Watchdog Report Vol.16 No. 42 February 28, 2016 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 17 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

>>> GOP debate rumble in the lone star state, Trump, Rubio, Cruz verbally duke it out, Hillary trumps Sanders in S. Carolina

The political Twilight Zone called the 2016 presidential political primary continues to evolve from past races and the last GOP debate was a demolition derby again and Donald Trump is still riding high in the polls. And the real estate billionaire is hanging on and after the Thursday’s GOP debate in Houston where he and Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio had a number of sharp exchanges. And Jersey governor Chris Christy who has dropped out endorsed Trump Friday and the governor in a previous debate skewered Sen. Marco Rubio, R- Fla., in a couple of sharp exchanges and had Trump dubbing Rubio a “choker,” and Rubio is firing back calling Trump a host off derogatory names “like a con artist,” and ‘hijacking’ the Republican Party but Trump’s Teflon persona and quick retorts have proved incredible successful with his supporters and with Super Tuesday coming in the next few days. The off the cuff frank and brash businessman has been more than able to hold his own. And Trump got a key endorsement and it lead the Friday news cycle when Christy threw his support behind trump and the governor a former prosecutor was a pit bull with Rubio forcing the senator to repeat the same response a couple of times while Christy mocked him. And to see what Fox news said about the debate go to: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/02/26/rubio-cruz-tag-team-trump-at-fiery-gop-debate.html

However, the election equation has changed dramatically after the South Carolina Primary where Hillary Clinton slammed Saunders at the polls and she is slowly overcoming her trust deficit with democratic Party voters but Sanders the independent Vermont senator is still drawing large crowds and for the party the race is in the final leg But Clinton is still being dogged with her emails and her lucrative speaking fees.

Local Congressional delegation comes out in support of Rubio after Bush drops out of race

And Sen. Marco Rubio, R- Fla. is still being blocked by Trump but he has establishment candidate creed and the local Miami congressional delegation, including U, S, Rep, Ileana Ros Lehtinen, R-Miami who were supporting Jeb, but last week they came out now supporting Rubio and it includes both of the Diaz Balart Brothers and Ros-Lehtinen made comments on “This Week in South Florida,” with Michael Putney. And to see the program where Ros-Lehtinen discusses Bush and the presidential race go to http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-feb-14 And also President Obama going to Cuba, a first since the 1920s and the congress woman has been a harsh critic of Obamas Cuban initiative since there have been no real human rights concessions from the dictatorial regime.

>>> Who knew WPBT Channel 2 moderator Ferre was a political consultant for Bush?

Long time Issues Host Helen Ferre was interviewed by Jackie Nespral on her show Impact and the long time journalist was described as a Jeb Bush political associate and advisor and this is the second time she has allowed herself to be described as a Republican even though she hosts the show Issues on WPBT and is a public television station. Further back around 2007. She allowed her name to be floated as a possible Lt. Gov. Candidate when Charlie Crist was running for governor back then but it looks like she has embraced the party which is fine but odd given her role in the community where she has moderated panels for years and was considered politically neutral.

>>> The New Hope, Historical Society is celebrating the 259^th Birthday of Benjamin Perry, the Father of New Hope, just north from where Gen Washington crossed the Delaware River

The New Hope Historical Society is celebrating the 259^th Birthday of Benjamin Perry March 6. He is considered the Father of New Hope, Pa. located on the Delaware River just north from where Gen. George Washington crossed the river and his subsequent attack on Trenton and the Prussian troops celebrating Christmas. And my father Arthur J. Ricker, M.D. founded the society with some friends in 1958 and my brothers and sisters all helped in one way or another raising money for the organization and ultimately. The buying and preserving of the Benjamin Perry Mansion in the center of the town where the canon is located and for more go to www.Newhopehs.org And the Watchdog Report wishes the Society over fifty years old many more years preserving historical reminders of year past in the town that I grew up in and my father had his medical practice in Bucks County Pennsylvania and the Perry sisters were his patients.
March 6th @ 4-6 pm Benjamin Parry Birthday Party

