Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 33 December 13, 2015 EST. 05.05.00 – Celebrating 16 Years of Weekly publishing

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org   to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher 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 in the past I have broken the story on Cuban refugees coming in droves and also the fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> Sen. Cruz leading in Iowa polls, Trump drops to number two, after outrageous comments has the public had enough of the take no prisoner realty show star, who is an equal opportunity offender, and banning Muslim comment for many crosses the line of what America is about, including freedom of your religion in a world with over 100 religions

With the GOP trying to figure out a way to blunt presidential candidate Donald Trump’s appeal with Republican voters. Who wish he could step back on some of his outrageous comments, with the most recent his declaration that all Muslims should be banned from entering the United States, until the government can figure out what is going on. Further the concern is this narrative plays into ISIS hands and further divides the nation http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-iowa-ethanol/index.html Since the nation is unable to vet some of these people and has the around 8 million American Muslims on edge, because of this broad swath characterization and has Muslim leaders speaking up against ISIS noting that there are Muslims in America who are physicians, judges small business people Further the next GOP candidate debate is this Tuesday on CNN and what kind of verbal fireworks that will generate is unknown butt Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX are starting to mix it up and while Trump is still riding high in polls, he needs to show he has the temperament to be president and had Jeb Bush saying some of Trump’s comments were ‘uninformed’ and even ‘scary,’ but Jeb is having trouble getting traction and he is still in single digits and Cruz is getting a bump in the polls as is Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. And for more on the Trump comments go to

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/politics/donald-trump-muslim-republicans-2016/

>>> Zogby press release: Zogby Report Card: Obama would barely beat Trump in an election, John Zogby’s Obama Weekly Report Card is Featured in Paul Bedard’s “Washington Secrets” Published weekly in The Washington Examiner

Our weekly presidential report card finds President Obama with a near failing grade for his inability to punch through the Donald Trump-dominated political environment with his Oval Office address on how to fight the Islamic State. Pollster John Zogby also notes that Obama has slipped in polling and would barely eke out a victory over Trump an election were held today. Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/684-zogby-report-card-obama-would-barely-beat-trump-in-an-election

>>> This year’s Art Basel had a record attendance this year coming in at about 77,000 attendees despite the rains and one attendee said it was a great show but he was also tired because of all the festivities. And its continued success has put Miami on the Cultural Science like never before with our community’s variety of cultural art galleries, some of which are community treasures. And for more on art Basel go to;

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/visual-arts/art-basel/article48436040.html

>>> WPLG 10 teams up to find section 8 housing for homeless veterans with County’s Homeless Trust and Neighbors for neighbors is also working on the issue of ending veteran homelessness by 2017.

And Lynn Cameron the CEO of CBS 4 Neighbors was the featured speaker at the Coconut Grove Rotary Club, Tuesday and she is a member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and Neighbor’s a not for profit organization has been helping people since it was created after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and has expanded its wings since then and is a community treasure along with WPLG 10 that has been trying to find rental Section 8 housing for homeless veterans and is working with the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust where the trust will help with the deposit and is trying to end any veteran being homeless by 2017. http://www.neighbors4neighbors.org/ and for more on section housing and why landlords should rent out these available units. http://landlords.about.com/od/Landlord101/a/Advantages-Of-Renting-To-Section-8-Tenants.htm?utm_term=section%208%20rental%20housing%20list&utm_content=p1-main-2-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=adid-17676a34-3444-433f-a695-103e75c113dd-0-ab_gsb_ocode-29657&ad=semD&an=google_s&am=broad&q=section%208%20rental%20housing%20list&dqi=&o=29657&l=sem&qsrc=999&askid=17676a34-3444-433f-a695-103e75c113dd-0-ab_gsb

>>>> Florida Highway Patrol cracking down on ‘lane divers,’ who cut through yellow polls on 1 95, causing some terrible accidents, even though $179 fine and 3 points on driver’s license, but with some 300,000 south Florida drivers not having insurance or valid licenses, will the enforcement make a difference, lanes take a high toll when it comes to injuries?

The Florida Highway Patrol is starting a major campaign called ‘Drive Safe 95 Express,’ states a Sun sentinel article, people that cut through the plastic cones into the Lexus lane called ‘lane divers’ and is taking a significant toll in accidents and injuries on these express lanes that are expanding throughout Florida since that is the only type of highways Gov. Rick Scott is supporting say local transportation mavens like Maurice Ferre at a past MPO meeting. And the Watchdog Report caught up with Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Joe Sanchez, a former Miami commissioner Thursday and asked him about the new program http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-95-express-pole-crackdown-20151121-story.html

