Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 30 November 22, 2015 – EST. 05.05.00 – Celebrating 16 Years of weekly publishing
CONTENTS
Argus Report: Philanthropy heavy hitters turn out to honor community’s great philanthropists, Dr. Herbert Wertheim and wife Nicole tapped as outstanding philanthropist, still boyfriend and girlfriend after 47 years, sold newspapers as a kid, but raised his sights, FIU medical college named after him, FIU and UM relationship becoming “seamless,” says president, Rosenberg
Miami-Dade County: County Commissioners stand in solidarity with France after horrific Paris terroist attacks, play “la Marseillaise,” in solidarity with France after attack, local Consul General Letrillart, thanks commissioners for all the expressions of sympathy, Commissioner Diaz was the first to call diplomate said
Miami-Dade County Public Schools: New UTD contract, approved by 60 percent, eliminates two step pay bumps, “to help a select group of employees,” done by past superintendent, with “no morals,” and the man “went to jail,” says Supt. Carvalho
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
City of Miami: Classy elected leaders go quietly into the night, but that is not the case with former commissioner Sarnoff, licking his wounds after blow out election puts Russell in top slot over his wife, whose heart clearly was not in the doomed race, he starts new company Sarnoff Solutions, Inc., his Salolaw account must be kept preserved, separate from city’s public record retention process.
City of Miami Beach: outgoing Beach Commissioner Weithorn appalled with story of homeless man slapped by police and loses hearing, yet settled for $500.00 in damages, without an attorney, officer gets retirement benefits despite the offensive action, she says at Homeless Trust Friday, and has been a good representative on the body
Community Events: Major new show at The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse — Other community events- Badia Spices teams up with Dan Moreno Foundation to fight autism – FIU forum on sexual attacks on college campuses – Arsht Center & And Give Miami Day Oct. 19, 2015 – And it’s that time of year Mango Strut upcoming meetings
Editorial: Miami-Dade County leaders need to debate if County Clerk’s office and state attorney posts should have term limits?
Letters: – Pet trust founder on past WDR –
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message.
>>> 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 for 16 years now, has reported back weekly on how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to help support me and this service is at the end of the WDR, and I 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 may you and your family have a safe and reflective Thanksgiving family holiday shared by many regardless of race or religion and is very much an American holiday. I shared with my Japanese and Australian friends when I lived in these countries years ago and the smell of the roasting turkey wetted appetites like few foods do and these dinners turned into an opportunity to make great new friends from around the globe.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street
>>> Philanthropy heavy hitters turn out to honor community’s great philanthropists, Dr. Wertheim and wife Nicole tapped as outstanding philanthropist, still boyfriend and girlfriend after 47 years, sold newspapers as a kid, but raised his sights, FIU medical college named after him, FIU and UM relationship becoming “seamless,” says president, Rosenberg
Philanthropy was the order of the day at Jungle Island Nov. 12 and a host of heavy hitter philanthropists were honored by 800 people of the philanthropic community in attendance at the 30th National Philanthropy luncheon at Jungle Island. And the honored philanthropists included Alberto Ibargüen who was awarded the Champion of Philanthropy Award given only the second time given when Miami Dade Foundation president and former County Commissioner Ruth Shack won the honor. And Alberto Ibargüen said that when then The Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence, Jr. invited him to come to Miami and check out the paper. He said they went to Shacks beautifully adorned condominium with a host of art everywhere he said. And it was people like Shack that drew him and his wife Suzanne to Miami and he later was the paper’s publisher in his own right. And left the daily paper of record when Hodding Carter, III, announced he was leaving as the CEO of the prestige’s John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Carter and Ibarguen had been an inspiration to me from the very the early days of the Watchdog Report.
