Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No. 49 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 Years of Weekly publishing – with a needed fundraiser will you help?

>>> 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 information 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 we have about $9 billion in GOB funds being spent through a variety of institutions and that is no small number 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 However, because of fiscal issues I was barely able to publish this week as Miami continues to get more expensive. It is no easy task to do the WDR weekly. And years ago the County Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free (and that is a problem) between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. And many public meetings back then were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer the case. For an accurate public record is key and diminishes legal action. For you either have an accurate public record or you don’t. And I hope you will consider helping me in this effort to keep the community informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. For I need your help and Thank you for the past support over the last 17 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

And the Watchdog Report is doing a once in 16 year fundraising drive campaign for after sixteen years of doing this. I am reminded of the refrain said by a nun, That if there was “no margin [there is] no mission,” and that applies to the WDR where since 1997, I have used my own money some $200,000 to finance this and that money is depleted and I ask my friends and readers to pitch in to help keep this independent news service out in the community after so many years and the credibility I have established over that time of news you can trust without an attitude. And to help me in this quest to keep the community informed can easily be done since I know have PayPal at www.watchdogreport.net and it accepts a host of credit cards hope you will consider supporting me allowing to have someone watch over how your public tax dollars are being spent. And few web blogs have the duration and community history as I have given in this effort and has people saying “you were blogging before we even knew what it was,” And I hope I get a decent response so I can get back to what I do best ‘go when you cannot,’ and the Watchdog Report will only return when my fiscal health is in better shape and to any of my past contributors. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

>>> And may you and your family have a safe and reflective Passover.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> With five more primaries coming Hillary Clinton is trying to seal the deal against Sen. Sanders, and Donald Trump having a better week is being hammered for his evolving political philosophy, one ad uses an etch a sketch of what he believes in

And Trump 2.0 is debuting on the campaign trail and the real-estate mogul is saying he will be the most “presidential” person voters have ever seen but Hillary Clinton is already running ads attacking the bombastic man who is calling her dishonest and says he is relishing running against her in November, but he has also been rattling the cage of the GOP establishment questioning whether the primaries are fair and not rigged, even though he has a higher percentage of delegates then he got in votes and many wonder even if he steps back has the damage been done given his high unfavorable. But this president6ial cycle is like no other and the role of social media that is getting more mature and larger in scope is bleeding into politics in a way never seen before. And the GOP is shifting its strategy of trying to stop the billionaire’s run for the nomination and are trying to come together something Sanders supporters are finding hard when it comes to Clinton.

>>> Zogby press release: Hillary Clinton’s Big Victory in New York Raises Big Questions By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has won a big victory in her adopted home state of New York. As of this writing (not quite 11PM primary night) it looks like the final vote over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will settle at about 56%-57% for Clinton to Sanders’ 43%-44%. It does not compare with Sanders’ 80% support in his home state, but it is enough of a margin to say it was not as close as Sanders needed to at least win a moral victory. Delegates have not finally been tabulated yet but of the statewide delegates (as opposed to the ones who ran in the 27 congressional districts, Clinton has won 104 and Sander 85 – a good take home for both candidates but not enough for Sanders to narrow his deficit in delegates. He has no hope to win the Democratic nomination this summer. Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/739-hillary-clinton-s-big-victory-in-new-york-raises-big-questions

>>> Tom Fiedler on WLRN talks about busting Sen. Gary Hart and Donna Rice Affair, fascinating story on the new bounds of investigating politician’s personal life

Tom Fiedler a former Managing Executive editor of The Miami Herald was on WLRN 91.3 FM Saturday afternoon talking about his award winning busting of potential Democratic Party presidential candidate Sen Gary Hart, D-Colorado, having an affair that he consistently denied to be true and Fiedler and others in the media at the time questioned whether it exceeded the bounds of the press in looking into someone’s public life of they were running for office and he believed after Watergate the issuer of someone’s personal life was of interest and showed a side that was disturbing after Hart was dogged with girlfriend issues even though he was divorced at the time and Fielder said he did a story on whether Hart was seeing someone in Miami and after the story ran he said he got a phone call from a woman’s girlfriend. And she said her friend an attractive model Donna Hart (who in a bikini did a poster that said see Miami Like a native) and she was flying up to Washington D.C. the next week (and to buy a ticket on the flight) and to look for her on the flight which he and other Herald reporters did and they followed her to a townhouse in Foggy Bottom and later caught Hart with Rice coming out of back in 1898. And here is an extensive story done by Fiedler on how the investigation started and it is a fascinating story and to read it go to: http://www.unc.edu/~pmeyer/Hart/hartarticle.html

OBITUARY

>>> PAST WDR: Decorated Vietnam Veteran Bob Levy passes at 67, was a prince of a man supported a host of issues including the WDR since May 2000, he will be missed

Robert M. Levy, 67, passed last week after a long battle with Cancer and county Commissioners Tuesday had two moments of silence during a committee meeting when Bob passed and friends heard that his “email has gone silent,” and Commissioner Sally Heyman said Bob who founded Robert M. Levy & Associates Public & Government Relations, was “a good friend for us and Miami-Dade County and a champion for many causes and underdogs,” said Heyman from the dais. And Bob was a great friend of the Watchdog Report. And since 2000 he would send me monthly a $100.00 check and the decorated U.S. Army Vietnam veteran was a major advocate for veterans and he was awarded three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star for his combat service in Vietnam. And his office in Tallahassee, where he worked as a lobbyist was filled with mementoes of his decades at the capital.

