Watchdog Report Vol.16 No.40 February 14, 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 may you and youth family Have a safe and reflective President’s Day and we should all remember the role all the presidents have played in the nation’s evolution.

>>> 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 Saturday night debate likened to “demolition derby,” by candidate Gov. Kasich, candidates comments generate boos and claims of “Liar,” among the presidential candidate field, sudden death of Justice Scalia adds new wrinkle to election and Obama says he will name replacement, GOP cry’s foul

Saturday’s GOP debate was characterized by Ohio Gov. John Kasich as “a demolition       derby,” with audience booing and the candidates called each other “liar,” but the real news was the sudden death of U. S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, and Republican leaders are already saying President Obama should not replace him since the president is a lame duck, but Obama dismisses that notion and does not want the vacancy on the court to last that long but the justice’s death put the future selections of judges in the middle of the political campaign world and who will replace the first Italian Justice and Harvard University graduate is the question today.

And with Gov. Chris Christie dropping out of the race the New Jersey governor is no longer the foil that put a dent in Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.at the previous debate with his prosecutor personality, and Rubio stuck to his talking points and did not make any gaffes in the verbal candidate combat and while Trump continues to bait former Gov. Jeb Bush the governors comebacks don’t seem to stick to the Teflon Trump still riding high in the polls after his victory in New Hampshire and South Carolina will be the next big test and pundits are saying if Trump wins that primary he could clear the board given the momentum it would give him. And for more on the debate go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/elections-2016/article60316821.html

Bush starting to get into the campaign groove

Bush calls himself a grinder when it comes to a campaign that is not a sprint but a marathon in nature and the local republican congressional representatives are sticking with Jeb in their support. But Bush came out of the campaign gate rusty and when Trump dubbed him low energy the tag, stuck with many voters. However last night Bush seemed to be more relaxed and in his grove. But New Jersey governor Chris Christy and Rubio had a couple of exchanges saying all the candidate does is spew the same talking points and during the exchange Rubio looked like he choked and gave the same response he gives in his stump speeches and Christy continued his line of attack and that Rubio is like “the boy in the bubble.”

And Hillary and Sen. Bernie Sanders went after each other at the Democratic Debate Friday night and Clinton squeaked to a victory in Iowa, but lost in New Hampshire but she is having a hard time with women millennium voters and the Watchdogreport has asked dozens of young working millennials and the deficit is in the “trust,” area many of the women said and most were college graduates who said this. And how Sanders does in the open New Hampshire primary where regardless of party you can vote in the election where the candidates have essentially been living and Trump who skipped a past debate may have been punished by Iowa voters with his poor showing at the caucus.

FLORIDA

>>> Will Gov. Scott budget gut safety net programs? Charter schools likely to get more public funding for capital needs, but not a public asset

Gov. Rick Scott is facing legislative headwinds when it comes to the new $79. 3 billion state budget and two of his key proposals $1 billion in tax cuts and $250 million for Enterprise Florida are going nowhere during the legislative session and the lack of funding for safety net programs is stirring the pot in Tallahassee and the jobs governor is being asked to expand his mantra to social issues with a legislature stung by last year’s Scott vetoes of many local projects and cut a wide swath in the state’s final budget. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article59728291.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article46024695.html and of more on the new state budget go to

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article59862996.html

>>>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/

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> 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.

Thomas

>> Museum’s webpage on trustees being removed: The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science today announced that a new Board of Trustees has been appointed to replace the existing Board. The change in the Board’s composition was requested by its primary pledged donors, Patricia and Phillip Frost, in connection with their agreeing to provide the Museum a bridge loan to continue the construction and operation of the new science museum project in Museum Park until the funding of a presently contemplated Miami-Dade County grant and a private bank loan secured by the capital pledges received by the Museum to date. Also, the Board elected Trish and Dan Bell, Co-Chairs of the Board for the past eleven and a half years, as permanent Chairs Emeriti, honorary positions reflecting their extraordinary efforts, leadership and financial commitments in helping to bring this marvelous new museum to reality.