Further, Ibargüen once told the Watchdog Report after it was announced he was leaving as the publisher to go to Knight. That an alternative of running such a foundation in Miami might have him some day living in “Kalamazoo,” (like the Kellogg Foundation) versus staying in Miami a city he loved the Ivy League attorney suggested at the time and he has taken the Knight position for quite a spin and the organization has started a host of programs “Like Kick-start,” and the Peace Corps volunteer in Columbia and the Amazon is a strong supporter of an “engaged community,” a big priority at the premier journalism foundation in the nation. And for more on him go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Ibarg%C3%BCen
And Miami Marlins President David Samson said when he was expected to have a meeting with The Herald publisher. “The scouting report he got scared him,” he joked but he found otherwise and considered that Ibarguen should be included “on Mt. Rushmore,” given his philanthropic work in communities throughout the United States and wondered what facial profile the man might have on the historic landmark. And Ibarguen joked the reference off saying it is a rare thing to have “Mt. Rushmore,” and “Chernobyl,” mentioned in the same sentence in describing his life, he joked. But the man has left a large footprint and expanded the Knight Foundation’s role in Miami-Dade the organization’s home and for more on Knight Go to www.knightfoundation.org
Who else was honored?
Other honorees were prominent attorney and cultural arts maven Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, who received the James W. McLamore OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD and that same award also went to Ann Machado for her outstanding philanthropic work and Eidson has been the past chair of the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center and has proposed an intriguing plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse, that includes the actor Kevin Spacey, slowly working its way through Miami-Dade County hall and Michael Spring is spearheading the controversial project of reopening the facility shuttered since 2006 and is seen as a major economic generator with a rich theatrical history and under used asset and people are getting inpatient and want the iconic theater to open and Eidson told attendees he “wants to bring world-class theater, back to Coconut Grove,” he told the audience.
>>> And the organization also honored Paul & Swanee DiMare with its LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and major FIU Philanthropists Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Wertheim were given the OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPISTS nod and FIU’s medical college is named after the physician, where 509 new medical students graduated last year. And his recent philanthropy includes a $100 million donation to the University of Florida’s engineering school. And the very much in love “boyfriend and girlfriend,” couple are the “top donors to Florida international University,” said President Mark Rosenberg at the event and has made FIU a public university for “the community,” and the educational institution works “seamlessly on many issues with the university of Miami and has FIU medical students working at Jackson Health System with UM physicians and out in the community providing preventative medicine of residents
World mourns horrific Paris terroist attacks, ISIL, no longer “contained,” to Syria caliphate as terroist 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 http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article44996259.html
Now it is Mali after another terroist attack last week in the capital city
And Another round of terroist attacks happened in Mali and there seems to be a race for which fundamentalist group will be leading the charge to establish a Islamic caliphate and the world’s nations are all feeling the unease after firecrackers in Paris started a small stampede as Parisians fled in fear of another attack and has most of the nations of the world’s security organizations on high alert. ISIS update http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article45474945.html Though moderate Muslims are starting to fight back saying ISIS has “high jacked,” Islam and this rogue terroist off shot while probable the most dangerous terroist group in History. Given the Mali attack and the shooting down of a Russian airliner shows the indiscriminant nature of ISIS and what they are trying to preach to the disaffected of the region still swelling their numbers and becoming the focus of a global coalition that may finally work to together to disarm and end this threat that has politicians expressing a host of ideas of how to deal with this asymmetrical military threat, in the context of America accepting Syrian refugees that a host of governor’s have objected too without serious vetting of the people coming to America.
>>> US Atty. Office busts large identity theft ring in South Florida, community actually “exports,” fraud scams around the nation, Atty. Ferrer has said in the past
And the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Southerner District continued to do a gangbuster business when it comes to fraud, with identity theft challenging all the massive Medicare fraud in community Florida in volume and some people from Miami show up around the nation and U.S. Atty. Wilfredo Ferrer gets the calls he has said in the past and ID theft is challenging drugs sales, since ID theft is done with a keyboard versus drug turf wars involved when selling drugs but Miami continues to be ground zero for frauds perfected here in beta sites and then “ex[ported,” Ferrer has said in the past.