Click on image to enlarge
​Click here to learn about Benjamin Parry

>>> With senseless killing of King Carter, Dr. Marvin Dunn predicted the emergence of this new ultraviolent youth abandoned by mothers and fathers

With the tragic killing of the young boy King Carter, it reminded me of what FIU Professor Marvin Dunn, Ph.D. had warned about ultra-violent youth in the community after he talked to 22 men on death row and the absence and abandoning of a mother and father is creating these new dangerous youth he found and back in 2013. The physiologist warned about this new dangerous trend he said was emerging and here is a past WDR from June of 2013 on youth violence and what Professor Dunn had to say about it and what was lacking in these young people’s lives. And here in South Florida some 60 kids have been shot and some over 20 have been killed.

>>> PAST WDR: June 2013 Dr. Dunn warns of new concern of Black children being abandoned by their mothers, believes they are “more violent” after talking to 22 men, mostly all on Death Row

The Downtown Bay Forum’s luncheon on Wednesday was a discussion of “When Will Black Miami See Progress?” and the event featured speakers Marvin Dunn, Ph.D Professor of Psychology (Retired), Florida International University, Dorothy Jenkins-Fields, Ph.D., Founder, Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida and Traci Y. Pollock, MBA of the Miami-Dade Economic Advisory Trust and it was moderated by Tony E. Crapp, Sr., a former county director and now with CMDI Solutions. And Crapp reminded the audience that May was the anniversary of the Arthur McDuffie Riots in 1980 that engulfed the Miami inner city of Overtown and Liberty City, and left 18 dead and 100s injured.  After an all-white jury in Tampa acquitted a Miami cop for the killing of the Black Marine veteran on a motorcycle, and riots erupted in pockets around Miami. Crapp noted that it was only The Miami Times that reminded the public of the event, last month, as it recedes in people’s minds and was later followed by the Overtown Riot in 1989.  While the Super Bowl was being played, at now Sun Life Stadium and one could see the flames in parts of the city in the background of television shots of the game  that were seen around the globe and I saw when I lived in Sydney Australia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_McDuffie.

Dunn said in some ways “Overtown does not look all that different” than back then, except the “substantial middle class” has left and people now living in the area have a poverty level in the range of “25 to 32 percent” of the local residents, the physiologist said.  He noted there were still over the past few years unsolved police shootings of Blacks in both Miami and Miami Beach and asked, “Why no riot?” He thought it was because of the demographic changes in the area where there are “more Caribbean Blacks” and they have a different take on the situation he speculated. Moreover, Pollock said many of the residents despair of economic revival is the problem because they “have come to the realization that the situation will stay the same, and it is a broken spirit issue,” of many of the residents she thought.

Jenkins-Fields felt that people “without vision will perish” and the younger people of today “never experienced the Overtown” of the past when it “was a thriving area” and that is why she started the Black Archives years ago. “So people would know first-hand” what it was like to live in a “segregated Black community in every way?” She noted in the past their were many Black businessmen in the area but now that number is small and why she believes the restoration of the Chapman House was important because “it appears we are a visible people and we have to see success,” before people “have that Ah ha moment.” In addition, she noted Miami’s first Black millionaire “D.A. Dorsey never had a grant with the county” and these Black businessmen “used their own money,” back then but the profession of choice has changed for Blacks and many of them now go on to be “physicians and teachers,” the respected historian said.

Dunn believed the past riots were not because of “the lack of jobs, it was the police and the strained relationship to more effectively police the Black community,” he thought. And Dunn believed the issue was making “sure people are held accountable,” when it came to policing in the Black neighborhoods. However, Dunn dropped a bombshell at the end of the panel discussion when he noted he had worked with the Public Defender’s Office with some “22 clients, some on Death Row,” and he would ask them how they could kill a child?” and be so cold blooded. And he then said the men were different from in the past where his mother might have raised a child, but the father was gone. However, Dunn noted with these new hard-core men there was something “different” and that was they were “abandoned by the father and the mothers,” and “this is a new trend.” And he warned the “most violent of them are those people that were thrown out or abandoned by their mother,” he has found in his clinical analysis of these past discussions with the inmates.