And Sanchez said drivers in the express lanes were complaining about the lane divers and the highway patrol is stepping up enforcement and a public service campaign warning drivers not to cut through the yellow lane dividing polls and having an accident and there are some 7,000 poles on a mile stretch up to the Golden Glades interchange intersection and are run over to the tune of 500 poles replaced per week costing to replace some $1 million a year and because the lanes are slimmer is difficult for state troopers to safely ticket these intruders with the imposed $179. Fine but more important are the 3 points on your driver’s license resulting in higher insurance costs, if in fact they have it as required but in Miami-Dade. Where an estimated 300,0000 people don’t have valid Florida drivers licenses or car insurance leaving many accident victims in the fiscal lurch when it comes to potential medical bills caused by these wayward, impatient and irresponsible drivers who feel their time is more important than being a safe driver. And while an education campaign is fine in the Wild West traffic of South Florida it is unknown how well the clamp down will be complied with while accidents will ultimately continue the Watchdog Report predicts. And the enforcement campaign will continue to June. But this has been an ongoing problem since the lanes were created and troopers can only ticket offenders if it is safe for them as well as cars zip by in the generally less congested lane that through Sun Pass charges a premium price to be on the exclusive lanes, and seems to give drivers a sense of entitlement and when the other lanes are backed up is when drivers drive over the polls to get into the less congested lanes but this lane diving has remained a persistent problem over the years since the program was instituted to enhance traffic flow and the tolls help to pay for road maintenance and other areas. Editor’s note: in the Letters section is a petition asking FDOT to come up with a better solution to the yellow poles.

>>> PAST WDR: ID theft the new ‘crack cocaine’ for thieves why sell drugs when you can steal identities with a key stroke, Classic Miami Moment when federal Judge Seitz says “only in Miami is stopping at a red light and paying all your taxes an aspirational act.”

U.S. Attorney General of the Southern District of Florida Wilfredo Ferrer is calling Identity Theft the ‘crack cocaine’ for criminals and his office is being inundated with cases and the Watchdog Report was first alerted to this looming problem back around 2009 when State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle brought the crime to my attention and Miami has become ground zero for people looting social security and Medicare fraud and stealing peoples IRS refund checks and some of the choice ways of getting this confidential information is having essentially Tupperware parties where people in large medical practice offices get paid some $500.00 to a $1,000. Per file and given the rate of return with this information it is a small rice for thieves to pay and jail time as in Medicare fraud here in Miami and identity theft is increasing and one of the most high profile case was the Carlos and Jorge de Céspedes  nine year sentence for Medicare and income tax fraud. And when the men’s defense attorney argued they should get a reduced sentence. Since they did pay some of the taxes and in a classic Miami Moment. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Seitz stopped the attorney and then delivered the classic line just stop there, “Only in Miami is stopping at a red light or paying all your taxes an aspirational act,” the judge intoned and she had allowed Miami Herald award winning reporter John Dorschner and I to sit in the jury box in the packed courtroom so we could hear the proceedings better.

And one prominent Miamian who had written a letter asking for leniency when I said he and I were different. He wanted to know what I meant. And I said I would not have written the letter. And he responded “they gave a lot of money to the community,” and I shot back “It was not their money.” And the brothers were Pedro Pans who founded the pharmaceutical company Pharmed but much of the growth was based on Medicare fraud federal investigators found. But the community’s permissive acceptance of fraud and corruption is sometimes unbelievable and in the case of the brother’s. They hired County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and when Pharmed lost the Jackson Health System contract worth millions, the company started to unravel and for more go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmed_Group http://www.hcpro.com/CCP-226312-862/Pharmed-coowners-get-nine-years-for-fraud-scheme.html

And what about credit card skimming at gas stations?

The Watchdog Report had a credit card ID theft and within hours of charges coming from Chicago my bank’s fraud alert called me Monday and the card was cancelled and here in south Florida the use of skimmers at gas pumps is becoming the new fraud of the day and state legislatures must figure a way to harden these pumps from scammers. Since we are a tourist state and one of the reputations we don’t need is to known as a place where tourist’s credit cards will be compromised and Florida lawmakers need to jump on this for http://www.local10.com/news/hollywood-police-crack-down-on-gas-station-skimmers/36800020

However federal authorities have been wanting the same ability to stop Medicare fraud where someone is identified by their social security number and a past FBI SAC said. If such an ID change occurred the nation could Save some $20 billion in Medicaid fraud and given the size of the U.S. Debt $18 .7 trillion you would think congress would give some these over sight agencies the needed tools to fight fraud. Something the credit Card companies are very much on top of. And part of the problem is government payments have to be done in 15 days and creates this pay and chase activity after the fact when it comes to this type of fraud.

And locally Daniel Suarez was charged in a massive Medicare fraud case and for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article48807755.html

>>> Naples Resident Sentenced for Treasury Check Cashing and Stolen Identity Scheme

>>> Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Donnell Young, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Ronald J. Verrochio, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, announce that Victor Martinez Pantoja, 23, of Naples, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez in Key West to 34 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Pantoja previously pled guilty to one count of theft of government money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 64l, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028A (a)(1) and 2.According to court documents, on November 21, 2013, Pantoja met with two individuals and negotiated a deal to cash fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury income tax refund checks. During the meeting, Pantoja gave the individuals three Treasury checks totaling $27,263 to be cashed, provided a copy of a counterfeited Florida driver’s license and social security card for each corresponding Treasury check, and forged the names of the individuals to endorse the back of each check. Pantoja obtained these U.S. Treasury checks by filing fraudulent tax returns using the identities of individuals who died in the previous tax year. He obtained the deceased individuals’ identities from the internet.