>>> Press release 61 Defendants Charged in Fraud Schemes Involving Tens of Thousands of Stolen Personal Identities
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, Timothy Camus, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Margaret Moore-Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Robert C. Hutchinson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, J.D. Patterson, Director, Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD), Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, Ronald J. Verrochio, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations Miami Office (DOL-OIG), Carlos Canino, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Amos Rojas, Jr., United States Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Steve Steinberg, Chief, Aventura Police Department, J. Scott Dennis, Chief, North Miami Beach Police Department (NMBPD), Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), Tony Pustizzi, Chief, Coral Springs Police Department (CSPD), Edward J. Hudak, Jr., Chief, Coral Gables Police Department, Rudy Herbello, Assistant Chief, Golden Beach Police Department, Ray Black, Chief, Miramar Police Department, W. Howard Harrison, Chief, Plantation Police Department, Franklin Adderley, Chief, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Rodolfo Llanes, Chief, Miami Police Department (MPD), and Dan Guistino, Chief, Pembroke Pines Police Department, announce the filing of federal charges against 61 defendants in 43 separate cases, dealing with tens of thousands of stolen identities and millions of dollars stolen from individuals, businesses and government agencies through fraudulent schemes. Today’s cases reaffirm the joint federal, state and local commitment to the prosecution of perpetrators who steal, sell and use personal identification information to commit identity theft fraud schemes.
In an attempt to combat the rising wave of stolen identity tax refund scams, and armed with recent directives from the Department of Justice’s Tax Division, making prosecutions faster and easier, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida established the South Florida Identity Theft Tax Fraud Strike Force (Strike Force) in August 2012. With the escalating spread of fraud offenses, the Strike Force has broadened the scope of its focus and is now identified as the Identity Theft Fraud Strike Force. The cases announced in this takedown demonstrate the pernicious and prevalent nature of identity theft fraud. This fraud permeates every aspect of the public sphere and private industry. The expanded scope of the Identity Theft Fraud Strike Force recognizes the breadth of this problem and demonstrates law enforcement’s ability to tackle the ever evolving identity theft threat. No longer limited to stolen identity tax refund fraud or any type of government benefit fraud, the Strike Force is investigating and prosecuting cases including an intrusion into proprietary government databases, takeovers by identity thieves of accounts as diverse as U.S. Social Security accounts, retail credit card accounts, and bank accounts, and the use of skimmers to steal valuable personal identity information. These cases demonstrate that law enforcement in general and the Strike Force in particular continue to adapt to meet this insidious identity theft threat.
Since the inception of the Strike Force, we have charged 433 defendants, who were responsible for approximately $352 million in intended losses and in excess of $142 million in actual SIRF fraud loss.
The members of the Strike Force, and participating agencies, include the United States Attorney’s Office, IRS-CI, TIGTA, SSA-OIG, ICE-HSI, FBI, MDPD, USSS, USPIS, DOL-OIG, ATF, USMS, DEO, Aventura Police Department, NMBPD, BSO, CSPD, Coral Gables Police Department, Golden Beach Police Department, Miramar Police Department, Plantation Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, MPD, and Pembroke Pines Police Department.
United States Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Identity theft continues to plague our community in evolving ways. Identity thieves are now using stolen personal identity information to infiltrate proprietary government databases and accounts of private individuals at banks, retailers and other financial institutions. We remain committed to stopping identity thieves who cost individuals and entities across the public and private sectors billions of dollars. The cost of identity theft cannot be measured in dollars alone, as it further undermines the financial stability of identity theft victims and wreaks havoc on their lives. Our Office thanks the dedicated members of federal, state and local law enforcement who work tirelessly to bring these offenders to justice.”
Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), stated, “As a result of today’s coordinated effort, we have charged and arrested individuals who participated in different roles related to stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) and numerous other identity theft schemes. IRS-CI remains committed to allocating time and resources to investigating those who victimize individuals for their own personal gain. The investigation of egregious return preparers and SIRF cases remain a top priority for IRS-CI.” “We estimate that criminals steal billions of dollars of IRS tax refunds each year by utilizing various schemes involving stolen identities. This crime victimizes not only the person whose identity has been stolen, but every American taxpayer. Prosecuting individuals for stealing identity information and refunds will continue to be one of our top investigative priorities,” said TIGTA Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Timothy Camus….A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.USAO – Florida, Southern Identity Theft
>>> 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 75th 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
>> First Florida Judge, Miami’s Steven Leifman, Receives William Rehnquist Awardm from Supreme Court Chief Judge Roberts
Press release: For the first time, a Florida judge has been awarded one of the nation’s highest judicial honors. Miami-Dade County Judge Steven Leifman accepted the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts at a dinner Thursday at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judge Leifman has been unwavering in his efforts to keep people with mental illnesses out of the courts and jail cells — in his local community, throughout Florida and around the country, Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga said when he introduced Judge Leifman at Thursday’s event.
