Watchdog Report Vol. 17 No.1 May 8, 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 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 financially 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 17 years a 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 and I 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.

>>> May 5^th was my 17^th Anniversary, and I thank all my supporters and can’t believe I have done this that long

May you and your family have a great Mother’s Day and we should all remember what our mother’s contributed to who we are today and while my mother passed. She was instrumental in my starting the Watchdog Report May 5, 2000 after the community was in a melt down after the young Cuban boy was extracted by federal authorities from his relatives’ home in Little Havana. Click the historical link for Elian to remind yourself what went down back then.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjC0pTcsMjMAhUHXB4KHbt0BEAQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.poynter.org%2F2015%2Ftoday-in-media-history-the-seizure-of-6-year-old-elian-gonzalez%2F337905%2F&psig=AFQjCNFNwS4BwxXhWa_lO2dyweJPylNwqw&ust=1462724818572813

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> Obama says presidency serious business, not a “reality show,” in Oval office, as Trump last GOP candidate standing, some plan to boycott party convention

With billionaire Donald Trump being the last man standing after starting the race with 17 other Republican presidential contenders for the GOP nod to be the party’s standard barrier. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Saunders are still battling it out for the Democratic Party nod and Clinton has said she is ready for any of Trump’s “counter punches,” during the race and Trump made another gaffe with Hispanics tweeting out a lunch photo on Cinque de Mayo having a taco bowl and writing he loves Hispanics, but the tweet was criticized as to little and too late after some off his past remarks on the people coming from Mexico being “rapists and drug dealers,” And the Republican leadership is having a hard time embracing the brash and out spoken man who swept the candidate field and is saying his VP would likely be someone from the political world given his neophyte status as a politician. And one Hillary’s attack ads on Sanders was a flop since all the senator talks about is breaking up the big banks and she calls him a single issue candidate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gndPevAo8Yk and commentators question its effectiveness in her race against the independent socialist.

And GOP Party leaders are having a hard time supporting the self financing businessman and he has fired back he does not want their support and a host of Republicans are saying they will not be going to the Cleveland GOP convention and here in South Florida the Republican congressional community is split given Trump’s heated anti-immigrant rhetoric, and of course the wall with Mexico and has people around the world wondering where America is going. And Sen John McCain, R-AZ. is concerned about his reelection campaign since the state has such a high number of Hispanic voters that he needs to win reelection and Trump early on attacked the veteran naval aviator as not being “a war hero,” since he had been captured and imprisoned in the brutal Hanoi Hilton jail and the man is very down to earth when he ran in 2008 and lost to President Barack H. Obama and he introduced the world to the Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin but his race for him is different he tells the media http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/john-mccain-has-a-yuge-donald-trump-problem-20160506 Since 30 percent of the state’s voters are Hispanic and he once argued the nation should finish the fence( while not a wall) it does tie him in many people’s minds to Trump even though back in 2010 he was trying to get immigration reform but got co-opted by the Tea Party back then but it is part of his record in the state. Here is Obama as a Couch Commander talking about what he might do when his term is over: it’s funny http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article75952247.html

>>> With five more primaries coming Hillary Clinton is trying to seal the deal against Sen. Sanders, and Donald Trump having a better week, wins five primaries 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 presidential 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gndPevAo8Yk

Bipartisan Taskforce Observes Holocaust Remembrance Day

Press release: today, the co-chairs of the House of Representatives Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism issued the following statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah:

“On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we stand together in commemoration of the darkest chapter of human history—the Holocaust—which claimed 11 million lives, including 6 million Jews, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the promise of ‘never again.’

“Recently, anti-Semitism has fueled attacks on Jewish museums, markets, and synagogues in Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, and here in the United States.  We reassert our commitment to denouncing all anti-Semitic incidents, evaluating current law enforcement efforts to protect Jewish communities, and educating other Members on how we can—and must—respond to anti-Semitism at home and abroad.

“As co-Chairs of the Taskforce for Combating anti-Semitism, we frequently speak out against this ugly scourge as well as efforts to deny the Holocaust or rewrite history.  On this Yom HaShoah, we rededicate ourselves to reinforcing our words with action.  It is our duty to carry the mantle forward, educate our youth and keep the stories alive, ensuring that history will never repeat itself again—whether against Jews or any other people.”

The Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism is co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Steve Israel (D-NY), Peter Roskam (R-IL), and Ted Deutch (D-FL).

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce held their monthly luncheon at Jungle Island honoring the not for profits in the community like the YMCA of South Florida, celebrating its 100^th year that is making a big effort to stop children under 13 from drowning since Florida has so many swimming pools and we have more drownings in Florida than any other state in the nation and in the last five years 83 kids have died and many are minority kids and the organization is also sponsoring Zoe for President in 2064 and it involves afterschool enrichment, Summer learning loss and Safety Around Water and for more go to www.ymcasouthflorida.org/zoe-for-president

>>> Press release: Miami Resident Sentenced to Prison for his Participation in an Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme Involving 172 Fraudulent Tax Returns. A Miami resident was sentenced to 42 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for his participation in an identity theft tax fraud scheme involving the filing of 172 fraudulent tax returns.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, USSS, and NMBPD.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daya Nathan.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov

Twenty-Five Miami-Area Defendants Charged With Submitting $26 Million in False Claims to the Medicare Part D Program

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Shimon R. Richmond, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announce the filing of federal charges against 25 defendants in 3 separate cases, for their alleged participation in various schemes to defraud Medicare.  The defendants are alleged to have collectively submitted approximately $26 million in false claims through the Medicare Part D program.  This coordinated takedown is the result of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.