Court documents also state that the individuals agreed to cash the Treasury checks within three business days and to return $20,500 to Pantoja. On November 26, 2013, the individuals gave Pantoja $20,500 as payment for the previous three Treasury checks. During this meeting, Pantoja provided the individuals with six Treasury checks totaling $35,547, which were to be cashed by the individuals.Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of FBI, IRS-CI, and the USPIS. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gera R. Peoples. 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.

>>> 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

>>> Life style of economic development guru Johnson comes at wrong time while Gov.Scott tries to get 250 million in new funds for Enterprise Florida, from legislature, Johnson has short fuse when it comes to criticism

Gov. Rick Scott is sending out none stop bulletins on his plan for more funding for Enterprise Florida and includes reforms if the legislature goes along with Scott’s plan to infuse it with $250 million in new funding and has its new director and CEO Bill Johnson who has been asking for more money for the economic development organization since he first arrived a year ago.

But Johnson’s high living lifestyle has caused some controversy and for more on the bon vivant’s business expenses go to Enterprise Florida’s High-Living Liability, Bill Johnson | Sunshine State News | Florida Political News And Johnson when he was the Port of Miami director took extensive business trips to gin up business but state lawmakers are raising their eyebrows at some of the high-end meals and hotel rooms and Johnson is weakening Scott’s case for more funding of the organization which is a top priority for the governor. But this controversy is hanging over the program and Johnson who used to carp he could make more money in the private sector pushed the spending envelope as the story shows and probable puts him in hot water with Scott who became aware of the longtime county employee when the port tunnel was done and Johnson had been a past county trouble shooter, and go to guy. But he also is easily offended if he is ever challenged and he may find Scott is not so understanding of the matter that has had other Scott appointees being challenged on their own expenses being fired.

>>> Gov. Scott press release: Today Senator David Simmons announced his support for Governor Scott’s proposed reforms for Enterprise Florida, including the creation of the Florida Enterprise Fund.

Senator Simmons said, “I’m proud to support the proposal to create the Florida Enterprise Fund and improve the economic development process at Enterprise Florida.  Enterprise Florida has been integral to creating jobs in our local communities. These reforms will continue to diversify our local economy, empower our small businesses, and create even more great jobs.  Governor Scott is to be applauded for his continued efforts, and tremendous successes, in bringing good jobs to Florida and improving Florida’s economy.”

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> First it was the oriental Fruit Fly quarantine, now 10’’ of rain in 10 days wipes out 70 percent of vegetable crop in South Dade, Mayor Gimenez, Rep. Curbello, Ag. Commissioners Putnam Monday will tour the drenched areas in South Dade, seeking federal relief, with Sen. Nelson on board

If the Oriental Fruit quarantine was not enough to push farmers to the brink, the recent 10 days of rain resulted in 10 inches of rain and the deluge has destroyed some 70 percent of the vegetable harvest in South Dade, say county agricultural people and the submerged land included Zoo Miami closing and causing a major economic hit to the attraction given the usual holiday crowds and even had the Zoo’s front man and always upbeat Ron Magill grousing at the high water level that covered areas and moats were no longer able to contain there charge since lions could swim across the past impediment.

And given the potential impact to the $800 million industry Mami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is taking a delegation of officials on a tour Monday and includes Florida Agricultural commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep Carlos Curbello, R- Miami/Key West and the congressman is trying to get some legislation passed along with Sen to help the beleaguered farmers who have lost so much between the Fruit Fly and now this new hit. And the cost of vegetables locally are expected to rise.http://www.miamiherald.com/new

>>> And Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is raising some serious coin $861,246 in the latest reporting period for his 2016 reelection mayoral race and he is facing Raquel Regalado, who raised $234,390. Who sent out a Christmas greeting card featuring her children and it is a soft sell piece and similar to when she sent voters an apple in a box when she ran for the school board seat she holds and the patent attorney wants to go for the big government gorilla. The County that has a strong mayor form of government some 11 unions and around 25,000 employees is a colossus of county government and has 13 members on the commission. But Gimenez needs to be careful with how much he is raising because the tactic of shock and awe when it comes to fundraising could come back to haunt him since Regalado is likely to suggest the incumbent mayor is bought and paid for versus her more humble fundraising and there is a mood in the country that money “cannot buy you love, “with the electorate and was recently seen in the defeat of Teresa Sarnoff.

>>> Commission to weigh in on Commissioner Jordan’s resolution to transfer zoning rights for Sun Lite to Miami Gardens,

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan is sponsoring an item amending the City of Miami Gardens Charter conrning the dispute of the zoning for Sun Lite Stadium something that should have occurred when the city of Miami Gardens was first incorporated, but was carved out in 2003, “but nothing happened,” said Miami Gardens Mayor Gilbert Oliver. III and a joint mediation meeting essentially got know here and Jordan was given the task to seek a resolution to matter that would have the County Commission calling for an election in Miami Gardens to approve a charter change but that election approval requires a 2/3 vote by the commissioners on the dais and critics say the county is stalling by requiring the County Commission approval since attorneys say it is matter of “interpretation,” of the County’s Home Rule Charter that the commission has to vote to approve the election to go forward and is also what happened when Coconut Grove tried to leave the City of Miami and the activists had to get commission approval for the vote to occur. And below is the resolution being sponsored by Jordan concerning the transfer of zoning of the area known as Stadium Properties and as reported in a past WDR had become very controversial Notes: and to see the legislation go to: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/matter.asp?