“Judge Leifman’s commitment and compassion are truly a source of inspiration for all who work in our courts,’’ Chief Justice Labarga said.
The National Center for State Courts annually chooses a state judge to receive the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. William Rehnquist joined the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 and became chief justice in 1986. He died in 2005. The award named in his honor, now in its 20th year, recognizes judges who exemplify judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics.
When NCSC announced its selection of Judge Leifman as the 2015 recipient, NCSC President Mary McQueen said his work “demonstrates the difference that judicial excellence, and action, can make in improving the administration of justice.”
Judge Leifman graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 1986 and worked in private practice and the public defender’s office before being appointed a county judge in Miami-Dade’s civil division 20 years ago. Since 1998, he has been a judge in the county’s criminal division.
In 2000, Judge Leifman created the 11th Judicial Circuit Criminal Mental Health Project, which he continues to chair today. Recognized nationally for its innovations and effectiveness, this program diverts people with serious mental illnesses who do not pose significant public safety risks into community-based treatment and support programs. The recidivism rate for people who successfully complete the program after being charged with a felony is just 6 percent. Since its creation, some 4,000 people with mental illnesses have been diverted from the Miami-Dade County Jail.
Judge Leifman has also been involved in developing the nation’s largest Crisis Intervention Team training program. More than 4,400 law enforcement officers in Miami-Dade County have been trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and to respond more effectively and appropriately to people in psychiatric crisis. In the last four years, officers with Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami who have been trained in the C.I.T. program have responded to approximately 35,000 calls. Nearly 8,000 people were diverted into community treatment rather than being arrested. Just 85 arrests were made.
“These kinds of statistics are so impressive,’’ Chief Justice Labarga said. “But it’s not just a matter of compassionate and humane treatment of those among us with mental illnesses. These results also translate into dollars and cents. When a county sees its average daily jail population drop 40 percent — from 7,200 people to 4,200 people – that means taxpayers are getting a break.”
The savings here are estimated to be $12 million annually.
In 2007, former Florida Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis appointed Judge Leifman his special advisor on criminal justice and mental health and Judge Leifman oversaw development of the groundbreaking report “Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System.” That initiative drew together leaders from all three branches of government as well as state and national experts. The report issued by the Supreme Court’s Mental Health Subcommittee is widely respected as one of the best state plans of its kind.
Judge Leifman now chairs the Florida Supreme Court’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues, continuing to provide exemplary statewide leadership.
Earlier this year, Judge Leifman was one of two Florida trial judges to receive the state’s inaugural Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Like the national award, the state award honored Judge Leifman’s efforts to find, promote and implement ways to keep people with mental illness out of jail and in treatment programs.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> County Commissioners stand in solidarity with France after horrific Paris terroist attacks, play “la Marseillaise,” in solidarity with France after attack, local Consul General Letrillart, thanks commissioners for all the expressions of sympathy, Commissioner Diaz was the first to call diplomate said
The French “La Marseillaise” was played and followed with the American National anthem Tuesday morning before the beginning of the Miami-Dade County Commission meeting in solemn remembrance and solidarity with France after the brutal bombings in Paris and the Miami French Consul General Philippe Letrillart spoke to commissioners thanking them for all their sympathy calls and the diplomate noted Americas solidarity after the terrible event was much appreciated. Since France was Americas first ally in the Revolutionary War and it was a solemn moment in the commission chambers. And the diplomate noted the attack would not go unchallenged and French fighters have already begun pounding ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria, and later in the week Mali suffered a terroist attack and all security forces are on high alert around the globe as countries try to quash this brutal and fanatical global scourge of fundamentalism terrorism considered by some to be the biggest challenge of western civilization and is not supported by many Muslims around the world but the attacks have many on the edge and fears of local attacks is on many people’s minds.