“Those who commit Medicare fraud through the filing of false claims, payment or receipt of kickbacks, or fraudulent medical practices jeopardize the integrity of the government benefit programs that countless citizens rely on for their well-being,” stated U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement allies will continue to pro-actively identify for prosecution the individuals who pay kick-backs for the unauthorized use of Medicare benefits for their own illicit financial gain.”

“These cases build on our recent efforts to focus on Medicare prescription drug benefit fraud, targeting those who take advantage of the fastest-growing component of the Medicare program,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “Working with our partners in the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, the Criminal Division uses cutting-edge data analysis techniques to identify emerging fraud schemes and to stay ahead of the criminal curve.”

“The actions of the FBI and our partners in the Medicare Fraud Strike Force have disrupted several health care fraud operations today,” said William J. Maddalena, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami.  “Unfortunately, South Florida remains ground zero for these types of scams.  As such, we will continue to pursue those individuals who pay kickbacks and fraudulently bill for medical services that are not necessary or ever provided.” “A dangerous trend is fraudulent pharmacy billing for drugs,” said Shimon R. Richmond‎ Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “But exploitation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit will not be tolerated and suspects will face aggressive investigation and prosecution.”

Today, U.S. Attorney Ferrer and members of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, announce the results of their investigative efforts.

1. United States v. Antonio Hevia et. al, Case No. 16-20267-CR-Williams

This indictment charges 18 defendants for their participation in a scheme to defraud the Medicare Part D program through false claims from eight separate Miami-Dade area pharmacies.  The defendants each face various charges from among the following offenses included in the indictment: conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, substantive counts of health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The indictment alleges that the fraud scheme was orchestrated by Pedro Torres, 43, of North Bay Village, and Antonio Hevia, 53, of Miami, who recruited individuals to be the owners of pharmacies in Miami-Dade County which were then used to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare Part D program.  Hevia and Torres allegedly controlled pharmacies that were used to facilitate the fraudulent scheme, including:  Sun View Pharmacy, K.A.R. Pharmacy, Lola Pharmacy, Latin Quarters Drug Store, Lily and Rosy Pharmacy, Norton Pharmacy, Health Star Pharmacy and Supply, Ultra Medical Services, and OMG Pharmacy Discount.   Torres and Hevia instructed the staff at the respective pharmacies to submit false and fraudulent claims for millions of dollars for prescription drugs that were not medically necessary and not provided to the Medicare Part D beneficiaries.  Medicare beneficiaries were frequently referred to the pharmacies by patient recruiters, who received kickbacks for referring patients.  The 18 co-conspirators are charged as owners and/or patient recruiters in the fraudulent scheme.  As a result of the filing of false and fraudulent claims, Medicare made approximately $16.7 million in payments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James Hayes.

2. United States v. Kenia Gonzalez et. al,  Case No. 16-20268-CR-Seitz

Julio Espinosa Moret, 40, Kenia Gonzalez Fernandez, 41, Frank Dunier Perez, 39, and Luzbella Nunez de la Torre, 47, all of Miami, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive kickbacks in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and the receipt of kickbacks in violation of Title 42 United States Code, Section 1320a-7b(b)(1)(A). The indictment alleges that the defendants solicited and received kickbacks and bribes to recruit Medicare beneficiaries and induce said Medicare beneficiaries to obtain prescriptions for pharmaceutical drugs to be used in conjunction with the submission of claims to the Medicare Part D Program through OMG Pharmacy Discount.

This case is being prosecuted by Department of Justice Trial Attorney Vasanth Sridharan.

3. United States v. Ronald Diaz, et al., Case No. 16-20251-CR-Cooke

Ronald Diaz, 28, Mercedes Maya, 30, and Gladys Cabrera, 28, all of Miami, each face various charges from among the following offenses included in the indictment: conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of Title 18,United States Code, Section 1349; health care fraud, in violation of Title 18,United States Code, Section 1347; and money laundering, in violation of Title 18,United States Code, Section 1957(a).  The indictment alleges that Diaz is the named owner of pharmacies located in Miami-Dade County, specifically Total Pharmacy, New Life Community Pharmacy, La Botica Pharmacy, La Botica Pharmacy No 02, Solutions Drug Store, M & P Pharmacy, La Roca Pharmacy, Richard’s Pharmacy Discount, that purportedly provided prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries.  Diaz, Maya, and Cabrera submitted and caused the submission of claims, via interstate wires, which falsely and fraudulently represented that various health care benefits, primarily prescription drugs, were medically necessary, prescribed by a doctor and had been provided by these pharmacies to Medicare beneficiaries.  As a result of these claims, Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors, through their pharmacy benefit managers, made approximately $10,428,019 in payments that were funded by the Medicare Part D program to the pharmacies.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Clark.