The Frosts explained that they recognize and are most appreciative of the outgoing Board’s passion, dedication and leadership to date, but desire a change in the Board of Trustees to enable them to appoint members with professional skills and expertise highly aligned with their vision for the future of the Museum. The replacement Board of Trustees will consist initially of Cesar L. Alvarez, Senior Chairman of Greenberg Traurig LLP, Dr. and Mrs. Frost, and Richard Pfenniger. The Frosts also indicated that they intend to expand the new Board of Trustees and for the new Board to create two advisory boards: a Scientific Advisory Board and a Community Leadership Board, which they will invite many of the outgoing Trustees to join. The development and construction of the $305 million project is ongoing, with completion of construction scheduled to occur in late 2016. Because of the efforts of the management team and the outgoing Board, the construction of the project is expected to be completed at an aggregate cost within its original budget, including contingencies, despite significant design, engineering and construction challenges arising from the development of the world-class facility – including a change in its project administrator and its construction manager during the last 18 months. The outgoing Board was also responsible for securing $104 million in pledges (more than the level of capital initially expected to be required of private donors), but was not successful in either financing its existing pledges to cash or securing the additional pledges necessary to otherwise yield sufficient cash to meet its scheduled and ongoing construction costs. To date, the pledges secured by the Museum have yielded approximately $49 million in cash contributed to the project, with the balance of $55 million in pledges received to date either in bequests or scheduled for payment in installments over the coming decade.

Speaking on behalf of the outgoing Board, the Bells stated, “All of us at the Museum, staff and Board alike are thrilled that this magnificent project in which we have invested so much time, energy, passion and financial support will continue uninterrupted to a wonderfully successful completion, and we all wish nothing but the best for the Museum as it enters this new phase.” Tags: Board of Trustees, Patricia and Phillip Frost, Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science

What happened to commissioners returning to MIA from Tallahassee?

County Commissioners were upset when their private flight from Tallahassee and their bags were lost at MIA because of a glitch and made commissioners and municipal leaders walk long distances wait to get their bags and Commissioner Audrey Edmonson was upset. And Commissioner Dennis Moss during a transportation and tourist committee said when he listened to flyers complaints he was “embarrassed to be a commissioner,” because of the difficulty of getting around the $6.4 billion updated terminal that was completed a few years ago.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article59807216.html

>>> County Commission has to approve any cultural or art exhibits in lobby of Stephen P. Clark Government Center

The Miami-Dade County Commission will have to approve any cultural or art exhibitions in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark government Center and “we have had a number of surprises,” said Commissioner Javier Souto during a committee meeting and we “don’t want any surprises,” he insisted and Commissioner Daniel Levine Cava.

>>> And Commissioner Xavier Suarez was on a roll last week from the dais and he said to himself, “get your act together Suarez,” as the former Miami Mayor observed regarding some of his comments and someone might cut his coffee intake back.

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.

What about the sky train at MIA that went off the tracks?

MIA management is not talking or explaining what happened when the Sky Train at MIA jumped its tracks and while running now it has forced passengers to walk the long way from the gate to baggage claim and is one of the major complaints of passengers and recently had my brother flying into Ft. Lauderdale because of the ease of that airport. And he always carps about MIA when he flies into MIA.

$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.

>>> Commissioner Diaz, with suspended license, but has job waiver, holds 2^nd Annual Support our Police motorcycle ride event at Tropical Park Feb. 21

County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz told commissioners about the 2^nd Annual Support our Police Event and motorcycle ride being held at Tropical Park on Feb. 21 at 1:30 and includes “all law enforcement [agencies] at every level,” said Diaz and he noted “The event is the largest ever in the S.E. U.S.” And Diaz is still dealing with a past motorcycle speeding and DUI stop where his license was suspended, (but he got a waiver to drive for official duties as a first time offender) for a year and to see the video of his arrest go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article37783179.html

>>> County MPO with bike advocates are working to make tourism biking a new industry with Crandon Park Initiative, being a signature ride

The MPO Transit solution committee had a major discussion on biking opportunities such as Key Biscayne and “tourism biking,” is becoming a hot sport event for tourists and given the coming Underline a significant bikeway is slowly being created through-out Miami-Dade. And Maurice Ferre noted there is resistance to people giving up their cars since the focus was finding workable transit solutions, he noted in a discussion that included Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, just back from Copenhagen and both men are on the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Suarez is the MPO vice chair. Ferre also believes companies like Hyundai might be interested in building a running a mag like transit system.

>>> Press release: During the months of January – December 2015, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 11.1% compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 6.4% while total passenger arrivals increased 8.8% compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
Jan. – Dec. 2015	Jan. – Dec. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
11,595,495	10,439,174	+11.1%
International Arrivals
Jan. – Oct. 2015	Jan. – Oct. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
10,902,372	10,247,696	+6.4%
Total Arrivals
Jan. – Dec. 2015	Jan. – Dec. 2014	% Change vs. 2014
22,497,867	20,686,870	+8.8%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Tucker Tough takes on new meaning after bullet hits portable classroom at Francis Tucker Elementary School in Grove with students in it, thank God no children were hurt but shootings at schools are picking up, not a good trend

The recent shooting at Francis S. Tucker elementary School in Coconut Grove that had a bullet go through a portable classroom with special need students inside is a community tragedy and the Watchdog Report visited the school a few months ago when Gov. Rick Scott and Body by Jake were at the “Tucker tough,” public school for the opening of a $100,000 exercise room with machines after the school won a grant and I was amazed at the young people’s energy and innocence ( and when principle DeGoti stepped to the podium to introduce the governor, the children in perfect unison, said in high pitched voices, “Good morning Mrs. De Goti)” And the attentive children looked at principle Anette De Goti as if she was the voice of God. And for such an event to happen at the elementary school is a real tragedy and has Supt. Alberto Carvalho noting in the past months 60 children had been shot and 20 of them had died Carvalho has told the media but ending this youth carnage is no easy matter and many times is prompted by a social media post and some kids in their community know who is going to be shot next via Snap Chat messages that later dissolve and are unknown to parents.

Principal De Goti

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coconut-grove/article59744706.html

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

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> History of PHT and bylaws and need for future trustees

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.

>>> 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

>>> Commissioner Russell brings conciliatory and pragmatic approach with a touch of social sensitivity to dais

Miami Commissioner Ken Russell appears to have a social conscience and his belief in “we,” and finding a consensus on the dais is beginning to exhibit itself and is in contrast to past Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who many times in budget hearings talked about the haves in a community to have more than the have-nots and is a highly sensitive topic in a community with Miami’s demographics of great wealth and poverty and there is always a undercurrent that some parts of Miami deserve more services than others and is a constant debate on the dais but it was nice to see this new attitude on Thursday at the commission meeting and I believe people will find they can work well together with Russel on matters important to their community.

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.

The CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI

>>> Mayor Stoddard reelected but needs to be careful on his bike if he wishes to finish his new two-year term

Mayor Philip Stoddard, Ph. D., was reelected last Tuesday the FIU biology teacher is an avid biker and he rides every day through the Grove, but he also has been seen running a stop sign while making a left turn on La Playa on his bike and he needs to be careful if he is not to hurt himself and a rendezvous with a car. Stoddard also has sounded the alarm when it comes to sea level rise noteing if not acted on the bond rating companies will inhibit getting the bonded out funding to complete sea level rise projects.

Dr. Stoddard

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

>>>> Press release: Thinking About Running for Office? 

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When Friday April 1, 2016 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EDT Add to Calendar 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 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

>>> 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

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

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ALFRED NOVAK

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THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year

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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

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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

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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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