Philippe Létrilliart
What about MIA and the new Central terminal refurbishment?
At a tourism committee recently staff told committee members that MIA is planning a phased re do of the old central terminal first built decades ago for Pan American airways but is looking long in the tooth and the $651 million refurbishment will “create nine new gates” capable of handling the new large Airbus 308 plane. A plane that “Chicago airport,” cannot handle at this point said MIA staff to commissioners
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.
“Present,” says County Commissioner Xavier Suarez when he votes on items on the 13 member body that he considers a “part time job,” since commissioners only get $6,000 and some $40,000 in associated benefits but the Harvard trained attorney likes to carp about the low salary and makes one wonder why he ran for office. And he is still considering a run for County Mayor though his fundraising is lagging and a big event in October did not raise the big dollars he had anticipated and if h jumps into the race he will join school board member Raquel Regalado and incumbent Carlos Gimenez in the pack for the county’s top spot.
What anniversary did County Commissioner Daniele Levine Cava celebrate on Tuesday?
County Commissioner Levine Cava celebrated her one year anniversary Tuesday and she got a cake from Chair Jean Monestime to commemorate the event and she still almost pinches herself that she in the dais after she beat a tough incumbent for the District 8 seat defeating Lynda Bell for the sprawling district in south Dade. And she has been a welcome addition to the 13 member commission.
Haggman taped as Greater Miami Chamber Young Leader awardee
Veteran award winning journalist and reporter Matt Haggman and now program director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation was awarded the Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Excellence/ Young Leader award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce for his vision and leadership and his work at the Knight Foundation and Haggman’s stories in the Miami Herald played a key role in getting then Mayor Carlos Alvarez recalled by county voters and the two men had a number of testy exchanges as Alvarez bristled at some of the stories the reporter was writing concerning pay raises for some of his staff members while fighting with the county’s unions and the Grove resident joined Knight in 2011. Right after that recall that got the mayor and long serving commissioner Natacha Seijas out of office as well. In an overwhelming defeat.
>>> After long hiatus Korge is back on county scene, MIA was a top client when it came to MIA contracts, was close to fellow Democrat Mayor Penelas
Uber (not the car service) lobbyist Chris Korge spoke to commissioners regarding the Naranja CRA and he said he is a business “partner with Brian Goldmeier, who is the fundraiser for incumbent County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. And Korge was frequently mentioned in a Miami Herald series called ‘Spin the wheel of fortune,’ and all the MIA contracts that went to lobbyists, including Korge whose son works in the White House and Korge is a major Democratic Party donor back in 1999 and 2000.
RECORD ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 MARKING 5 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE JOB INCREASES
Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased 3.7% in October 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. This marks 5 years and 10 months of consecutive increased employment in Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service Industry.
| Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs | ||
| October 2015 | October 2014 | % Change |
| 120,000 | 115,700 | +3.7% |
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> New UTD contract, approved by 60 percent, eliminates two step pay bumps, “to help a select group of employees,” done by past superintendent, with “no morals,” and the man “went to jail,” says Supt. Carvalho
At Wednesday’s School Board meeting the teacher contract passed by The United Teachers of Dade (UTD) and approved by 60 percent of the union’s membership was the talk of the day and how in that contract some step salary bumps had been removed when created decades ago “to help a select group of employees,” by a superintendent who had “no morals,” and “went to jail [Johnny Brown],” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at the monthly meeting.
And board member Marta Perez noted Moody’s, the bond rating company had upgraded the nation’s fourth largest public schools district to “A1,” she noted saying it was the “best practices,” fiscally done by the District that back in 2008 only had some $5 million in reserves and Carvalho through “50 percent cuts in the district’s “administration staff has also saved millions and that money has been directed to teaching staff, though state educational funding is still lagging but the fiscal health of the district is much better and oversite boards like the school’s Audit and Budget Review committee, staffed by citizens and CPA’s and tax attorneys is doing a yeoman’s job and is the community firewall when it comes to how this public money is being spent.