152277
Resolution
Barbara J. Jordan, Prime Sponsor

>>> RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING, BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE BOARD, AN AMENDMENT TO CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS’ CHARTER WHICH WOULD DELETE SECTION 9.6 OF THE CITY’S CHARTER, RESULTING IN THE TRANSFER FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS OF ZONING, PERMITTING, AND OTHER LAND USE JURISDICTION OVER THE AREA KNOWN AS STADIUM PROPERTIES AND DOLPHIN CENTER SUBJECT TO A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS

>>> Past WDR: No resolution of conflict over zoning control of Sun Light stadium, but Miami Garden’s Mayor Gilbert, says county treats municipality like “second class[city],” tussle is about charter interpretation, and Sun Lite stadium zoning, and “possible repercussions,” says Dolphin’s lobbyist Dotson, Jr.,  threat of losing Jazz in the Garden’s, because the Miami “Dolphins “have taken the posture the city will never control permits,” for Sun Lite stadium, says Mayor Gilbert, and the council will take this issue to the Florida Supreme Court if they have to, he intones during mediation meeting where further negotiations will continue with Commissioner Jordan the liaison

A joint mediation session Tuesday between the Miami-Dade County Commission and the suing City of Miami Gardens, as required after mediation failed to resolve the impasse was a heated session with racial undertones and the issue is Miami Garden’s Sun Lite stadium owned by the Miami Dolphins and was supposed to come under the municipalities zoning and permit umbrella when it came to zoning while waiting for that to kick in around 2013 and the exception in the City’s Charter was approved by  the commission back in 2003 when the Garden’s first incorporated and fiscal stability was the concern but the city has flourished and has 110,000 plus black voters in the state’s largest black community.

And the County’s attorney’s office is ruling that the turnover of control to Miami Garden’s requires a supermajority two-thirds vote of commissioners who heard the arguments from both sides including a couple of prominent attorney’s and Al Dotson, Jr. representing Sun Life Stadium insisted the county still needed to be involved and if Miami Garden’s did not go along there would be “repercussions,” and Miami Garden’s Mayor Oliver Gilbert, III an attorney, said that sounded like a “threat.” Since the popular Jazz in the Garden’s is held there and Gilbert bristled at Dotson saying he would not surrender 110,000 people’s rights for a concert. Since every other of the County’s 34 municipalities control zoning and other aspects of big items in these cities. Thought the seaport is excluded and even the Stephen P. Clark Government Center had to get COE’S FROM Miami and is probable why one of the plugs in a new press room used by commissioners is nonfunctioning.

Further Mayor Gilbert promised it would be the courts that decided this and he demanded Miami Gardens not be considered a “second class city,” by agreeing to exempt the large privately owned stadium from its municipal codes and the City’s Attorney Richard Weiss argued it was a question of the ‘interpretation of the County Charter and in that arena( the courts have extensively ruled) a council or commission has wide latitude in how it might be interpreted and the County attorney’s office insists a number of votes and process must be followed and Weiss argued it was just a matter of a disagreement in “interpretation,” with the county attorney’s office especially when it came to the procedural process and commissioners wanted more details before they voted on anything.

But Mayor Gilbert noted how much more time do you need since nothing happened, when the deadline passed. He said “nothing changed” and that is why they were in this mediation process required by Florida statutes when a municipality has a beef with the county. But Dotson’s threat of repercussions by the Dolphins did not sit well with Gilbert who commented on Dotson’s “beautiful hair,” versus his shaved head but the mediation showed a sharp divide concerning the Dolphins’ who apparently only want to deal with such issues with the County and not the local municipality and the County Attorney’s office is firm on their interpretation of the City’s charter and had Commissioner Xavier Suarez questioning why the mediation was necessary and he noted commissioners as the meeting ran late had been here all day and they were tired  and he did not want to “delay,” resolving the situation that has been festering for years and he believed needed a resolution since it seemed the Dolphins were hesitant to fall under the City’s jurisdiction and after Dotson’s comments.

Oliver told the high profile attorney to be “very careful,” with his words and while no resolution occurred the issue will likely be resolved by the Florida Supreme Court and the council believes only the courts have the right to declare if Miami Garden’s is a “second class,” city but the issue of the stadium has been controversial since the County Commission allowed the city residents to vote for incorporation back in 2003 and there was a stadium carve out of controlling zoning issues at Sun Lite because of the small tax base and would the city survive which it did and flourished and the city has tried to be “accommodating to the pro football team,” said Mayor Gilbert during the session.

Does mediation like this happen often?

And a similar mediation process was held between the City of Miami and the Village of Key Biscayne recently though that is still being litigated and involves the Miami Boat Show going to Virginia Key and the special permit from the County will be voted on Tuesday and is expected to be a spirited debate on the show that brings some 110.000 boaters to Miami and is a tourist boon but Key Biscayne argues it is not being planned right and Key residents will bear the brunt but a vote could settle this one way or another.

What about MIA?

The massive new Central Terminal project renovation will be presented to County Commissioners in the coming months and the terminal represents one third of MIA and with over 100 airlines (more than any airport in America) flying from MIA where record arrivals some 44 million has helped pay the debt of the past decades long renovation that skyrocketed to some $6.5 billion and doing this construction is no easy task and commissioners want a complete briefing on the plan. In an effort to avoid the nightmare that occurred with the North and South Terminals construction that never seemed to end and the construction was, “like tiling your bathroom while you are showering,” said past aviation director Jose Abreu to commissioner’s years ago.

GMCVB press release: During the months of January – October 2015, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 11.5% compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 6.6% while total passenger arrivals increased 9.1% compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
Jan. – Oct. 2015	Jan. – Oct. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
9,559,951	8,573,451	+11.5%
International Arrivals
Jan. – Oct. 2015	Jan. – Oct. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
9,031,560	8,470,291	+6.6%
Total Arrivals
Jan. – Oct. 2015	Jan. – Oct. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
18,591,511	17,043,742	+9.1%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>>> Audit Committee reviews and accepts WLRN audit, station has relationship with The Miami Herald

And the District recently accepted WLRN’s audit and the radio and broadcast station also has a relationship with The Miami Herald and the creation of a news room on the second floor of the station is proceeding and WLRN has its own corps of reporters and there are a host of shows including Joe Coopers show Topical Currents with cohost Bonnie Berman where I have been frequent contributor since 2000. And to read the station’s audit go to http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_December_1_2015/item5.pdf

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> PAST WDR: State gives preliminary approval for new JHS 104 bed facility in West Dade, part of patient medical pipeline to main facility, rapidly being upgraded

Jackson’s Health System’s pending Certificate of Need to build a 104 bed urgent care Center in West Miami-Dade in Doral was given preliminarily approved last week by the state and the health trust is spouting up clinics throughout the county and is a major expansion of public health clinics and is expected to provide a pipeline of patients to the ancillary hospitals in the public hospital system and through preventative healthcare is expected to cut down the number of Miami residents who present at JHS with advanced diseases that could be reduced through preventative healthcare and the facilities are being well accepted in these new areas that are getting the clinics. For more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article48032300.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

>>> “He is learning fast,” says Mayor Regalado regarding new commissioner Russell’s first commission meeting that went long into the night Thursday, man will change “dynamics,” on five member commission, he predicts

“ He is learning fast,” said Mayor Tomas Regalado on Helen Ferre’s show Issues www.wpbt.org   regarding Russell and his first commission meeting Thursday, that opened up with a discussion of drones and later with numerous zoning items while the meeting dragged late into the night and when fellow commissioner Gort gave him a shout out at the end of the meeting saying “it seems like you have been there for years,” Russel quipped after the long meeting, “it felt like years today,” he joked after the long meeting and lengthy zoning hearings, And Regalado on Issues also discussed the MLS soccer stadium in the Garden Springs area and he also discussed the lawsuit with Key Biscayne over the Miami Boat Show where after mediation there was no resolution and expects to draw some 100,000 to the ecologically sensitive Virginia Key Marine Stadium site. http://video.wpbt2.org/video/2365626423/ and Regalado believes Russell “will change the dynamics,” on the five member body. And “He really means listening to the people,” and “I am honored to start with him, “said Regalado. Because the man comes off as genuine, low key and down to earth while serving the residents in his district. And he has picked Kirk Menéndez as his chief of staff and the attorney at one time was the director of the Miami Sports Authority and his knowledge of the city should prove valuable for the staff feeling their way through the labyrinth of City of Miami government.

Further, after winning a tough race over Teresa Sarnoff. The residents of Bay homes are happy after the commission approved a map that included the street and its maintenance a Miami responsibility immediately, and they could not get a resolution to the matter when Marc Sarnoff was still in office and some of the residents on the street were actually concerned that Sarnoff might seek retribution if the residents did not support his wife’s campaign but on Thursday at the commission meeting the streets were included into the city’s street grid and the homeowners are now happy that it is finally concluded and Charlie Espinoza led the community charge with persistent emails to officials and Russell to everyone’s relief got it finally done.

Russell taped by commission to head Miami DDA and Omni CRA

And commissioners voted to make Russell the Chair of the Miami downtown Authority and the Omni Community Revitalization Area (CRA) And the issue of the Miami DDA poop map that gained a national story status and created tension with the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust partially because of the some of past commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s comments critical of the Trust and the program got a follow-up story on the matter go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article49301855.html

And clerk Todd Hanna was reconfirmed as the Miami Clerk and is a formality when a new commissioner arrives on the five member board and it was a “love fest,” of praise for the Clerk, a former Navy veteran who served on a couple of aircraft carriers while in the service and he runs an efficient office and Russell had nothing but praise for the Berkley University graduate and he was confirmed again.

And City Auditor Ted Guba’s contract up in June will be renegotiated but was deferred by commissioners and voters created the post back in 20002. And unfortunately the first Auditor Victor Igwe, Ph.D., CPA, who Sarnoff would keep waiting until he fainted once and had Sarnoff brush it off by saying “he does that all the time,” but the office is important and is another community firewall that public money is properly accounted for and he is finishing his first four year contract that is expected to be renewed in June.

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.

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

Village of Coconut Grove:

>>> Slow going on Grove Playhouse, Spring gives WDR a update, shuttered since 2006, major economic catalyst for Grove

The Watchdog Report wanted to get a update on the Coconut Grove Playhouse shuttered since 2006 and has been sitting dark and was a major economic generator for Grove businesses and I contacted Michael Spring, the Cultural Affairs Director and an advisor to Mayor Carlos Gimenez and he emailed back, ”Per your request or an update on The Coconut Grove Playhouse, the architectural and engineering team is still in the building assessment phase that I described to you at the end of September (see below). Work is being finalized on the “building program” for GableStage, the Miami Parking Authority is working on specifications for a parking garage and our design team, especially the structural engineer and historic preservation architect, is at work now on these critically important tasks. We are committed to taking a thorough and thoughtful look at the building before we move on to the masterplan phase which should occur in the first part of next year, wrote the cultural maven and Senior Advisor, Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and below is a September 22, 2015 update

“The design team led by Arquitectonica International Corporation and under contract to Miami-Dade County has begun work on the Coconut Grove Playhouse project. The first stage of their activities focuses on the review of existing reports and materials and a physical assessment of the site, including but not limited to a survey of the architectural elements of the building, a structural analysis and an updated survey of the property. The design team includes members with established expertise in historic preservation, structural engineering, theater, acoustical and sound communications and other disciplines essential to the project.

The Miami Parking Authority (MPA) is responsible for creating a plan for an independently-financed parking garage on site. The surface parking lot continues to be managed by the MPA under an agreement with Miami-Dade County. While this work is proceeding, the design team’s theater planning and design consultant, Fisher Dachs Associates, has begun work with GableStage to develop a “program” that defines the spaces necessary for its growth into a great regional theater. In addition, GableStage is working with AMS Planning and Research on an action plan to guide the operational development of this theater company necessary to assume responsibility for the completed Playhouse. Finally, GableStage and Florida International University (FIU) are refining their relationship for programming and partnership activities. It is anticipated that the design team’s “fact finding” regarding the site, MPA’s parking garage plan, the building program for GableStage and the approved budget for the project will provide the basis for the eventual development of options for a site master plan. The timetable for the Playhouse project was negotiated with the State of Florida and approved by the Board of County Commissioners in October 2013 as part of the lease and business plan between the State of Florida and Miami-Dade County and FIU. Below is an excerpt from this agreement regarding the timeline:

*         Planning and design phase (18 to 24 months);

*         Competitive bidding for construction (6 to 12 months); and

*        Permitting, construction and commissioning – this depends on the what the design phase generates for the   project and the   response   from the   selected contractor for how long construction will take; for example, work with an existing structure on the site, new construction and the integration of these elements all can impact the construction timeline (36 to 60 months). You can view the entire, approved County Commission agenda item at: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/MinMatters/Y2013/131977min.pdf

– See more at: http://www.miamidadearts.org/news/work-underway-coconut-grove-playhouse#.dpuf

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Despite rain economic impact of Art Basel huge this year, has become global; art and culture bonanza for tony Beach, some 77,000 art lovers came to high end event breaking past record

With the heavy rains coinciding with Art Basel the city is finding Mother Nature is not cooperating with the municipality and even with large pumps the street flooding must have created havoc given the nature of the torrential downpour and Basel is a tremendous shot in the arm for the economy and recently the commission approved putting on a hotel referendum for the a new hotel at the convention center on the ballot set for March 15 said William Talbert,III’ at a County Committee meeting on tourism.

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/visual-arts/art-basel/article48436040.html

Broward County

>>> Nine Charged in $6 Million Dollar Broward County Telemarketing Securities Fraud Scheme

Press release: A Miami federal grand jury indicted nine individuals for operating a Broward County telemarketing scheme (“a boiler room”) that targeted investors throughout the country and ultimately defrauded them out of $6.6 million dollars. Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), made the announcement.

Thomas A. Guerriero, 39, of Deerfield Beach, Diana P. Lovera (D. Lovera), 32, of Deerfield Beach, Victor Lovera (V. Lovera), 28, of Deerfield Beach, Edward R. Sachs, 56, of Boca Raton, Andrew J. Bourdeaux, 28, of Davie, Joseph Loish, 58, of Pompano Beach, Steven Goldstein,  60, of Sunrise, Steven Sharaf, 63, of Pembroke Pines, and Frank Penaloza, 29, of Pompano Beach, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.  Additionally, Guerriero, D. Lovera, V. Lovera, Sachs, Bourdeaux, Loish, and Goldstein are charged with substantive counts of mail and/or wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1343.  Guerriero is also charged with witness tampering and obstruction of justice, during the course of an SEC investigation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1005 and 1512(b)(1).

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Securities fraud jeopardizes the financial well-being of our citizens.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our enforcement partners will continue to identify for prosecution, those individuals who use deception, scare tactics and undue pressure to strip others of their hard-earned financial investments.” “This case demonstrates our commitment to rooting out fraudsters who bilk millions of dollars from investors every year,” said George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami.  “Criminals are always devising new methods to defraud unsuspecting investors.  Accordingly, we are continuously adapting our investigative techniques in order to hold them accountable for their unscrupulous actions.”  According to allegations contained in the indictment Guerriero, D. Lovera, V. Lovera, Sachs, Bourdeaux, Loish, Goldstein, Sharaf, and Penaloza solicited investors throughout the United States to buy stock shares of Oxford City Football Club, Inc. (“Oxford City”), a Deerfield Beach, Florida corporation that claimed to manage a portfolio involving sports, education, media, and real estate businesses.  The defendants sold stock directly from the company in private placement offerings.

The indictment alleges that from July 2013 through July 2015, the defendants conspired to misappropriate investor money for their personal benefit by making false statements, during the course of a telemarketing scheme, regarding the Oxford City stock.  According to the indictment, the defendants used high-pressure, strong-armed tactics to intimidate and coerce individuals to invest in Oxford City.  Over the course of the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators caused over 150 individuals to buy shares of Oxford City restricted stock for approximately $6.6 million.

Today, the SEC announced parallel civil charges against Guerriero and Oxford.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the SEC.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz and Trial Attorney Kevin B. Hart from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 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.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Next King Mango Strut Meeting and gathering will be held

TUES., Nov. 17^th, 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

>>> THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE is proud to announce its new exhibitions Anselm Kiefer: Paintings, Sculpture and Installation -Susan Philips: Immersive Sound Installation -through April 30, 2016 – Anselm Kiefer: Paintings, Sculpture and Installation

Staged across 18,000 sq. ft. of space the new Kiefer exhibition at the Margulies Warehouse is the largest presentation of the artist work ever made in the United States.

The show includes major sculptures, installation and paintings from 1986 to 2015. Four immense rooms within the Warehouse have been built specially to house the exhibition.

“Anselm Kiefer is one of the most important European artists of the past four decades,” says curator Katherine Hinds. “In our ongoing process of building the collection we recognized that Anselm Kiefer was critically important. This exhibition comes at a pivotal time. It is the most comprehensive project ever undertaken by the collection. We are honored to present this exhibition, which is the result of an ongoing collaboration between the collector Martin Z. Margulies and the artist. We see this exhibition as a fulfillment of our educational mission at the Warehouse to produce powerful exhibitions of seminal work by the greatest international artists of our times.”

The artist traveled to Miami to install his 17ft high work Die Erdzeitalter (Ages of the World), 2014 that was the centerpiece of his retrospective at the Royal Academy in London in 2014. The largest work in the show, Geheimnis der Farne (The Secret of the Ferns) is based on a work Kiefer created eight years ago for Monumenta 2007 Grand Palais exhibition. After meeting with the collector, Kiefer changed and rearranged elements of the work and made a site-specific installation for the Margulies collection. Included in the show is the 3-ton workSprache der Vögel, 1989, which was the first work by Anselm Kiefer acquired by the Margulies collection. It has been on exhibit at the Warehouse since 2013.

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse is honored to join the exemplary collection exhibitions devoted to the art of Anselm Kiefer including the Hall Art Foundation at Mass MoCA, the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, The Broad Art Foundation and HangarBicocca, Milan.

Anselm Kiefer was born in Donaueschingen, Germany in 1945 and has lived and worked in France since 1993. He has exhibited widely, including solo shows at MoMA, New York (1987); Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin (1991); The Metropolitan Museum, New York (1998); Fort Worth Museum of Art (2005); the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2006); Mass MoCA, Massachusetts; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; the Grand Palais, Paris; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark (2010); the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (2011), Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2011) and The Royal Academy, London (2014). In 2007 Kiefer became the first artist to be commissioned to install a permanent work at the Louvre, Paris since Georges Braque some 50 years earlier. In 2009 he created an opera, Am Anfang, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Opéra National in Paris. The Centre Georges Pompidou and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris will stage major solo presentations of his work in 2015.

Susan Philipsz: Immersive Sound Installation

The Margulies Collection is also pleased to feature a large scale Immersive Sound Installation by the acclaimed European artist Susan Philipsz, winner of the prestigious Turner Prize in 2010, Tate Britain. Drawing from the histories of 1930’s emigrant artists who fled Germany for America only to experience McCarthy-era blacklist censorship, Susan Philipsz’ work evokes the emotions of alienation, loss and exile. The audience views the work by walking into a large room with abstract sound emanating from 12 speakers placed in a symmetrical pattern at eye level. On the walls of the room 12 large prints of musical compositional scores are layered over with redacted FBI documents. “The sound of the deconstructed music heard over 12 channels combined with the visual experience of the recognizable but evasive censored text in the prints is a stunning and evocative experience,” says Ms. Hinds. “This has been a very ambitious project for us, it is the very first sound art installation work here at the warehouse and we are excited about adding a new dimension to the Collection.”

Permanent exhibitions: Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ron Bladen, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Anthony Caro, John Chamberlain, Willem de Kooning, Olafur Eliasson, Dan Flavin, Michael Heizer, Jannis Kounellis, Sol LeWitt, Mario Merz, Joan Miró, Isamu Noguchi, Michelangelo Pistoletto, George Segal, Richard Serra, Tony Smith, and Franz West

New works: Meuser, Lawrence Carroll, Liat Yossifor, Mark Handforth and Martin Boyce Click here for more information about this season’s exhibitions

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse 591 NW 27th Street, Miami, FL 33127 p: 305.576.1051 / f: 305.576.4963 mcollection@bellsouth.net www.margulieswarehouse.com The Martin Z. Margulies Foundation, inc. is a not for profit institution dedicated to the presentation of exhibitions and educational programs. The Margulies Collection at the WAREhOUSE houses an extensive collection of contemporary and vintage photography, video, sculpture and installation art. Curator, Katherine Hinds

 

Editorials

>>>> One of Watchdog Report’s main missions is to keep watch on all the host of Trust’s in Miami-Dade and involve some serious public money in the billions, and there is an accurate public record of discussions

Residents in Miami-Dade County periodically ask why I cover all the trust’s found in the county, from the Children’s Trust to the Public Health Trust to the County’s Homeless Trust and it is because elected county leaders are always looking for new funds and while the raids of these public dollars periodically occurs like in the case of the Citizens Independent Transit Trust where the county is slowly paying back the sales tax dollars absorbed by the county’s transit system in what was called “unification,” by county leaders but the Public Health Trust was also raided back in 20002 when county commissioners shifted some $ 70 million in unfunded mandates on to organization and that cost has risen over $100 million a year and was one of the reasons the Public health trust needed a $830 million GOB passed overwhelmingly by voters a few Years back to upgrade its infrastructure and ageing main campus after this past money was diverted over a decade by the County commission that does provide some $250 million in public funds for a maintenance of effort contribution. But in Miami-Dade where everything is political I keep watch so that these organizations are kept whole and politics is kept to a minimum and this oversight helps keep the organizations on the straight and narrow when it comes to public dollars and it is no small amount of money and helps explain why there have been so few scandals in the past that plaque the county back in the 1990’s and a frequent topic in the media.

>>> PAST WDR: Miami Commissioner Russell shows truth, trust and candor can prevail over obscene amount of money challenger raised and later dropped out, leaving many contributors to the $1 million campaign war chest steaming

With words flying among all the presidential candidates the issue of trust has to be the coin of the political realm and elected leaders find that out when they get busted in lies or embellishment of their accomplishments and experiences and once trust is lost. It’s almost impossible to turn around that perception with voters and all the candidates must realize there is extreme skepticism among the electorate and a politician at his peril sheds this sacred bond with voters he or she is trying to woo and a local example of this is the election of Ken Russell as the new Miami District 2 commissioner despite the long odds given the formidable fund raising machine he faced and the man was able to overcome that fiscal deficit because he sounded genuine and had a normal family life populated by two fun loving daughters and a son who campaigned with him and will probable remember the long shot activity the rest of his life. And after the previous commissioner’s lock-down approach Russell has an opportunity to reinvigorate the district and he will find his civility and Kentucky up bringing will serve him well and the Watchdog Report wishes him the best of luck and a Tip of The Hat for a job well done and running a positive campaign and shows candor and honesty can overcome any perceived obstacle with voters if they are truly committed to being in public service.

LETTERS

>>> Reader’s petition on dangers of plastic-poles separateing express lanes on I95 after tragic accident caused by pole diver running over them

Here is the petition that was started after Cynthia’s accident. It would be great if you could sign and share it. https://www.change.org/p/florida-department-of-transportation-change-i95-plastic-poles-to-unable-movement-in-and-out-of-the-express-lanes
>>> Transit employee questions none Sunshine meeting validity, to Miami-Dade County vice Mayor Ed. Marquez

On or around November 16, 2015, your Human Resources Director, Ms. Arlene Cuellar organized a hearing in violation of the Florida Sunshine Law, after she was put on notice that she was required to follow the Florida Sunshine Law. The hearing was conducted by the Tuition Refund Appeal Board (“Board”), which is charged with decision-making authority on behalf of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, and consists of board members, Ms. Virginia Washington, Ms. Erin New, and Ms. Joy Clodfelter. Also in attendance at the hearing in their official capacity were county employees Mr. Andrew Mullings, Mr. Jay Flynn, and Ms. Jennifer Walker. At the commencement of the hearing, the Board members and the officials were put on notice that because the hearing was being held in secret, it violates the Florida Sunshine Law. The Board members and the officials ignored the notice, stating something to the effect that such hearings are never public, and proceeded accordingly. In addition to the lack of public notice, immediately after the hearing, the Board and the other county officials went into a secret session.

The law provides both civil and criminal penalty for public officials who violate any of its provisions. Specifically, the law states that, “…any person who is a member of a board…or authority of any county…who knowingly violates the provisions of this section by attending a meeting not held in accordance with the provisions hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083”. The record will prove that the individuals named above, knew that they were violating Florida law. In particular, Ms. Cuellar, attempted to put together an incoherent excuse in an email, on why the Sunshine Law does not apply to her or the Board. In this instance, Ms. Cuellar’s and the others’ willful conduct contributes to the erosion of our quality of life in Florida, where public corruption and reckless disregard for our laws by public officials have been on the rise. For that reason and in the interest of justice, the Chief Prosecutor in this judicial circuit and members of local media are being notified herein. Further, any action taken by the Board resulting from the illegal hearing is invalid, as held by Florida courts, and you are being urged to do the same, and moving forward to ensure that those who report to you abide by and respect Florida law. Also, please advise when the board will publish its decision. Thank you.

Dunbar Corneille

Miami-Dade Transit

>>> 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

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 or more 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/

>>> 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.

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

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

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3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

And to contact me go to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net