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie Following Heavy Rainfall and Record Army Corps Discharges –Governor calls on Obama to fund Herbert Hoover Dike repairs

 

Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 16-59 which declares a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties following heavy rainfall which has resulted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers frequently discharging water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. This is a result of inadequate funding by the federal government.  Governor Scott also today called on the Obama Administration to fully fund the more than $800 million in needed repairs to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike which would safely hold water to prevent these discharges. To date, the state of Florida has invested $880 million more than the federal government is required to provide for clean water to the Everglades. To view the Executive Order, click HERE.

Governor Rick Scott said, “The negative effects of flood waters and harm to wildlife we are currently witnessing in these counties is only the beginning if the President doesn’t fund the more than $800 million in needed repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike. Our communities are in imminent danger of prolonged flooding and environmental devastation if the dike is ever compromised. Not only is the well-being and health of our families at risk if the Obama Administration doesn’t immediately begin funding repairs to their federally operated dike, but our housing market, tourism industry and agricultural community will fail if the dike is not repaired and properly maintained.

“We need President Obama to get engaged immediately on this issue and fully fund the needed repairs to their dike so massive U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ discharges are no longer needed.  With heavy rainfall and record discharges, we have no choice but to declare a State of Emergency in these counties today and hope President Obama will pay attention to this crisis.”

The State of Florida has invested nearly $2 billion in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and $1.8 billion in providing clean water to the Everglades. Governor Scott’s 2016-2017 Florida First budget includes an additional $5 billion dollars over the next 20 years to substantially complete the CERP and ensure that clean water is sent to the Everglades. Since the CERP was passed in 1999, the State of Florida has invested $880 million more than the federal government on implementing the 50/50 cost-share plan.  This funding, in addition to the $800 million needed for the Herbert Hoover Dike repairs plus the $5 billion contained in Governor Scott’s Florida First budget, means the federal government needs to invest $6.7 billion to keep up with Florida’s commitment to the greater Everglades ecosystem over the next 20 years. President Obama only asked for $155.5 million next year, less than half of what the federal government should be investing annually.

>>> PAST WDR: Florida had a record tourist season with 105 million visitors in 2015 and tourists sales taxes are the reason the state does not have an income tax and these record numbers cut across a wide swath of the state’s economies and the economic engine is a critical part of the states almost $78.9 billion budget and this record is good news for the residents of Florida. And for more go to

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Miami Commission Thursday has big discussion on CRA and what is appropriate things to fund, Commissioner Russell wants a couple of residents on body, not just politicians but may require legislative law change

The Miami Commission had a major discussion on a recent Grand Jury report on Community Development Agencies (CRA) abuses and while newly minted Commissioner Ken Russell wants to focus the organizations goals on eliminating slum and blight and he is suggesting the numerous CRA boards made up of elected commissioners should also have residents on them to make them less political and more effective but he ran into resistance from Commissioner Keon Hardemon who believed the grand jury report was slanted since these grand juries can be led to a certain degree and he hammered assistant state attorney Don Horn about how the proceedings were done. Hardemon noted the CRA sponsored a gigantic block party in Overtown and how often do tens of thousands people go to the urban core he considered an it was an appropriate use of the CRA money he believed. However the County with a host of CRAs is having a major discussion on the matter and perhaps the best suggestion has been to allow a few citizens to sit on these boards and would add a certain amount of independence to an organization that flirts with being a political “slush fund,” for elected leaders.

What about the elections this year?