What about the Homeless Trust?
Supt. Alberto Carvalho got a shout out at the Homeless Trust meeting Friday for his participation in a breakfast, with a large number of students to discuss homeless and the many students in the public schools and have families and that these people and children should be treated with dignity. And having him there was like he was a rock star when it came to connecting with students.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>>Past WDR: 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
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
CITY OF MIAMI >>> Classy elected leaders go quietly into the night, but that is not the case with former commissioner Sarnoff, licking his wounds after blow out election puts Russell in top slot over his wife, whose heart clearly was not in the doomed race, he starts new company Sarnoff Solutions, Inc., his Salolaw account must be kept preserved, separate from city’s public record retention process. Miami Commissioner in waiting Ken Russell, made himself comfortable in the back row of the Miami commission chambers. Thursday and people are just getting to know the new commissioner and underdog candidate in the crowded field of nine candidates dominated from Teresa Sarnoff and her husband’s formidable fund raising machine that raised some $1 million but was not enough to catapult the incumbent commissioners wife into office and was defeated by a significant margin by Russell a neophyte candidate who became activated by the city’s plan on how to clean up Merri Christmas Park in the south Grove and the election was essentially that it was time to end the former Commissioner Marc Sarnoff administration and had many of his past supporters not helping his wife after past elections and many voters even ignored the commissioner when he was standing at the polls at the Miami Museum of Science polling site and the attorney was visible agitated pacing back and forth in the parking lot dressed in some stretchy leggings. And to see Russell’s interview on Helen Ferre’s show Issues and to see the show go to: http://wpbt2.typepad.com/issues/2015/11/wa.html But Sarnoff did not endear himself with people who considered himself absorbed, a hypocrite and a liar and there is widespread relief that he is gone from office, which may hinder any of his expected future political plans but his wife’s blow out election may crimp his ability to raise campaign funds given the loss. And he is said to have “burned a lot of bridges,” with donors after this disastrous outcome. And while there is speculation he might run for the Miami-Dade County District 7 seat now held by Xavier Suarez who is expected to run for the County Mayor against Carlos Gimenez. But Suarez’s ability to fundraise appears to be waning after he held a much publicized dinner but did not hit the fundraising mark he had set for himself and the former Miami mayor is still dogged to some unusual years back in the 1990s and when he earned the moniker “Mayor Loco,” but after years in the political wilderness, failed to become the local GOP chair around 2006 but lost. And with this upset election Sarnoff may find that he has limited political options though some say voters have had it with the man and he is leaving with his tail between his legs. And there is an almost palpable sigh of relief when it comes to District 2 voters that failed to buy into his wife’s bid to follow him in office. Anything odd happen on election night? Russell held his victory party at the Grove Spot and his supporters along with many of the other nine candidates attended but no Teresa Sarnoff even though she lives just down the street and for some attendees was a contrast. Since she said she cared so much about the district and the Grove and was probable why the other candidates showed up to show solidarity with Russell. And the event was packed with supporters looking to curry favor with the new official, whose parking spot at Miami City Hall is said to change from Sarnoff to Russell on Tuesday but the incumbent is not going quietly into the night and Russell in an interview on Issues Friday night introduced himself to television viewers, a show Sarnoff has done many times during his controversial tenure in office. And for more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article45777700.html And Sarnoff also carped when Russell asked commissioners to hold off on some items the ex-commissioner was supporting be deferred which the commission did last week. And the charismatic man will be sworn in Nov. 25 at city hall and I suspect will be a low key affair versus when the incumbent was elected and the inauguration was outside and Sarnoff sprouted off about how his grandfather the Gen. David Sarnoff had taught him about transparency and good governance and the importance of listening to the people, all later disregarded. And his second inauguration or coronation was held at the now destroyed Coconut Grove Convention Center and when I first walked in given the impressive stage and podium that possible President George W. Bush might be coming given the flash nature of the event back then. What about Sarnoff’s salaw law firm email account, and will they be subject to public records request? The Watchdog Report brings up this issue again because the commissioners past records must be preserved and Sarnoff did a lot of public business at that email address. And I noted the Watchdog Report had 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?” 