Dec 2, Bookstore in the Grove, 3390 Mary St., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Dec. 8, Taurus, 3540 Main Highway, 7:00 p.m. Tues., Dec. 15, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, 2990 S. Bayshore Dr. CHANCE FOR SOME STUFF EVENT, 7:00 p.m. Mon., Dec. 21, Berries in the Grove, 2884 SW 27 Ave., 7:00 p.m. www.kingmangostrut.org kingmangostrut@gmail.com hotline: 305-582-0955

Editorials

>>> Will Commission Candidate in waiting Ken Russell learn what outgoing commissioner Sarnoff did not when it comes to leadership and temperament, incumbent considered a bully? Many residents sigh thank God it is over, with Sarnoff, the ultimate insult to a politician, man still on MPO

What traits make a great leader is coming back in vogue and in the old days it was how someone acted and was referred to as a person’s temperament and someone had a good temperament, meaning they were level headed and did not succumb to the trappings of power and become an ego driven political leader rather letting ones deed speak for their time in office but with political egos on the same flight path as selfies in addiction. And some of the candidates running for president from either party will need to have the right temperament if they are to get the voters nod. And to read a great article I shared with Miami Commissioner in waiting Ken Russell on leadership and temperament something the outgoing commissioner Marc Sarnoff forgot about when he had his wife Teresa run to replace him in office and voters overwhelmingly reputed having another Sarnoff in office and Russell so far is “normal,” and his head is still screwed on right. And the Spanish speaking UNC Chapel Hill graduate was well received by voters and he and his family worked hard and had a knock on voter doors rally Saturday and included many Miami Firefighters helping to knock on doors through the day where persistent and heavy rain was the order of the day. Reminding them to vote Nov. 17, where Sarnoff’s ballots will not be counted or the number released says County Election’s supervisor Christina White a veteran voter maven and longtime county employee recently appointed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez to the sensitive post.

And contrary to what many people think Sarnoff is not going away. Since he is still on the County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization board since he was appointed to the regional transportation body by Gov. Rick Scott and has a couple of years on the powerful transportation board, but the man an attorney did not wear well and distorted his roots and lost the trust of the people and what any elected leader should not want is for voters to say to themselves. Thank God it is over, when someone leaves office like is the case with Sarnoff. And to read the article on what makes a great leader go to: http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-temperament-great-civic-leader.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Act-On+Software&utm_content=email&utm_campaign=Why%20Governments%20Declare%20a%20Homeless%20State%20of%20Emergency&utm_term=The%20Temperament%20of%20a%20Great%20Leader

http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-temperament-great-civic-leader.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Act-On+Software&utm_content=email&utm_campaign=Why%20Governments%20Declare%20a%20Homeless%20State%20of%20Emergency&utm_term=The%20Temperament%20of%20a%20Great%20Leader

LETTERS

>>> Baptist CEO Keeley on Miami Cancer Institute appointment:   I am pleased to announce that Michael J. Zinner, M.D., clinical director of the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston, Moseley Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and surgeon-in-chief at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is joining Baptist Health South Florida as the founding Chief Executive Officer and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute.

I am pleased to announce that Michael J. Zinner, M.D., clinical director of the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston, Moseley Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and surgeon-in-chief at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is joining Baptist Health South Florida as the founding Chief Executive Officer and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute.

A world-renowned cancer expert, Dr. Zinner is bringing his wealth of experience to Baptist Health – and the South Florida community – as we prepare to launch one of the most significant undertakings in our history. As a Miami native, Dr. Zinner’s move represents a return to his South Florida roots, where he can continue to make an impact on advances in cancer care.

His clinical practice focuses on gastrointestinal cancers, and he is the co-founder and co-director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, a multidisciplinary clinical program of surgeons, oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists and pathologists.

Before his career at Dana Farber, Dr. Zinner was dean for clinical affairs and chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles Medical School and Medical Center, where he developed his interest in healthcare policy. He has been involved at local, regional and national levels on issues relating to the impact of changes in the healthcare delivery system on the practices of surgery and the viability of academic medical centers.  He later established the Center for Surgery and Public Health, a collaboration between Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health. A graduate of the University Of Florida College Of Medicine in 1971, Dr. Zinner was a laboratory investigator at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington and completed his surgical residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Zinner has been widely recognized for his extraordinary clinical accomplishments, his contributions to cancer treatment and research, and his mentorship to students, physicians and researchers worldwide.

As the state-of-the-art, $430 million Miami Cancer Institute takes shape, we are fortunate that Dr. Zinner will be at the helm to guide the transformation of cancer care in our community and beyond. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Zinner.

Brian Keeley

President and CEO

Baptist Health System

>>> 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

>>> And another reader sent the following the shocking truth about Miami-Dade Animal Services, http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-USA/MiamiAnimalServices.htm

DR

Coconut Grove

>>> 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.

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

***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

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THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

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BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

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BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

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

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ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

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CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

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CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

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MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

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CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

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CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY 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

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

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/

>>> General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250 

Individual Supporter $150

Name & Address Make checks payable to Daniel A. Ricker

Send to

3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

And to contact me go to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

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