With all the commission districts uneven number commissioners up for reelection in 2016 Commissioner Audrey Edmonson gets a challenger in Daisy Black and Commissioner Dennis Moss has drawn a challenger in Rubin Young who is also running for the Miami-Dade County Clerk’s office and Young is challenging long serving Clerk Harvey Ruvin for the countywide office and Edmonson has $336,0000 for her race and Moss has $316,000 in his campaign war chest and Ruvin has $119,000 for his campaign and the early environmentalist ha not faced a strong challenger since being elected in the early 1990s and he has avoided any major scandals while in office.

>>> PAST WDR: Frost Museum board removed, new board and greater public participation by county to right and finish pared down Science Museum that ran out of money and bridge financing gamble by CEO Thomas major mistake, will there be any consequences?

When it comes to the new impressive $325 million Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum the organizations CEO Gillian Thomas seems to have had a What me Worry attitude when it came to the funding of the massive project that will likely open a year later in 2016. Then planned and has had the past board removed and the bad news just keeps on coming and someone needs to bring Thomas back to earth and her entitlement attitude when it comes to public funding that was seen at past internal budget hearings where she argued for more public funding despite the $165 million in GOB funding already given to the Museum and her attitude of entitlement of these public dollars has been a persistent problem ( And the museum is said to have turned down a $10 million donation for the aquarium but the money was turned down, because they wanted to use the money for more immediate costs, says a knowledgeable source) and the secrecy of how decisions have been made has been dark and deep and the GOB oversight board must also have been kept in the dark and accountability seems to have been missing since only recently was it revealed the organization had run out of money and has put the museum’s very generous benefactors Phillip and Patricia Frost in a Public relations nightmare. Since it is a front page story in The Miami Herald and I am been told the Frosts are not happy about the situation and how it has been handled and many are wondering if Thomas will have to fall on her sword and Cultural Affairs director Michael Spring was the county’s Watchdog on the project that also recently has a member from the County’s Inspector General’s office looking into the project that would not allow the press or IG to attend past board meetings in the past even though they got this large slug of public money to kick off the project and it remains to be seen if the projected attendance numbers will actually pan out though the museum’s staff says these numbers are ‘conservative,’ states The Miami herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article60132651.html And to see all the listed $2.9 billion GOB projects and their projects go to http://www.miamidade.gov/bondprogram/gob-projects.asp and The frost Museum is not included on the GOB webpage and there is no info on construction issues and financing which is surprising since the citizen based oversight board is made up of citizens and chaired by former County Commissioner Katy Sorenson.

And for Mayor Carlos Gimenez this is a reelection nightmare though he insists it is not a county project and not under his portfolio but there was a significant slug of public money to the museum and this sudden fiscal demise should not have caught leaders by surprise and people question whether Spring’s Cultural Affairs department should have overseen such a large and complicated project. And Thomas educated in chemistry is often seen walking her dogs in South Coconut Grove and tools around town in a tony SUV. And she joined the Museum in 2003 and first made a public splash when at a County Commission meetings she demanded commissioners put a bond for the facility on the county ballot. And had Commissioner Dennis Moss asking “who are you?” given the threatening tone of her request and her fishing for more county funding was apparent during the County’s Resource Allocation Meetings (RAM). And at these meetings she was always asking for a greater share of convention development taxes and Tourist Development Taxes and back in 2013-2014 $2.5 million of these funds were allocated to the science museum and Thomas insisted once construction started the donations would come in which has not happened and the organization fell willfully short and this ‘aggressive gamble [did not allow for a funding plan that failed,’ states the Miami Herald headline on the matter. And Gillian in photos looks like she has no worry in the world. And any contrition on the foul-up seems to be elusive but that may change when Gimenez asks the County Commission to approve a bridge loan funding coming in at $45 million to pay the venders who at one point stopped work until they were paid. And the facility will likely open a couple of years late and not in 2016 as had been predicted. Editor’s note: when the Museum was just about break ground Thomas was asked at a Bayfront Park Trust meeting that oversees Museum and Bicentennial Park, if the organization had enough money already raised to finish the project. Further Gillian may see in the tea leaves there are dark clouds in the horizon and her house in the Grove is up for sale. And she told Trust members that “there was enough money to build the shell,” of the complex structure and that money was the $175 million GOB money the Museum received from the County.

Thomas

What about CRAs?

The Commission’s Prosperity Committee heard an extensive discussion on CRA’s after a controversial grand jury report that suggests the organization “flirts” with being a slush fund for local elected leaders and assistant state attorney Don Horn attended the meeting and Commissioner Xavier Suarez said he had known Horn for a long time and the man heads up the public corruption detail at the state attorney’s office and Suarez joked when he asked the man to put his name on the record, that we want to know who you are so we would know “who might be under investigation,” he joked.

And a staffer of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell told committee members that reforming how CRA’s operate and spend their money fighting slum and blight is one of his primary missions. And Suarez said “in the past there was a “Lack of communication,” with the past Commissioner [Marc Sarnoff].” And Suarez welcoming South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard, Ph.D. said the city’s CRA was working well because “of his watchful eye,” since the city is in his district an” the mayor [Stoddard] has taken on the CRA,” and the mayor said he saw the CRA as a ”political football,’ land deals and “I put an end to that and stuck to the CRA plan,” and the CRA has done a decent job with infrastructure some of the “Best streets and sidewalks in the city[are in the CRA district],” said the six term mayor to Suarez. And Affordable housing is another focus of the CRA. And Commissioner Audrey Edmonson wants better identification of County CRA projects that she believes are not giving the commission the proper credit and she wants more signs on what are County projects. And Russell the Omni CRA board chair believes around the area where the railroad tracks are located could be a “prime area for affordable housing,” something Miami needs to address to keep the workforce here despite the ever escalating cost of living in Miami.

$5 million summer job funding from Children’s Trust hoped to help quell youth violence, with shootings almost daily countywide

County Commissioners had an extensive discussion of the recommendations in a Joint Round Table on Youth Safety committee Action Plan, on all the gun violence in the county (Where 60 kids have been shot and 20 have died says District Supt. Alberto Carvalho) and students are being killed almost daily. And the creation of best practices policies on how to focus on this small ultra-violent youth. And the County will be getting some money ($5 million) for a summer jobs program from the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County and months ago County Commissioner Xavier Suarez made a presentation to the Trust board showing the data that summer jobs are a great vehicle to increase local people’s security and families That has some homes in parts of the county having bullet holes created by AK 17 bullets said Moss and the “easy access to guns,” is contributing to the violence. And such summer jobs funding was seriously cut back during the Great Recession and the youth programs are missed. And Commissioner Dennis Moss also pointed out how this community violence is destroying the fabric of our societies in South Florida. And thee Watchdogreport writes about this only because the county has a long history of taping into the numerous Trust’s that we have including back in 2000 when county commissioners shifted some $ 70 million in unfunded mandates to the Public Health Trust. And Moss also wants to urge the state to put in more funding for summer jobs and not just the $20 million Scott is recommending statewide but Moss notes is too little to do the job effectively.

>>> Mayor Gimenez should insist water and sewer repairs on roads should end with a smooth roadway, and be part of a repairs final inspection.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez could get a huge number of votes if county contractors doing the $10 to $20 billion in water and sewer repairs on the streets after they dug up the road asphalt that the new asphalt be done so there is a smooth road and not the rough uneven surface the road usually becomes and this is a big deal given the mammoth scope of the upcoming work and any final inspection should include a suitable final road surface for currently the streets are getting badly torn up and is a major complaint that I hear all the time.

>>> GMCVB: Press release: During the month of January 2016, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 6.7 percent compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 2.2 percent while total passenger arrivals increased 4.4 percent compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
January 2016	January 2015	% Change vs. 2015
980,713	919,091	+6.7%
International Arrivals
January 2016	January 2015	% Change vs. 2015
1,004,826	983,203	+2.2%
Total Arrivals
January 2016	January 2015	% Change vs. 2015
1,985,539	1,902,294	+4.4%

MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTER HOTEL GMCVB Board of Directors unanimously approved support of the March 15, 2016 City of Miami Beach Referendum Item #60 approving the city’s lease of city property for a convention headquarter hotel adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center on Monday, January 25, 2016. The proposed 100 percent privately funded 800-room headquarter hotel adjacent to the convention center is crucial to the success of the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center in attracting business and especially highly coveted citywide conventions. The GMCVB encourages voters on Miami Beach to VOTE ‘YES’ #60. Miami Herald Public Insight Network Convention Center Hotel Survey The Miami Herald’s Public Insight Network is currently running a survey on the Convention Center Hotel. This is a wonderful opportunity for community and industry leaders to weigh in on the matter and share specific, individual thoughts on the issue. The Network provides a way for the Herald to gauge public sentiment on the issue. Please take a few moments to provide the Herald with your thoughts – and also consider sharing this survey with your networks of supportive friends, neighbors and associates. Click here to take the survey.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Letter from child advocate David Lawrence, Jr. Be patient with me, please. This is a tad longer than usual, but takes a little explanation. We know that Floridians love their pre-K. How much? We invest almost $400 million a year, and 77 percent of all 4 year olds are enrolled. That’s the good news. But here, in the words of the late Paul Harvey, is “the rest of the story.” High enrollment is not enough; Floridians deserve to know about the return on their massive investment. That is, are children learning? (We know for a fact that only high quality brings real results.) To measure learning gains, a kindergarten screening is given to kindergarten students early in the school year. What is learned leads to a “readiness rate” for pre-K providers. Those providers who do not meet the minimum rate set by the State Board of Education are placed on probation. Last year there was no assessment of the simply vital early literacy skills. No readiness rate was calculated. This year readiness rates are headed toward being calculated with very incomplete data. Should those rates become final, most of the 1,200 low-performing providers will be removed from probation. That means no accountability tied to early reading skills or for the public investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s lousy public policy. Do not let this happen. Please contact your legislators and Governor Scott and tell them:1. Do not calculate a readiness rate without information on VPK students’ early literacy skills.2. Require the Department of Education to include a measure of early literacy skills in kindergarten. Thanks. Dave Lawrence Chair.

>>> OIG report on Charter Schools and Dual enrollment: http://www.miamidadeig.org/2016MDCPS/SB1314.1008Report.pdf

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> With $1.4 billion in capital funding change is coming to dated JHS campus and facilities, board and management say projects will be on time and on budget as public system tries to catch up with other health systems

The PHT continues the massive expansion of the health system and at Friday’s televised board meeting Board Chair Joe Arriola discussed the $1.4 billion upgrade of facilities that will actually happen including the rehabilitation facility long promised but never materialized. And FIU Medical College Dean Rock, M.D. at the PHT board meeting televised noted the schools two year physician assistant program is going well and has “some 120 students,” in the program and is a key component to the community healthcare program being pushed by the public university and has medical students at a host of hospitals around Miami-Dade and these budding physicians are making their mark while training and are getting good reviews from their peers. And JHS is itself getting fiscally better and cash on hand is at 49 days much higher than when at some points. It was at nine or ten days of cash and under the leadership of Carlos Migoya and his team along with concessions from the unions they have done a remarkable job turning around the beleaguered organization whose new facilities will mirror the great medical care the system provides to the poor and uninsured now.

>>> Four trustee’s applicants accepted, but two more applicants are needed, application deadline extended

PHT webpage Overview: The Public Health Trust (PHT) was created in 1973 by the Board of County Commissioners as an independent governing body concerned with the county’s most vital healthcare resource: Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Trust is comprised of concerned volunteer citizens who set policies that assure that Jackson Health System is responsive to community needs. This “citizen body” provides leadership for joint planning between Jackson Health System, the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, Miami-Dade County and other private and community organizations.

In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners amended Chapter 25A of the Miami-Dade County Code that governs the Public Health Trust. Notably, these changes altered the composition and size of the Public Health Trust as well as the responsibilities for countywide health care. A new Office of Countywide Health Care Planning was created under the Office of the County Manager and Jackson’s role was redefined to focus solely on the planning of facilities within the system. To read the Public Health Trust Bylaws, click here . View the Public Health Trust meeting calendar by clicking here.

>>> Press release: As of the February 9, 2016 deadline for Public Health Trust (PHT) Board of Trustee applications, the following four (4) applications were received:

William Heffernan,

Irene Lipoff,

Albert Dotson, and

Ralph Patino.

Per the County Attorney’s Office, in order to bring an item forth to the Board of County Commissioners, the Nominating Council must put forth six (6) names, at a minimum.  Therefore, Chairman Arriola has extended the PHT Board of Trustees application deadline until March 2, 2016 (3 weeks) at 4:00 pm.

As a result, the Chairman has requested that the February 24, 2016 meeting be rescheduled so the Nominating Council can review all the applicants after the extended deadline and decide finalists to interview.  The date of the next Nominating Council meeting and a revised timeline will be forthcoming. I have included the 2016 PHT Board of Trustees application in case you would like to share with any candidates.

>>> past WDR: 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

>>> 40th Calle Ocho Festival created by Kiwanis Club of Little Havana revving up, largest Hispanic block Party in nation with some 800, 0000 expected to attend Mar. 13 event actor Andy Garcia Grand Marshall

The Calle Ocho Festival is coming Mar. 13, and the festival is celebrating its 40^th year as the nation’s biggest Hispanic block party where over 800,000 people gather along the iconic street running through Little Havana and is put on by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and the organization founded in 1978 is the largest Hispanic Kiwanis Club in the nation and when first organized only some 10,000 people were thought to attend versus the “100, 000,” that did come state’s club documentation. And this year’s Grand Marshall is actor Andy Garcia and the event got $10,000 in sponsor seed money from the Miami MESA board recently. And the club’s members give 250,000 hours of volunteer service, over 250 scholarships awarded, and over 70, 0000 holiday gifts distributed and 100,000 children helped including $8,000,000 in funds for initiatives and a host of other programs. And for ore go to www.kiwanislittlehavana.org

What about the Coconut Grove Playhouse and actor Kevin Spacey?

The Coconut Grove Playhouse shuttered since 2006 is gaining steam and fans and actor Kevin Spacey is getting support from a number of online groups and for more go to: https://thenewtropic.com/kevin-spacey-playhouse/?mc_cid=009ee60100&mc_eid=3d3085fc5f

>>> Commissioner Russell participates in Farm Share event, at Miami Elizabeth Virrick Park, politicians doing free food give away need to not make sure it is not a campaign event, says M-DC Ethics and Public trust Commission, Russell “thinks Farm Share, is a good organization.”

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Beach voters coming around regarding new convention center and March 15 vote, community and tourism leaders all behind the new design and deal that will jump start big time convention tourism

Beach voters are going to the polls March 15 and are being asked to approve a long sought new convention Center and hotel and tourism leaders want to jump start major conventions coming back to the beach like The American Heart Association or the College of Cardiology both gigantic events that used to come regularly to Miami back in the 1980s but have gone elsewhere and the convention design in the past has caused controversy but this current plan is moving forward and is expected to pass.

Press release: GMCVB Board of Directors unanimously approved support of the March 15, 2016 City of Miami Beach Referendum Item #60 approving the city’s lease of city property for a convention headquarter hotel adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center on Monday, January 25, 2016. The proposed 800-room headquarter hotel adjacent to the convention center is crucial to the success of the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center in attracting business and especially the highly coveted citywide conventions. The GMCVB encourages Miami Beach residents to VOTE ‘YES’ #60.

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 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 MERCHANTS OF DOUBT WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 17TH | 7 PM | FREE EVENT Village of Pinecrest  | 11,000 SW 57th Ave |  Pinecrest  | Fl  |  33156 Join Village of Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner and the CLEO Institute for the screening of this incredibly revealing documentary about the MERCHANTS OF DOUBT: a disturbing conspiracy to instill doubt and fear on the US population. A DO NOT MISS DOCUMENTARY. The troubling story of how a cadre of influential scientists have clouded public understanding of scientific facts regarding Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming to advance a political and economic agenda. It takes a look at looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change. RAFFLE 4 Merchants of Doubt DVDs will be raffled so, you too, Can spread the message! CARPOOL IF YOU CAN GROUNDSWELL RISING Protecting our Children’s’ Water & Air WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 24TH | 7:30 PM – RECEPTION | 8 PM – SCREENING SUGGESTED DONATION OF $5 ECOMB’S New Location: mind warehouse | 111 NE 1st Street, 7th Floor  |  Miami | Fl | 33132 FRACKING IN FLORIDA? NO FRACKING WAY!  Join the Green Party of Miami-Dade & ECOMB for the screening of this Emmy-Winning documentary about the human side of fracking! SPECIAL Q&A GUEST Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava Groundswell Rising: the new documentary from Emmy Award-winning Resolution Pictures, captures the passion of people engaged in a David and Goliath confrontation. They stand together, challenging a system that promotes profit over health. We meet mothers, fathers, scientists, doctors, farmers and people from all sides of the political spectrum taking a hard look at energy extraction techniques not proven to be safe. With the Oil and Gas industry’s expansion of fracking seen as a moral issue, this provocative documentary tracks a people’s movement, a groundswell rising towards reason and sensitivity, to protect life, today and tomorrow. COCKTAIL RECEPTION @ 7:30 PM Join us for some pre-screening wine and socializing by Rethink Energy of Florida $3 GLASS OF WINE – IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN CUP $5 GLASS OF WINE – IF YOU USE OUR RECYCLABLE ONES (Suggested donation) SPECIAL Q&A GUEST Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava 9:00 PM SCREENING CO-HOSTS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SCREENING AT ECOMB’S NEW HOME:  Come check out this incredible work-share space located in the heart of Miami! Multiple rental options available and special rates for Non-profits! Plus an incredible multiple-use event space for art and film exhibits, parties, fundraisers, meetings, etc. PLEASE USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR CAR POOL!  MUST RSVP TOECOMB@ECOMB.ORG For more info you may call Andrea Cuccaro @ 786.925.1151 or Luiz Rodrigues @ 786.853.1855   >>>> Press release: Thinking About Running for Office? The Good Government Initiative will offer a one-day workshop on Friday, April 1, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM to help you: Define your purpose in wanting to run for office Tap into your leadership strengths and core values: Plan your fundraising strategy: Connect with constituents and your community, Get ready to launch Register Now! When Friday April 1, 2016 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EDT Where Bilzin Sumberg Law Offices 1450 Brickell Avenue, 23rd Floor Miami, FL 33131 Driving Directions Guest speakers include: Mayra Peña Lindsay, Mayor, Village of Key Biscayne Dan Gelber, Attorney and former State Senator Katy Sorenson, former County Commissioner Jean Monestime, Chair, Miami-Dade County Commission Francis Suarez, Commissioner, City of Miami Mark Samuelian, former candidate, City of Miami Beach Shellie Levin & Christian Ulvert, Campaign Consultants This workshop will take place at Bilzin Sumberg Law Firm and will be limited to the first 25 applicants. The fee is $95 and will include a continental breakfast, lunch, and parking. YOUR PAYMENT IS YOUR RESERVATION! Register using the “register now” link above. NO REFUNDS. For more information email Jennifer@goodgov.net

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 these organizations 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 plagued the county back in the 1990’s and was a frequent topic in the media.

LETTERS

>>> 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.

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

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BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

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

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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, 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

>>> 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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