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. And Sarnoff is being coy about his future plans still believing he has a political future and will the man be like a phoenix rising from the political wilderness for as Abraham Lincoln said, “You can measures the mettle of man, when he is given power,” and Sarnoff seemed to inhale it and why him being a mediator is almost funny. And for more on his departure and after life go to; http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article45777700.html What about one gigabyte internet bandwidth Commissioner Suarez wants and water taxis from Miami to Miami Beach for Art Basil? And at Thursday’s Miami commission meeting Commissioner Francis Suarez wants to make Miami one of many cities that have “one gigabyte,” of internet bandwidth noting that it would make businesses more efficient in doing their job and should be something the city is encouraging the young commissioner, with a 20 month son. He told his peers and he is a continuous advocate of infrastructure improvements and recently got the commission to create a transit trust for maintenance issues as mass transit is expanded in Miami and he is also pushing water taxis and in a discussion last week he believes it could be a winner and wants a number of boarding sites from Wynwood to the Miami River and these hubs could play a key role in getting people around during Art Basel when traffic and the streets going to Miami Beach are clogged with art goers. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH >>> Outgoing Beach Commissioner Weithorn appalled with story of homeless man slapped by police and loses hearing, yet settled for $500.00 in damages, without an attorney, officer gets retirement benefits despite the offensive action, she says at Homeless Trust Friday, and a good representative on the body Outgoing Miami Beach Commissioner Dedee Weithorn, C.P.A., a longtime member of the County’s Homeless Trust said she was horrified of a television report of a police officer slapping a homeless man on the tony beach, that resulted in his loss of hearing and the officer was not charged with what Trust Chair Ron Book said was a viscous “battery,” and the man settled the case for $500.00 in a civil suit where the homeless man has no legal representation said Book and to red about the sad story go to http://www.wsvn.com/story/30542203/former-officer-investigated-for-allegedly-slapping-homeless-man And Weithorn has been a great board member on the Trust and she has worked hard on the issue in the tony community where the municipality puts in considerable resources she has said in the past. COMMUNITY EVENTS
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Editorials
>>> Miami-Dade County leaders need to debate if County Clerk’s office and state attorney posts should have term limits?
While term limits have been the rage around the nation here in Miami-Dade the County Commissioners are termed out, as is the governor and president. But here in South Florida two important positions have no term limits. And have resulted in the same people running the organizations for years. And good government proponents note the periodic change in leadership is healthy in a democracy and is why the Watchdog Report thinks the community should investigate and debate. If it is possible to have term limits for the County Clerk’s office as well as the Miami-Dade County state attorney both who have served since around 1993. And I have no beef with Clerk Harvey Ruvin or state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle but it is healthy politically to have new blood and turnover in these offices. Since both are in a countywide elected position. And while people against term limits say voters get that chance every four years to vote the people out. But few people step up to the plate to challenge the incumbent given their position that may even include having a street named after you. And in my opinion is something the community should be debate for periodic change keeps Democracy nimble and vibrant and is something Miami leaders need to at least debate.
LETTERS
>>> 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 5th 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
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)
ARTHUR HERTZ
WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)
ALFRED NOVAK
LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)
JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org
THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year
Mr. NORMAN BRAMAN http://www.bramanmotorcars.com/dealership/normanbraman.htm
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
RONALD HALL
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 a year
COLSON HICKS EIDSON, PA www.colson.com
BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com
JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST
RON BOOK
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com
Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com
ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com
SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com
WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/
>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less
CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/
MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/
THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu
>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less
CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY 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/
Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form NOTE: Invoice is for Yearly supporter/sponsorship Rates: Thank you.
Large Business Supporters $500
Small Business Supporters $250
Name & Address Make checks payable to Daniel A. Ricker
And to contact me go to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net
Tags: