Watchdog Report Vol.16 No. 37 January 24, 2016 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 Years of Weekly publishing

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

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher 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 providing 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 Oriental fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.

>>> And you can now easily support the Watchdog Report by going to my new PayPal Button account at www.watchdogreport.net Thank you for the past support over the last 16 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years back in 2003 go to: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> Miami commissioner Russell, questions whether Omni CRA dollars should go to Frost museum for day-to-day operations, may not be “right vehicle,” to help museum, he believes

The Watchdog Report spent last week trying to figure out why and how the Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost science museum suddenly ran out of money and owes its contractors Skanska some $4 to $7 million of dollars and Suffolk Construction, the initial construction firm, but later terminated and in litigation with Frost insists the facilities plans were terrible and why the delay said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to the WDR last week, (And I first heard there were issues back in July).

However, Gimenez insisted the Frost project would not get any further public dollars though there was an item on the Commission agenda asking if the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) could be extended to 2014 to help finance day to day operations of the Frost and the WDR contacted Miami Commissioner Ken Russell who is chair of the Omni CRA and I asked what his thoughts on Frost were and any possible CRA future funding. Russell the Miami commission vice chair said Saturday. The Frost museum was a “great cause,” and he is “not against the museum.” He just questions if the CRA is the right [funding] vehicle,” since CRA’s are supposed to help eradicate “slum and blight,” he said. And Russell campaigned on reforming the city’s CRA’s that are perceived as a slush fund when politicians need to fund a project many times already begun but runs out of money. As was the case of the Arsht Center that came in 20 months late and needed almost $100 Million back in Aug. 2004 and since has been a resounding success.

But the Frost leadership gambled and lost because the banks did not approve a significant construction bridge loan based on future donations and the new contractor Skanska, owed this past money is meeting with Gimenez in the near future and it surprised the WDR that only recently did they hire a financial advisor (though on the Frost webpage there is a CFO Listed along with a host of other staff) ]http://www.miamisci.org/www/management-team.php something I assumed the organization had once it received the $165 million in public GOB money and the banks thought there was insufficient collateral for the needed construction loan to finish the $275 million facility that probable will not open until the end of 2016. And one of the things annoying about Thomas is here attitude of entitlement when it comes to public dollars that has demands elsewhere in the county and for more check out http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article54413910.html

What about the Frost museum of Science over run?

Gillian Thomas, the CEO of the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science first came into the public arena back in 2003, when she demanded The Miami-Dade County Commission float a bond for the iconic museum and planetarium and the shocked commissioners back then included Commissioner Dennis Moss (who was visible annoyed at the demand). And Moss asked exactly who she was and she got off to a rocky start.http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article54413910.html but did get $165 million in funding in a countywide GOB for the new facility in 2004.

However, since then I have had other experiences with Gillian including when she attended internal budget meetings at the county called resource allocation meetings (RAM) and at one of these. Thomas, who has a sense of entitlement was pushing for the county to release more convention development tourism tax money that would help cover day to day expenses and the way the deal was structured with the county. The press was not allowed to attend any of the board’s meetings and scrutiny by the County’s Inspector General was excluded from the proceedings. And Michael Spring was the liaison on the project and when I kept asking about the project. Spring always assured me all was going well, which clearly is not the case and this lack of any early warning is what could put Spring in a bind and Mayor Carlos Gimenez Wednesday said the “County is looking at the terms of the agreement,” he told the Watchdog Report. And he noted it “was not a county project,” though the Frost Museum did get some $165 million from a 2004 GOB passed by county voters. And that money was used to get the project going but has been spent and this lack of a heads up of fiscal problems is what has the Watchdog Report upset and should have been flagged months before, but all was kept under wraps and the organization’s board should have been out in front of this issue rather than suddenly it coming on the public and elected leaders radar screens and getting this approved by the county commission will be no easy task and terms like blindsided are likely to be heard during the discussion on a new funding arrangement so that here is not a partially completed project that is about two thirds done. And for more on Gillian go to http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/print-edition/2014/10/10/gillian-thomas-on-devoting-her-life-to-science.html And Gimenez is proposing giving money budgeted for Frost in future years, some $45 million, but it comes with a demand the museum will not ask for any more money from the county and he assured me in 2020 he would be there to enforce that no more money ban, he said Wednesday at the BCC meeting.

>>> Past WDR April 2012: The Frost Science Museum is also relying on private donations to augment the $165 million that is financed by the county’s GOB bonds for the new cutting edge design costing $275 million and includes the Frost donation of $35 million and $10 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org and there is “$25 million in transitional costs,” in the future said senior staff. Executive Director Gillian Thomas, first hired in 2003 and she has been a persistent advocate of a new museum and leaving the much smaller site in Coconut Grove that was once part of Historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens that is located across the street. And she once carped at a county commission meeting back then that the museum would strike out on their own with a proposed bond, but held off after the organization was included in the massive bond program approved by voters in 2004. For more on the project got to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/23/2658056/new-science-museum-to-break-ground.html

What about the Frost Science museum?

The Frost Science Museum is also relying on private donations to augment the $165 million that is financed by the county’s GOB bonds for the new cutting edge design costing $275 million and includes the Frost donation of $35 million and $10 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org and there is “$25 million in transitional costs,” in the future said senior staff. Executive Director Gillian Thomas, first hired in 2003 has been a persistent advocate of a new museum and leaving the much smaller site in Coconut Grove that was once part of Historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens that is located across the street. And she once carped at a county commission meeting back then that the museum would strike out on their own with a proposed bond, but held off after the organization was included in the massive bond program approved by voters in 2004. For more on the project and its problems got to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article54413910.html

What about the GOP presidential race?

Just when you think the presidential campaigns could not get any weirder Sarah Palin comes back on the screen and endorsed insurgent candidate Donald Trump and is considered a slap at the Ted Cruz campaign and with elections fast approaching the GOP field along with the Democratic Party will start to contract and has Michael Blumberg the former billionaire mayor of New York considering jumping in given the headwinds Hillary Clinton has been facing and Bernie Sanders supporters are more energized and Clinton is trying to fight back as is Jeb Bush whose campaign is stalled and has his mom Barbara Bush in an ad talking about how solid Jeb is and the campaign ad caught the WDR by surprise for in many cases when a candidates mother gets involved it generally is not a good sign for the actual candidate.

And the Democratic Party candidates are debating tonight and Hillary Clinton still has Sen. Bernie Sanders in her rearview mirror and he is still rising in the polls and Clinton is considered the establishment candidate in a year being part of the political establishment is not always a resume builder. And on the Democratic Party side Hillary Clinton is being dogged by Sen. Bernie Sanders who is possible doing an Obama on her. Since he raised some $33 million in thousands of small donations for his campaign who is defying the party’s political establishment and his take on Wall Street attitude that no bank should be “too big to fail.” And Sanders is attacking Clinton on her and her husband’s ties to Wall Street and some of Bill’s hefty speaking fees for the Clinton Foundation and Trump has been attacking the former president for his past peccadillos with women since Bill is starting to campaign for her.

>>> For all the presidential candidates, the rubber meets the road in Iowa caucuses Feb.1, followed by Feb. 9^th New Hampshire primary, large GOP field expected to get whittled down

With the New Year the political primaries are coming up in a month and polling shows a wide gulf between candidates though Hillary Clinton on the Democratic Party side is pulling ahead of Bernie Sanders (who raised a whopping $33 million) and when it comes to the GOP’s pack of candidates brash business man Donald Trump is still tracking high in the polls but the real question is how will he do in these first primaries in Iowa Feb. 1 and Feb. 9^th in New Hampshire and former Gov. Jeb Bush is stalled in the polls and is still being overshadowed by Trump, and senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. And with Super Tuesday on March 1. The pack of Republican candidates is expected to be whittled down to a smaller number and had Lindsey Graham dropping out recently.

http://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2016-presidential-primary-schedule-calendar/ here is US Today pollinghttp://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/poll-tracker-2016/ on the race.

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

Our presidential report card grader, John Zogby, credits the president for building on his agenda and legacy.

John Zogby found Obama is working hard to secure his agenda. “Just as Jimmy Carter redefined the role of former president, Barack Obama seems to be rewriting the rules of presidents in their last year in office. He is moving quickly and non-stop to get in as much of his agenda as he possibly can — and leaving it to the courts and historians to judge his value. His week started with the release of Americans held in Iran and with a Democratic debate where the front-runner embraced him and his policies.

Please click on the link below to view the full release: http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/702-obama-weekly-report-card-b-from-zogby

>>>Open enrollment has begun for the Florida Prepaid College program, ends Feb.29^th is a real education bargain for Floridians

The Florida Prepaid College Program has open enrollment that ends Feb. 29^th and the college savings program is one of the most successful and largest in the nation and was the brain child of former municipal mayor Stanley G. Tate, and now U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,R-Miami and the Florida legislature named the program in Tate’s honor a few years ago and a host of elected leaders with children are enrolled in the college savings program and has been a major educational driver throughout Florida. http://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/

FLORIDA

>>> FIU President Rosenberg tapped to be on national STEM committee, brings a wide swath of educational experience to the issue

>>> FIU President Marc Rosenberg will head up national College STEM committee and the appointment is another feather in the educator’s hat. Rosenberg who has held a variety of statewide posts in education over the years and has been involved in STEM education. For a number of years and with FIU’s new medical school becoming ten years old and its physicians are focused on community primary and preventive medical health care and that approach is beginning to save Miami-Dade in medical costs for the indigent and uninsured and also helping to keep South Florida healthy. For more go to

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article55879995.html

>>>> 6/8/2011 Press release; Governor Rick Scott today announced the appointment of Juan M. Portuondo to the Governing Board, South Florida Water Management District for the Dade County seat.

Portuondo, 67, of Key Biscayne, is the president of IP Group Inc. He succeeds Eric Buermann on the Governing Board and is appointed for a term beginning June 8, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015.The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. And the man from Key Biscayne has a mixed record and is a surprise appointment by Scott to the SFWMD, an organization overseeing Everglades restoration and to read more about the man go to:http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/rick-scott-appoints-businessman-with-history-of-everglades-pollution-to-board-thats-supposed-to-keep-it-safe-6472159 .

>>> Governor Rick Scott Appoints David Weston to Big Cypress Basin Board

Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of David Weston to the Big Cypress Basin Board. Weston, 56, of Naples, is the chief operating officer of Naples Lumber and Supply. He succeeds Alice Carlson and is appointed for a term beginning January 22, 2016, and ending March 1, 2018.The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust being overwhelmed by Cuban refugees numbers, federal funding not keeping up despite Sen. Nelson’s involvement, number of families coming on the rise

Well after a daylong public hearing at the county commission on UBER legislation the app service competing with taxis. The issue of making them legal got “45 percent,” there said one tourist maven attending the meeting. Something he had not seen before at the commission. And the ride service is a contentious issues since the county sold the taxi medallions for some around $300,000 over the years and the drivers are expecting some compensation if they are to lose value, but Uber is here to stay and people love the service that in a tourist driven economy is used extensively

What about the Cuban Refugee crisis?

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust is being overwhelmed by all the Cuban refugees coming to Miami and not at other locations around the nation is costing the public schools district some $43 million in unfunded costs and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. sent a letter to DHS requesting federal funds but the amounts allocated fall far short of what is needed in South Florida and the influx is having a major ripple effect as the homeless population swells including the number of families needing shelter and has been reported in past WDR’s but the issue is not going away since there is also the rumor the Cuban Adjustment Act will be repealed now that relations are normalizing between the U.S., and Cuba, though there is heated debate whether a consulate should be in Miami or in Tampa, given the extra security costs in Miami.

What about the CRB?

Rev. Dr. Walter Richardson the long serving chair of the Miami-Dade County Community relations Board (CRB) founded in 1963 gave his final CRB report to county commissioners since he is stepping down from his leadership position and the CRB was active during the Trevone Martin controversy and the board works to keep community issues from boiling over and the CRB supplies Ambassadors for the Memorial Weekend bash on Miami Beach in an attempt to keep the large gathering of visitors mostly made up of African Americans having a good and peaceful time during the holiday event.

What about Human Trafficking?

January is Human Trafficking month and attorneys from the state attorney’s office to the U.S. Atty’s assistant attorney Barbara Martinez of the Southern District headed up by Wilfredo Ferrer all have investigative details. Just for this crime that for years stayed in the shadows of South Florida but is a billion dollar industry and one assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Martinez is heading up the human trafficking section here in Miami and she once told the County’s Public School board members. That pimps were using 7^th and 8^th graders to recruit young girls, “because they have such a high premium she told the school board members last year and immigrants with poor documentation are prime targets for this essentially slave trade and at MIA people are trained in spotting people doing human trafficking with some reluctant flyer and given South Florida’s demographics this is a serious problem.

>>> GMCVB Press release: RECORD ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR DECEMBER 2015 MARKING 6 YEARS OF CONSECUTIVE MONTHLY JOB INCREASES
Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased 3.5% in December 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. This marks 6 years of consecutive increased monthly employment in Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service Industry.

Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs
December 2015	December 2014	% Change
122,400	118,300	+3.5

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Best of the best applicants wanted to apply to be on JHS oversight board, no conflicts or controversy wanted, application deadline is Feb.8^th at 4:00 p.m.

Applicants to be on the health trust board are being sought and the deadline to apply is Feb. 9 at 4:00 p.m. to be on the prestige’s board that oversees Jackson Health System and it requires some 30 hours of a trustees time and is not for the faint of heart, and applicants must not have conflicts and must resign from any other county board they might be on if appointed to the PHT board a confirmation process done by the 13 member board of county commissioners. And JHS is watched over by the County’s Ethics and Public Trust commission and the Miami-Dade Inspector general’s office. And only the best of the best in our community should apply. And for more or to apply go board of Trustees go to Applications are now being accepted for the Board of Trustees of the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, the governing authority for Jackson Health System. Please click here to learn more. http://www.jacksonhealth.org/library/applications/PHT-Application-2016.pdf

>>> Health trust will be looking for trustees in near future, only the best of the best need apply to be on seven member oversight board, $830 million GOB oversight board looking for trustees as well

The Public HealthTrust Nominating Council is meeting and is expected to be running an ad soon asking for residents to apply to be on the seven member oversight board that looks after the health trust system and is currently a much more nimble board then when it was 18 members years ago, but County Commissioners reduced the board’s size and under the leadership of Carlos Migoya alongside with the unions and major concessions from them the trust has operate the organization in the black the last three years after years of hemorrhaging red ink to the tune of a $84 million loss back in 20003. And the $830 million GOB bond oversight board is looking for trustees as well and if you have skills in construction consider applying here http://www.jacksonhealth.org/jackson-bond-program-CAC.asp#2

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Two impressive brands agree to keep working together, from climate change to healthcare, the city of MIAMI and The U of Miami, entities intertwined, from healthcare to tech hub creation says new president Dr. Frenk

University of Miami president Julio Frenk, M.D. met with City of Miami leaders Friday morning and he and Miami Commissioners Frank Carollo, Wilfredo Gort, and Mayor Tomas Regalado attended the Sunshine meeting and it was a love session. Since so many city employees had gone to the U including Victoria Menendez the city’s attorney and she has three degrees from Miami. And Stuart Miller the chair of the Miami board of trustees attended and both sides were bullish on the Miami brand globally and locally. And the Miami Hospital District downtown and in Gort’s district is a important component to UM that also owns the old Cedars of Lebanon Hospital the University bought to augment the University of Miami’s Leonard Miller Medical School that has a over 50 year affiliation with Jackson Health System and the university’s physicians bringing cutting edge medicine to patients being treated at Jackson. And the two organizations and leaders are off to a great start and Frenk was smart to “lay this ground work,” Gort told the Watchdog Report recently when I asked if he was attending the meeting and Ken Russel had a conflict. Since he chaired his first Miami Downtown Authority meeting (DDA) but Miami and the university face many of the same challenges and climate change is at the top of the list, along with healthcare and Miami has a couple of outstanding departments and schools that deal with these issues. And at a commission meeting Thursday Steve Marcus, Ed. D. the CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida that since 2000 has committed $78 million in healthcare initiatives and healthcare services in a three county area from Broward to Monroe Counties and for more on the foundation go to http://www.hfsf.org/ And Commissioner Russell ate the apple. Marcus gave commissioners after the presentation and the announcement of a new health initiative by the Foundation in the City of] Miami.

What about the seaplane and helicopter base on Watson Island?

The MESA board discussed the issue of a new seaplane base and helicopter landing pad (where the only helicopter that has landed recently on the site recently, “was the FBI,” said a man representing the helicopter facility.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Storied Beach Fire Department celebrates 95 years of public service, on tony island community, condo fires can be the worse

The Miami Beach Fire Department is celebrating its 95^th anniversary and the storied department over the decades has bought confidence and public trust to the Island community with some 100,000 residents and the Beach has morphed into a cultural mecca an with all the high rise condominiums fire in one of the structures is no easy fire to fight and ads certain challenges to the department.

PALM BEACH COUNTY  

>>> Palm Beach County Resident Sentenced to Prison Following Wire Fraud and Criminal Contempt Convictions

Press release: A Palm Beach County man was sentenced yesterday to 27 months in federal prison, following his wire fraud and criminal contempt convictions.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Danny Banks, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), made the announcement.

David Lee Ortiz, 39, of Palm Beach County, was sentenced by United States District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg in Fort Pierce, following his prior plea of guilty to telemarketing wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and contempt of court, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, and Section 401(3).

According to statements made in court and documents filed in the case, Ortiz committed online and telemarketing fraud in the form of fraudulent foreign exchange (forex) investment scams, via the internet and email, among other means. Ortiz collected from his victims approximately $420,000 through fraudulent websites and advertisements offering returns of 10% per month on forex contracts and currency trades.  Ortiz represented that investor funds would be kept in individual investor accounts for his clients, but they were in fact aggregated and commingled.  The defendant invested some of the money with losing forex positions at two licensed Futures Commission Merchants.  The remainder of the money Ortiz diverted for his own personal use.

To attract investors, Ortiz established internet websites. In July 2008, Ortiz set up “forexisgreatfor.me,” on which he falsely claimed to have over thirty years in forex trading experience, as well as that he was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In October 2009, Ortiz also established the website “forexfuturestrader.com,” again falsely claiming to provide daily updates accessible online for individualized investor accounts, as well as promising 100% returns within 12 months.

Ortiz misappropriated at least $232,000 by, for example, using the funds for personal shopping at retail department stores, travel, resort hotels, restaurants, utility bills, personal credit cards and car payments, and by sending, or having some customers send their funds directly, to Ortiz’s wife and her business, who also did not use those funds for forex trading.  Between 2008-2011, Ortiz solicited and accepted investments from clients, placed the monies in accounts he personally controlled, invested some of it in losing forex trades, and used the remainder for personal purchases.   Ortiz created false account statements, purporting to show the clients that they were making profits on imaginary forex contracts placed for them by Ortiz.  When customers tried to recover all or part of their monies, usually in accordance with withdrawal provisions of a written contract which Ortiz had them sign, they regularly met evasion or delay from Ortiz.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) investigated Ortiz, and filed a civil enforcement action against him in the Southern District of Florida in February 2011. The CFTC sought Court orders directing rescission of the investment contracts and return to the investors of all their monies.  Chief United States District Judge K. Michael Moore signed a permanent injunction against Ortiz on June 30, 2011, directing Ortiz to return the investors’ money and rescind all the investment contracts. The injunction also forbade Ortiz from soliciting or accepting funds from any future investors.

During July and August 2011, Ortiz nonetheless continued to solicit and accept funds from investors. In particular, he met with and took $2,800 from a retired Air Force employee living in Odessa, Texas.  Twice in September 2011, Ortiz emailed the investor false account statements purporting to show gains and profits from forex trades. The CFTC filed a motion for civil contempt against Ortiz for his failure to abide by the permanent injunction.  On June 4, 2012, Chief Judge Moore held an evidentiary hearing on the civil contempt motion, at which Ortiz appeared pro se.  Following the hearing, the CFTC filed a joint proposed agreed order (which the Court approved and entered on June 6, 2012) setting forth a timetable for Ortiz to submit a sworn accounting and repayment of monies, no later than August 6, 2012.  On August 6, 2012, Ortiz filed a document with the Court, stating that he had received the $2,800 from the Texas investor, but that Ortiz was unable to comply and pay any monies to the aggrieved investors.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the CFTC, FDLE, FBI, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.  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.

>>> Press release: Palm Beach County Man Indicted for Fraudulently Collecting Murdered Father’s Retirement Benefits A Palm Beach County man is charged with fraudulently using his father’s identity to collect unauthorized Social Security and pension retirement benefits, knowing of his father’s unreported murder. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Sheriff Ric. L. Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Margaret Moore-Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Nadine Gurley, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and Karen Citizen-Wilcox, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), made the announcement.

Jason Henry Davis, 37, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; one count of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a); twelve counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A; and two counts of making a false statement to a government agency, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001. The defendant had his initial appearance earlier today, January 20, 2016 before the Honorable United States Magistrate Judge William Matthew man, in West Palm Beach.  He is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on January 27, 2016.

As alleged in the indictment, on April 18, 2013, the skeletal remains of Henry T. Davis, Jr., the father of defendant Jason Davis, were found in the backyard of the Lantana, Florida residence where Henry Davis had lived with the defendant and his ex-wife, Jason Davis’ mother.  The indictment alleges that Jason Davis was present when his father was murdered, as early as 2008, and failed to report his death to the authorities.  Jason Davis then assumed his father’s identity in order to collect approximately $1,500 in monthly Social Security and HUD funded pension retirement benefits.  The defendant also failed to report his receipt of these funds to the Department of Agriculture in order to fraudulently obtain food assistance benefits.  As a result of his fraudulent scheme, the defendant collected approximately $120,000 in federally-funded benefits which he was not personally qualified to receive.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit and Public Assistance Fraud Task Force, SSA-OIG, HUD-OIG, and USDA-OIG.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Bell and Adam McMichael.

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and 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

>>> Press release: The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Presents -THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES
MASTER QUEST Multimedia symphonic concert returns with new music and scenes from “Tri Force Heroes,” the latest The Legend of Zelda video game. The Legend of Zelda franchise celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2016!

“An utterly flawless presentation!” – WIRED Part of the 2015-2016 Live at Knight Series

April 16, 2016 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $35-$125* VIP Package: $150*John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall

MIAMI, FL January 15, 2016 – Now celebrating its 10^th Anniversary Season, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to present the return of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES and its new highly-anticipated multimedia symphonic concert MASTER QUEST. This latest edition of The Legend of Zelda symphony will feature brand-new music and visuals from the new The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes video game released in October 2015. As part of the Center’s Live at Knight Series, MASTER QUEST will delight video game and orchestral music fans alike on April 16 in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall.

Tickets to MASTER QUEST are on sale now and range from $35 to $125*. A VIP Package for $150* includes premium seating, meet and greet with executive producer Jason Michael Paul and principal conductor Amy Andersson, official tour VIP lanyard, limited edition poster and a VIP Fast Pass to the merchandise booth. Tickets may be purchased at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

Making its South Florida premiere, MASTER QUEST is a never before seen or heard multimedia concert experience featuring a live 56-piece orchestra, 20-person choir and a larger-than-life video presentation of gameplay imagery. The concert also boasts live orchestral performances of theme music from Nintendo’s beloved The Legend of Zelda franchise – now celebrating its 30^th anniversary. Guests will enjoy their favorite game moments from the series, carefully and beautifully timed with a gorgeous orchestral score approved by Nintendo sound director and The Legend of Zelda composer Koji Kondo.

Those new to THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES will also have the opportunity to experience the beautifully orchestrated four-movement symphonic work from last season which chronicles fan-favorite moments from the video game’s rich and storied history, carefully and expertly timed with videos. The concert is a festive experience for all fans, many of which attend in “cosplay” as their favorite characters.

For more information, please visit: www.zelda-symphony.com. Support for the Live at Knight Series is provided by Wells Fargo. *All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Additional fees may apply. Visit www.arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information, details and performance.

Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.arshtcenter.org/press.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations. In its 10^th anniversary season, the Arsht Center thanks its institutional donors for their historic commitment to the performing arts and Greater Miami: Adrienne Arsht; Miami-Dade County; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Dr. Sanford L. and Dolores Ziff & Family; The Arison Family/Carnival Corporation; Knight Ridder Inc. and The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald; Sears Roebuck and Co.; Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; Bank of America; Joyce and M. Anthony Burns; Audre and Donald Carlin, Hedy Carlin and B. Pair Carlin; The Cejas Family Foundation; Gilbert S. Kahn and John J. Noffo Kahn; Haskell Company; Miami Salon Group Inc.; Odebrecht; Peacock Foundation Inc.; Ryder Charitable Foundation; Terra Group; Wells Fargo and Lynn Wolfson.

About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

Set in the heart of downtown Miami and designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is one of the world’s leading performing arts organizations and venues. Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has emerged as a leader in presenting innovative programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity as well as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area. Spotlighting legends and serving as a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage, the Center presents nearly 500 events each year across its eight flexible, state-of-the-art performance spaces. The Center programs 12 signature series, including the largest jazz series in South Florida, the biggest flamenco festival on the East Coast, and a robust program of new theatrical works as well as free programming for the community and an arts education program that serves nearly 30,000 children each year. As Miami’s new Town Square, the Arsht Center also houses Brava!, a fine dining restaurant; the Café at Books & Books in the historic Carnival Tower and a weekly Farmers Market. Visit www.arshtcenter.org for more information.

>>> 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 work Sprache 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

>>> Public institutions need to remember baby boomers not as nimble with technology as young folk’s small font a nightmare for some

There is not just a digital divide, but a widening technological gap as baby boomers get older and are expected to be more capable of their computer skills, despite having some medical issue like a stroke and public institutions are moving faster with this new technology leaving many people behind, who may or not have a smart phone that was first introduced Jan. 9^th 2007 by Steve Jobs and the Apple iPhone and while young people have no problem with all this technology that is likely not the case if you are in your sixties where reading small font requires a magnifying glass and public institutions as they rush to embrace this technology that they need to remember that for some people they may need some help navigating it and catching up to speed of this technological revolution.

>>> 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

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.

LETTERS

>>> Clarification of MESA story by XO Blanco, minutes not kept by past director Menendez, are now

There are discrepancies in the MSEA article. Kirk Menendez is the past Executive Director that failed to keep minutes of the board of directors meetings. He was not a senior staffer. He did not leave, he was transferred to legal department. He was in legal department for a short period of time. Since I was named Executive Director,   all minutes, agendas, and records of attendance of board members and attendees have been filed with the City Clerk’s office. I will appreciate very much, if you would correct this article on your next publication, Lourdes Blanco, MSEA, Executive Director

>>> A Reader on danger of yellow pole barriers on 195, and sign petition asking FDOT to modify polls https://www.change.org/p/florida-department-of-transportation-change-i95-plastic-poles-to-unable-movement-in-and-out-of-the-express-lanes

>>> 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.

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

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

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MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

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THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

>>> Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors the Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extras have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. I welcome letters via e-mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2016, 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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