And he created Dade Days at the capital now in its 28^th year and included a giant Payaya.And Bob ran a host of judicial campaigns and lobbied for a number of municipalities and while a progressive he politically was hard to pin down. Further since I first began Bob would email my WDR every Sunday night to all the people on his distribution list and his blast helped get me established in the early days and that was most appreciated, and I and many others will miss him as a friend. Rest in Peace Bob, you made your mark in so many ways. And I will run when his Celebration of Life is being held and here is the Herald story on Bob

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article71441502.html

Levy in an email photo I got concerning his passing and below is the planned Celebration of Life for his friends and colleagues being held May 1, at Homestead Hospital.

Celebration of Life invite RSVP at tammyl@baptisthealth.net

FLORIDA

>>> GOP Sen. Diaz de La Portilla gets viable challenger in November in state Rep. Rodriquez, who is getting help from Sen. Nelson in fundraising for Sen Dist. 37 race

Sen. Bill nelson is headlining a fund raiser for state Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami and the attorney is challenging state Sen. Miguel Diaz De La Portilla, R-Miami for the Florida Dist. 37 senate seat and it is expected to be a hotly contested race and

>>> Note to Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jackie Schwartz, don’t drink when you are on new medication. For this is the third time you embarrassed your peers and fellow jurists on the bench and http://miami.cbslocal.com/tag/judge-jacqueline-schwartz/

And for this latest incident you should be removed from the bench since it is your fourth such gaffe that also included you apologizing for a slur towards the Hispanic community that you later retracted but it is clear you have an issue nd residents deserve better. For more go to http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/id=1202755262658/JQC-MiamiDade-Judge-Schwartz-Was-Drunk-on-Bench?slreturn=20160324152735

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Will Frost Science Museum need more money after $45 million injection, cost of massive concrete pour by Baker Concrete still being litigated, could be the second fiscal second shoe to drop?

When it comes to the Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum another shoe is expected to drop and it is the contractor Baker Concrete that did the massive concrete pour http://www.frostscience.org/blog/our-story-in-concrete and the Watchdog Report is being told there is major litigation on the cost and Baker and the museum may need to pony up some $20 to $30 million more than the approved $45 million grant approved recently by the County Commission in a dramatic vote that had Dr. Frost coming to the commission chambers for the first time in all his years in Miami. And to read the IG report on Frost go to http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2016/FrostScienceMuseumMemo.pdf and to see the pour video go to: http://blog.usa.skanska.com/our-team-was-neither-shaken-nor-stirred-on-this-epic-concrete-pour/ or http://blog.usa.skanska.com/our-team-was-neither-shaken-nor-stirred-on-this-epic-concrete-pour/

>>> Controversial attorney Vincente Brown, appointed to one year term on MDX board

After some confusion when it came to the voting. The Miami-Dade County Commission voted to name attorney Vicente Brown to the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority to a one year term, and Brown, the City of Opa Locka attorney was recently called out because he emailed the witness list of a federal grand jury probe of the city. He has said it was a “simple mistake, and he apologized.” He told Commissioner Barbara Jordan but now he has this new gig. And he is a former County employee.

What about Jordan?

Commissioner Barbara Jordan in a discussion of legislation promoting transparency when it comes to PAC and ECO’s organizations used to promote a candidate said she “will never support got you legislation,” since if something is not reported right there may be consequences and she went after the media. Saying a reporter asked if she had a PAC for her reelection campaign?” and she thought he was referring to the Performing Arts Center. And she called this “ambush journalism,” by the reporter and she wanted no part and that was why she could not support the enhanced reporting legislation sponsored by County Commissioner Daniel Levine Cava. Who during her election was attacked by an unknown PAC in the race for her commission seat where she beat Commissioner Lynda Bell in a tight race?

And County Commissioners May 3 will be taking up legislation concerning Uber and the contentious issue is

And the County Commission voted to extend the Community Based Organizations (CBOS) application deadline with the county, “by one week,” said Commission chair Jean Monestime last week.

What about the Ninth Annual International Agriculture, Horse & Cattle Show Ronald Reagan Tropical Park?

Commissioner Javier Souto who helped create the event said it was a major success and extremely well attended and for Souto there is some vindication. Since years ago some in the press criticized the cost of the event as just another county boondoggle pushed by a commissioner but it has grown substantially and draws a host of visitors.

>>> Press release: At its April meeting, the School Board approved a resolution presented by School Board member Lubby Navarro, recognizing the 9th Annual Miami International Agriculture, Horse & Cattle Show created by Miami – Dade County Commissioner Javier D. Souto.

This year, the annual event took place from April 15-17, 2016. School Board Member Navarro participated during the kick- off event and joined students during the event activities. Miami-Dade County Public Schools students participated in the event to showcase their agricultural programs and products. Among the schools that participated were: Coconut Palm K-8 Center, Hialeah Gardens Middle School, Richmond Heights Middle School, Felix Varela Senior High School, Hialeah Gardens Senior High School, and South Dade

>>> MD-C IG publishes 2015 annual report also keeps watch on public schools district,

The Miami-Dade County Office of the inspector General has issued their 2015 annual report and the Watchdog agency created in 1997 amid numerous scandals also keeps watch of the public schools district and a host of county’s 25 departments including Jackson health system and to read the annual report go to http://www.miamidadeig.org/annualreports/2015AnnualReport.pdf

>>> BCC Joint meeting with Miami-Dade County Youth Commission still highlights number one issue, “violence,” and “bullying in middle schools,” a amazing group of youth, doing a host of activities

And a joint Board of Miami-Dade County Commissioner’s Youth Commission was a breath of fresh air as these high school leaders in committees have begun a host of projects including collecting 500 used AP/ Sat test books, very expensive but highly helpful on the tests. Further another program was handing out of book bags with supplies and working closely with The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade, trying “to mend the gap with our youth and the police,” said one committee chair and the members wearing Miami-Dade County logo monogramed polo shirts, went to Tallahassee and met with state leaders,” and these future community leaders are an impressive group and in past years when the body met, violence and bullying (with the majority happening in middle schools, said one commission member) were at the top of their list and the civility and quality dialogue gives me hope concerning the leaders of the future. And many of them are going to top notch universities. And these members also worked with the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board and had a anti bullying forum at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens

And Commissioner Barbara Jordan a former social worker came up with the idea of the Youth commission and chair Jean Monestime said, I am “very proud of the body… and the leadership is second to none,’ he considered during the joint body meeting held in the county commission chambers. During the discussion Jordan said, “I don’t know how you did all these activities,” and suggested working closer with the school board.

What did Jordan say about a Youth Commission budget?

The Youth commission has been trying to raise money and one of the items they want to do is go to Washington, D.C., and Jordan suggested they suggest which programs the county should support, because “You know you go to the schools, what programs we should fund,” “since we are going into the budget season,” said Jordan who created the youth commission a few years ago and the members bring a great perspective to the needs and issues are children are facing that has had over 100 children killed in past months. And Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said she would like to go with them to the capital.

GMCVB press release: HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH 2016 REACHED 84.9 PERCENT, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. HOTEL ROOMS SOLD FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2016 WAS UP +4.3 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, ABSORBING THE +3.6 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOM INVENTORY YEAR ON YEAR. DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES DURING MARCH 2016 RANKED #1 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REVPAR), #1 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) AND #6 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS AS DEFINED BY SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH.

March 2016 Monthly Rooms Sold March 2016 March 2015 % Change vs. 2015 1,383,625  $1,326,477 +4.3% Monthly Rooms Supply March 2016 March 2015 % Change vs. 2015 52,564 50,752 +3.6% Miami # 1 – Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) March 2016 March 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $213.07 $215.26 -1.0% Miami #1 – Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) March 2016 March 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $250.93 $255.31 -1.7% Miami # 6 – Average Daily Occupancy March 2016 March 2015 % Change vs. 2015 84.9% 84.3% +0.7%

What about the MPO

“Vision without execution is a hallucination,” said Tomas Edison years ago since it has been 30 years when it comes to new transportation projects, said Maurice Ferre. And every project from Miami-Dade has “been contested in Tallahassee and did not happen,” and ten “big projects have been done including the tunnel,” said Maurice Ferre and we can’t go to Wash and not be unified. “You talk a lot in Miami-Dade,” but you don’t come together said FDOT Sec. Jim Vauxhall in Tallahassee and we have reconsidered. When I started 40 years ago we were going point to point, and now we have corridors and hubs,” and it has to be a “System,” said Ferre. He also believes driverless cars will change everything and Mayor Carlos Gimenez said a classic line that it is changing so quickly and Gimenez doesn’t want “to be the last county to buy a flip phone.” He also noted after an upbeat MPO transit solutions meeting he noted ironically “that there was no media covering the event,” since media parking has been eliminated and makes it difficult for the press to cover these meetings. And it looks like the county may finally get its act together since commissioners are starting to agree to a six corridor plan and for more got to. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article73220862.html

>>> Former Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez Cantera was spotted behind the county commission dais and the man got a shout out from Commissioner Xavier Suarez who noted he is known as “Cal” and Lopez Cantera is running for the U.S. Senate since GOP Gubernatorial candidate Marco Rubio is not. And the whole issue came up when a man spoke in front of the commission and he had a certain resemblance with Gov. Rick Scott and some banter took place by Commissioner Xavier Suarez.

>>>> PAST WDR: MIA director Gonzalez says airport ready to take off, over 100 carriers, east west the new frontier, routes to Turkey and Dubai

Emilio Gonzalez, the director of MIA was the featured speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber’s monthly luncheon in April and he is in charge of the state’s largest economic engine, Miami International Airport. And at a recent omission meeting Commissioner Dennis Moss was critical of the man for being slow to give a couple of minority business slots to open restaurants at MIA. And Gonzalez who operates the most “regulated county department,” told the Watchdog Report when I asked him about the exchange that Moss has his own agenda and I have mine,” which is to generate the money necessary to pay off the airports $6.5 billion in bonds used to pay for the massive expansion of north and south terminals at MIA and the payments are close to $1 million per day. Gonzalez accepted the pressure cooker job after Jose Abreu retired after the expansion was finished and a new Central Terminal is the next big project and there are over 100 carriers flying out of MIA and while most flights are north and south there is also a push for carriers going east and west including Dubai and China and one of the challenges is to be able to absorb these new flights and “not to be constrained,” for carriers will go elsewhere given the investment and the man is a former U.S. Army officer who retired with the rank of colonel and he has a Ph.D. in international affairs from the University of Miami. He noted MIA accounts for 282,000 jobs he has a “new best friend, in Gov. Rick Scott,” he joked since Scott is known as the jobs governor

MIA Central Terminal extensive discussion Moss wants a vigorous debate on expansion and cost to get it done?

MIAs massive Central Terminal is getting a massive face lift and airport officials gave a major presentation to a tourism commission committee meeting and the issue of a “Fuel Farm,” for MIA is still up in the air and a pipeline route along the Miami River once considered is a no go said staff to the commissioners. And MIA had a record 50.6 million passengers and while some S. American countries have financial problems and “Venezuela’s [economy] is in a basket,” but a new ten year Chinese Visa is expected to help increase tourism from the Middle Kingdom even though the country’s economy has slowed as well. And international trade at MIA is down “4.87 percent,” said Manny Gonzalez at the tourism meeting.

And the estimated cost is $1.2 billion and other renovations will come in around $20 million per year in maintenance projects to allow the facility to “have capacity,” and not be “constrained,” to grow and will include new gates capable of handling the new domestic and international jumbo aircraft. And when it comes to the proposed fuel farm that will come in “close to $7 billion,” said Commissioner Jose Pepe Diaz at the tourism and trade committee meeting. A plan for that has yet to be finalized.

>>> Sosa wants to push for film incentives, blocked by state, productions go to Georgia, big economic impact

Film incentives that get vetoed or shot down in the Florida legislature was a hot topic and the county is looking at its own incentive program for movie people are going to Georgia to film and it is costing Miami-Dade millions in local community development revenue. And Commissioners Rebeca Sosa and Jose “Pepe” Diaz want to get the local state legislative delegation together, and also talk to Gov. Rick Scott and Enterprise Florida in a public sunshine meeting in the commission chambers, suggested Sosa last week and see if there was some way to end the stalemate in getting any film incentives money and funding. And the special Miami sun was what “brought the famous Jackie Gleason Show,” to Miami Beach said Diaz and the show put the Beach on the map back in the 1960s.

And who gets to have concessions at MIA had commissioners grilling MIA Director Emilio Gonzalez last week and commissioners Dennis Moss and Barbara Jordan asked if a local Creole restaurant had found a spot and commissioners have been beating on staff in what is a mystical process of becoming a concessionaire at the airport and had Commissioner Rebeca Sosa asking what she can say when asked about getting someone a concession.. Since in all her years on the dais she has never been involved with deals at MIA. And she did not know what to tell a resident, and frankly does not want to get into procurement and she has pushed for procurement reforms at the county and MIA, over her years in office.

Bovo

Sosa

>>> Mayor Gimenez let the media park at the Stephen P. Clark Center, they fell on their sword when juvenile court House built and three press spots were absorbed, created in 2000 after Elian Gonzalez controversy, parking on plaza sidewalk gets tickets from Miami Parking Authority

The Mayor should consider reinstating parking areas for the press that were lost when the Children’s Juvenile Court House was built and for a decade there were three parking slots for the media but since then parking around county hall is almost impossible and needs to be corrected and can be done by having a couple of dedicated media parking slots in one of the county’s garages now charging around $10.00 to park which in today’s world adds up if you try to be there every day like I used to be able to do and cannot for a variety of reasons.

>>> 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.

>>> And here is what Lester Sola the director of Water and Sewer wrote regarding the matter of the torn up streets, “In response to your recent statement in The Watch Dog Report, I wanted to clarify the process that Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) undertakes in relation to paving roadways following construction projects. It is the policy of the department to leave an area better than they found it and to ensure the public’s safety and convenience.

Currently, WASD also works with municipalities, local and state utilities/entities that also conduct roadwork to attempt to schedule projects simultaneously in order to minimize repeated cuts and repairs to roadways, as well as to mitigate traffic impacts.

For emergency repairs following an event such as a water main or sewer line break, WASD performs a temporary road repair will allow the roadway to be reopened to traffic. The department then submits a paving request to Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) for final restoration that is then completed in accordance to Public Work standards.

I hope this information is useful to both you and your readership and whether this would be something that you would be inclined to update on your site for your audience. If you have any questions, please contact me,” wrote director sola last week.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Here is the office of the inspector general’s annual report for the nation’s fourth largest public schools district

http://www.miamidadeig.org/2015MDCPS/SB%20ANNUAL%202015%20WEBSITE%20version.pdf And when it comes to oversight there are a number of mechanisms watching over the diverse public schools district and to read the IG report go to http://www.miamidadeig.org/2015MDCPS/SB%20ANNUAL%202015%20WEBSITE%20version.pdf

>>>> Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, part of Miami Children’s Health System, has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) in a pilot program that provides telehealth consultations to support assessment of children who exhibit health issues while at school.

Ron Fraser told the school board Wednesday that the District’s minority contracting policy for projects paid for by the $1.2 billion GOB passed back in 2012 was fair and Fraser has been a critic of many contracts being let out and he is an architect and fixture on various bond boards including the $830 million Jackson Health System bond oversight board and he often speaks at public meetings on small and minority companies winning contracts an benefiting from the bond.

>>> Press release: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, part of Miami Children’s Health System, has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) in a pilot program that provides telehealth consultations to support assessment of children who exhibit health issues while at school.

Press release: The pilot program, offered at four M-DCPS schools, connects school-based nurses and their patients with advanced care providers at Nicklaus Children’s using a secure audiovisual connection. Using audio visual tools, the hospital-based providers are able to assess certain conditions of the skin, ears, eyes, throat and lungs to help determine if the child is well enough to stay in school. When appropriate, a prescription can be submitted to the pharmacy of choice, supporting families in obtaining treatment at the earliest opportunity.

“Innovative, cutting-edge technology is essential not only to classroom instruction, but is also fundamental to the health and well-being of our children,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “Our partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to provide students with telehealth consults will enhance their health care and give them access to hospital-based medical professionals who can provide immediate health assessments.”

Nancy Humbert, Executive Vice President of Ambulatory Services and External Affiliations for Miami Children’s Health System, Dr. Narendra M. Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System, Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools

“We are delighted to partner with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to utilize our advanced telemedicine program to increase access to care for students in Miami-Dade County. This pilot program is part of our ongoing vision to bring quality healthcare to children wherever they are, whenever they need it, and we hope to continue our relationship with the school system,” said Narendra Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System.

This program is an enhancement to the clinical services provided at the schools through the School Health Program, which provides comprehensive health services and improves health outcomes at high-risk schools through a partnership between Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Trust. There is no cost to the families who participate. The schools participating in the pilot program are: W.R Thomas Middle School, Southwest Miami Senior High School, Richmond Heights Middle School, and Airbase K-8 Center for International Education. For more information on this program and to enroll in the pilot, parents should contact their school nurse. More information is also available at www.nicklauschildrens.org/schooltelehealth.

About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital – part of Miami Children’s Health System – is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 740 attending physicians and over 220 pediatric subspecialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015-16 by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org. >>> About Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Miami-Dade County Public Schools is America’s fourth-largest school system. With a diverse enrollment of over 350,000 students from over 100 countries, M-DCPS offers innovative educational programs at its more than 460 schools, including elementary, K-8 centers, middle, senior high schools and alternative, specialized and vocational centers. Students and their families have an active voice in choosing learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, school-to-career pathways and real-world learning. >> About The Children’s Trust: The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their futures. The Trust is guided by principles and values that include targeting early intervention and prevention services to our most vulnerable children, families and neighborhoods, while advocating for and supporting the increased availability of needed services for all children and their families. Additional information about The Children’s Trust can be found at www.thechildrenstrust.org.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>>> Another miracle, JHS has “clean audit,” well in black, Migoya a banker, administration has done a remarkable job turning the beleaguered health system around with help of unions and fresh administration

“Miracles made Dailey,” is the tag line for the Jackson Health System undergoing a dramatic transformation and posting recently a “clean audit,” something not always the case years ago. But CEO Carlos Migoya a banker by trade has done a remarkable job working with the unions and physicians and nurses that makes the medical care so outstanding for the public hospital system and is a sprawling health system with Jackson North and Jackson South Hospitals and for the year there was a $64 million net gain said CFO Mark Knight “and cash on hand is stable,” knight told the PHT board at the monthly televised board meeting. And for more on JHS go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article72916592.html

What did FIU professor Dr. Joe Greer tell the PHT board regarding working with UM physicians at JHS and FIU patients and physicians, great integration is occurring said Greer where his own kids were born at JHS and he was on duty.

What did Dr. Pedro “Joe” Greer, M.D. say about the integration of FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine medical students with physicians from U health that also practice at JHS and Greer, a UM medical student said UM physicians were being responsive and timely when it came to seeing FIU patients admitted to the hospital and the medical school is concentrating on community medicine and trying to catch diseases early where there well over 300,000 uninsured and back in 2004 Jackson had a $94 million loss and included audit adjustments going back to 1989. And to see Dr. Greer’s role at FIU go to http://medicine.fiu.edu/about-us/departments/clinical/humanities-health-society/index.html and for more go to http://medicine.fiu.edu/

>>> JACKSON BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Press release: Building on the success that has resulted in 19 of the Miracle Building Bond program contracts being awarded to small business enterprise (SBE) firms in Miami-Dade County, Jackson Health System’s Public Health Trust Board of Trustees (PHT) today approved an exciting mentor/protégé program that will provide local small businesses the opportunity to shadow expert construction-management firms and gain valuable healthcare experience.  The protégés will be directly interwoven into the six major construction-management services contracts also approved earlier today by the PHT.

“By the time the contracts are completed, we believe these firms will be more qualified and have the experience required to win prime healthcare construction projects,” said Carlos A. Migoya, Jackson’s president and CEO. “They will be better-positioned to compete as prime contractors for high-value healthcare work at Jackson and other institutions well into the future.”

For many years, Jackson Health System has created opportunities for small business to compete. It is a cornerstone of the Miracle Building Bond program that, through March 2016, has seen half of the bond-funded contracts being awarded to firms registered as SBEs, representing nearly 80 percent of the total contract value, or $7.6 million.

The mentorship program, which is vitally important to investing in the workforce and economy of the county, is the result of consultations with numerous internal and external experts, including URS Corporation Southern, Jackson’s program manager for the capital plan, and James H. Lowry & Associates, a national firm focused on building capacity for historically underserved populations.

For each of those six main contracts at Jackson, the experienced construction-management firms have identified registered SBEs in Miami-Dade County who will serve as protégés. They will be intimately involved in every aspect of the scope and work, working directly alongside experienced project management teams. Protégés will have opportunities to manage subcontractors, schedules, planning, and field operations, all under the supervision of a qualified healthcare construction mentor. The mentors will be required to develop mentorship plans that include clear goals and objectives covering crucial areas such as compliance reviews; interpreting drawings, plans, and specifications; preparing bids and proposals; establishing accounting and bookkeeping systems; establishing project management systems; establishing field supervision procedures; ensuring quality assurance procedures; procuring equipment and working capital; and creating procedures to obtain or expand bonding capacity and workforce.

These plans will be monitored during quarterly and annual performance reviews that include Jackson staff.

As with all of Jackson’s competitive solicitations, the proposers were responsible for identifying SBE partners. This process resulted in a demographically diverse group of protégé firms: four are woman-owned businesses, five are black-owned businesses, and one is a Hispanic-owned business. The solicitation process required that all protégés have valid general contractor licenses, at least two years of experience, and a valid certification from Miami-Dade County as a small business enterprise – construction (SBE-C) firm.      

>>> PAST WDR: PHT Trustee Patino withdraws his application at last minute, five remain Dotson major lobbyist, cop Javier Ortiz has his own controversies, and how will commissioners vote?

A new efficiency expert hired by JHS has streamlined getting approvals for projects from months to just a few days, partially because in the old days there was no money for projects and thus no pressure to get projects approved in the highly beau acratic organization. And this new spirit is being demonstrated in the numerous projects being paid by the $830 million GOB passed by voters in 2012 and is funding a host of new projects including a new rehabilitation building badly needed. And an early flow chart was some 15 feet long and that has been shrunk considerable the man said.

>>>> Trustee Patino withdraws his application at last minute, five remain Dotson major lobbyist, cop Javier Ortiz has his own controversies, and how will commissioners vote?

Who are the finalists as new PHT trustees, high profile community service conflicts verboten, comes with media, IG and ethics and public trust commission. “Please see the revised list as Ralph Patino withdrew his application this morning. William Joseph, Heffernan, Dr. Irene Lipof, Albert Eugene Dotson, Esq., Robert Zarco, Javier Ortiz,” wrote Paulette M. Acevedo Assistant to the Deputy Mayor, Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor, after the WDR did a public records request late week.

And the board is chaired by Joe Arriola whose son Rickey is a Miami Beach commissioner and was featured in a story on www.newtropic.com/mismi-leaders-havana on Obama’s trip to Cuba.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>>” People living in mixed use condominiums being hit like commercial [property taxes] because of Miami 21,” says County Commissioner Barreiro at commission meting

There continues to be blow back and unexpected consequences for the Miami 21 zoning code said Miami-DDE County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro where mixed use development is rampant but has residents in in the condominiums “being hit with property taxes like commercial because of Miami 21,” and he believes this is not right but the Miami code encourages retail at the ground level and units above and it remains to be seen is a property appraiser carve out can be crafted to [properly asses the value of a downtown condo.

>>> Manger Alfonso dodges political near death experience when angry Haitian residents demand he be fired after termination of Haitian cultural center director Dorsainvil

Miami Manger Daniel J. Alfonso found Thursday’s commission meeting took on some serious drama after he terminated the director of the Haitian cultural museum. Sandy Dorsainvil who is Haitian and the close Haitian community and its leaders came in mass to Miami city hall Thursday to protest her termination and they wanted her reinstated but Alfonso was adamant she would not come back and then Commission Chair Keon Hardeman said he was going to hire her for his office but the manager would not divulge what a city audit found out re the organization and had commission chair Hardeman calling for the manager to be terminated. And over the years the city has had a mixed record with some of its managers and residents see the difference by the services they receive in their neighbor hoods.

But Mayor Tomas Regalado said if the commission voted to fire him he would veto the matter and commissioners would need five votes to sustain it on the five member body and had caught commissioners and the public by surprise. And Alfonso a former County finance professional is a professional manager who was being criticized for not giving commissioners more of a heads up on some controversial matters and when the motion was withdrawn people are wondering what is next. Since Miami once had six managers over a decade. Further under his watch Miami finally reached its target level of reserves called for in the city Charter and is in great fiscal shape but with this political upheaval residents should expect the bond rating companies to weigh their assessment of the Miami bonds. And while some might suggest the mangers people skills could be better. The Watchdog Report believes something in a city audit must have prompted this firing for the manager has a good temperament and has hired some talented people to keep Miami in good fiscal health.

>>> Walker tapped as CEO of Omni CRA, good choice by Miami commission and Russell, started work Monday

Jason Walker the new Omni CRA Director approved by the Miami commission recently is a great choice and the former El Portal manager has the experience needed to get the job done and he was once a District 2 candidate back in 1997 when Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton beat long serving commissioner J.L. Plummer 29 years in office. And Walker was a Winton staffer and has the temperament to get the job done and I wish him good luck in this new capacity.

>>> Omni CRA Dir Bockweg out the door reluctantly, was only following board policy, Claims “not a political position,” but became very political under Sarnoff

The past Omni CRA director Peter Bockweg was terminated Thursday after he made a desperate plea to retain his job during the Miami Commission meeting arguing he was only following the orders of the board members and his leaving was wrong since it was ‘not a political position,” he told commissioners who unanimously gave him the boot after he agreed to not sue the city that has one t will firing having the employee seeing the city for millions said Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez. However, Bockweg arguing about the politics of the position was almost funny after then Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff had his predecessor James Vilacorta fired and subsequently replace by Sarnoff with Bockweg and the man was very compliant to the commissioners wishes and prior to the CRA meeting Bockeg was outside of city Hall chain-smoking before the expected vote where he was relieved of his position.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article67624957.html

>>> CRA’s still on Miami Commissioner Russell’s mind, wants ‘increased accountability and transparency,” of Omni CRA, says a staffer to county commissioners, after critical grand jury report

Russell this past Thursday briefly was the commission chair during the tense exchanges with Haitian residents who packed Miami City Hall and he did a great job keeping everyone in order and deescalating the situation and joked at the end of the tense meeting they would break for lunch and “get a drink,” which he did not do but it was a baptism of fire and he did a good job.

Miami Commissioner Ken Russell is pushing for more “increased accountability and transparency,” at the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). A commissioner staffer told commissioners at a county commission committee meeting last week and Russell has taken these CRAs to tasks after a grand jury report noted they many times became a political slush fund for politicians that sit on the board. And the commissioners are debating whether there should be a CRA workshop given the 11 in the county but representatives from a Homestead CRA were Luke warm on the workshop. The staffer also noted it will take the Omni CRA board to approve some of the reforms Russell has suggested in the past

Russell

>>> Avid biker Zyscovich meets with Russell staff to explain “plan Z,” and the creation of protected bike lanes after riders killed on Rickenbacker Causeway

Miami architect Bernard Zyscovich an avid biker met with Russell’s staff Thursday to discuss his Plan Z to create protected bike lanes after numerous cyclists were killed going over the Rickenbacker Causeway and

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article7965759.html And Zyscovich is connected and his firm has done extensive work for the public schools district and once gave a major presentation on what the District could develop on the land it owns in downtown Miami and at the time I was shocked how he was pitching development ideas at the time years ago, and he is frequently seen riding his bike in the Grove.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Message from Mayor Levine on new Ocean Drive Security measures, after “recent incidents on Ocean Drive,” writes Levine
Press release: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Due to recent incidents on Ocean Drive over this past weekend, we have taken additional measures to ensure the safety of all of our residents and visitors. Please view the link below regarding Ocean Drive Security Measures implemented by our City Manager, Jimmy Morales and our Police Chief, Daniel Oates.Click on the link: https://goo.gl/1ZIFZI we continue to work diligently to keep our City safe during all High Impact Weekends.

And the U.S Corps of Engineers gave the city even worse Sea Level rise news in an expanded study of the anticipated rise alone the Eastern Seaboard and Coral Gables was also flagged for more intense flooding in the years ahead and at a faster pace says www.miamiherald.com .

>>> Commissioner Malakoff tapped for County’s Homeless Trust Board, replaces Weithorn on body

And Joy Malakoff is the new municipal appointee on the Miami-Dade Homeless trust and she replaces former Commissioner Deede Weithorn who was termed out on the commission and the Beach dedicates significant resources to the issue of the homeless on the tony island.

CITY OF OPA-LOCKA

>>> City Atty. Brown in the spotlight for emailing names of employees, used to chair County Review Committee,

Opa Locka City attorney Vincent Brown is in the media for accidently emailing all city employees the names that will be called before the federal grand jury to testify what they know about any corruption and unusual contracts being let by city leaders and the Watchdog Report first got to know Brown when he chaired the Miami-Dade County Review Committee that approved large contract change orders at MIA and at one meeting. A one page paragraph explained why three change orders totaling some $800 million were passed in less than 30 seconds with no comments.

However, Brown says it was an ‘accident’ emailing the names of city employees that will be called before the federal grand jury to testify what they know about any corruption and unusual contracts being let by city leaders

And the Watchdog Report first got to know Brown when he chaired the Miami-Dade County Review Committee that approved large contract change orders at MIA and at one meeting a one page paragraph explained why three change orders totaling some $800 million were passed in less than 30 seconds and no discussion and I could not believe it at the time. And since then he has been seen on a billboard commercial for apartments in North Dade and the attorney was involved with the County’s Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust (MMAP), an organization formed after the Arthur McDuffie riots and he has a host of honors but it is surprising he sent out the email blast out ‘accidently’ he told the Miami Herald but given his education and experience it is odd.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/index.php#/exhibitions

>>> And the Margulies Warehouse will be closing the season in weeks and to see what art is on display and when it plans to close the season for this community treasure go to http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

EDITORIALS

>>> Congrats to Miami Herald for runner –up Pulitzer for investigative story ‘License to Launder,’ highlights how critical investigative stories are to a community

The Miami Herald being a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize highlights the importance of in depth investigative reporting and while the Watchdog Report has not reached that depth over the past 16 years I have put a light to many government activates from Jackson Hospital to the city of Miami that once went through 10 mangers in a few months and arrests were becoming rampant. And back in 1998 it looked bleak an someone from the public needed to step forward especially after a major political operative said to me “You little people we are going to crush you,” and I thought the public needed someone to look after their interests and the introduction of the internet gave me that opportunity as well as being an editorial and news columnist for The Miami Herald an experience that cannot be described unless you experienced it and here we are today and May 5, 2016 will be my anniversary and hope with my readers help to continue on but I do need financial help and to read what the early years were like go to and I know your hard earned money is sacred. I hope you will honor me with your trust news you can trust without the attitude and my best to all with the arrival of Passover and all my friends who have supported me. And to read a national story on the early years go to: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

>>> 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

>>> Correction on Children’s Trust funding about $250,000 not the $5 million I reported my error

I’m pretty sure our investment in this project with the County is $750,000. The discussion probably got wrapped up in other facts and information about us. For example, this year we directly funded $6 million in youth enrichment programs with summer youth employment components. This was procured in 2015. Here is a link to what that that solicitation looked like and its outcome, including details of what orgs were funded and for what:

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/uploads/images/providers/funding/FY14-15/2015-03/2015-03_RFP_Youth_Enrichment_Recommendations_052215.pdf

So, for The Children’s Trust, our contribution to the County initiative helps to leverage funding pledged by them to fund even more programs and augments our own investment in this arena further. It’s a win, win for everyone — especially inner city youth who need these opportunities most.

Emily Cardenas

Director of Communications

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

>>> 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

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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

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MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

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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

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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

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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