If convicted of the charged conduct, the defendants face a sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted of a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, 10 years in prison if convicted of a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347, 10 years in prison if convicted of a violation of Title 18,United States Code, Section 1957(a);  and 5 years in prison if convicted of a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 and Title 42 United States Code, Section 1320a-7b(b)(1)(A).

The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 by the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged over 2,300 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $7 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

In the Southern District of Florida, nearly 900 individuals have been charged for their involvement in more than $2.5 billion in fraudulent Medicare billings. 

Part D prescription medicine coverage is the fastest-growing area of the Medicare program.  Last year alone, over $120 billion was spent on the Medicare Part D program, up from $78 billion in 2010.  Based on the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates, as much as $10 billion of last year’s $120 billion in Medicare Part D spending may be fraudulent. The Department of Justice, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to aggressively targeting Part D fraud. Mr. Ferrer and AAG Caldwell commended the investigative efforts of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, with special accommodation to the FBI and HHS-OIG.  These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Fraud Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://+pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

FLORIDA

>>> Children’s Trust along with Miami-Dade County investing in 1,300 summer internships, managed by public schools district, joint funding first tri-government effort

For the first time ever the Children’s Trust along with Miami-Dade County is embarking on a new program that will fund some 1,300 internships with the County investing $1.7 million in conjunction with the Trust and here is the announcement of the new jobs program that will be administered by the Miami-Dade Public Schools and here is a release from the Trust on the new program that has public entities working together for the betterment of the community, “I thought you may like to know that plans for The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to collaborate on a project together for the first time is almost officially sealed. Hard to believe this is “a first” but it is. Together we’ll soon launch a summer internship program for teens, which was originally pitched by Commissioner Xavier Suarez, if you recall. Our CEO announced the agreement to our board Friday, April 22 in a memo below.

The item is on the May 11 school board agenda to approve their participation in this tri-government collaboration and an official news release will follow suit. Structurally, Miami-Dade County is investing $1.7 million towards the program in conjunction with $750,000 provided by The Children’s Trust. A total of 1,300 summer internships will be created, with 10 percent of the internships going to children with special needs and 100 being allocated to each commission district. M-DCPS will administer the program.  There is definitely a need to recruit local business to participate so teens can be placed in great work environments. Here is a link to the Website where both businesses and students may apply www.https://miami.getmyinterns.org/

Below is a link to our periodic talk show airing this Saturday in which Deputy County Mayor Russell Benford, Superintendent Carvalho, and a member of our staff participated to talk about this new initiative and explain why it is so meaningful? You may be interested in watching that first 10 minute segment. I’ve provided a link below, wrote Emily Cardena”is the Trust’s director of communications, and check out the video on this initiative; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_5g0nGhM8

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>>> With elections in August commissioners vote in support of making Uber legal in South Florida, but cut the taxi industry some slack as well, next came a $1 billion lawsuit from industry and legal suit is being brought by attorney Ralph Patino a former member of PHT trustee board who withdrew his most recent application on PHT JHS board

After 11 long hours on Tuesday the Miami-Dade County Board of Trustees voter to make the controversial driver legal in Miami-Dade and has the taxi industry crying foul after the County auctioned off taxi medallions at a step price and their value has been reduced and has the industry suing the County for $1 billion in damages but Uber the ride sharing app has really caught on and the genie is out of the bottle and since this a election cycle commissioners spoke up a storm trying to mitigate the political damage of supporting Uber that ran ads asking residents to call their commissioner in support of the ride service. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article75436467.html and while an extensive debate occurred on the background checks and whether to fingerprint. One commissioner noted the finger print check could be clean one day and a week later change.

>>> Record 15.5 million visitors help pay for JHS, Homeless Trust, the arts

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrated a record year with 15.5 million visitors coming to South Florida and that is 6.4 percent growth and these people play a key funding role. Since we have a variety of sales taxes for the Homeless Trust, transportation and Jackson Health System and The Adrianne Arsht Center gets convention development taxes and this funding gets ginned up by these visitors and also helps pay for some of the $6 billion debt at MIA.

>>> The County held the sixth Great Park Summit recently and “it was the largest turnout ever,” said the parks director Jack K and Miami-Dade has been growing the park system but needs a “sustainable funding source,” said Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava at a commission meeting. And a host of organizations participated like the Miami Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the University of Miami’s Miller Medical School.

>>> Badia Spices Inc. ., located in Doral made a $1 million donation to the Dr. Philip and Patricia Frost Science Museum and it fits in with Baptist Health’s South Florida wellness program at the museum and for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article76124487.html and to learn more of the remarkable story of the early years of Badia Spices now a global product and its founder Joseph “Pepe,” Badía.  Whose community philanthropy is widely known and he and his wife Nancy are low key people and have been giving back to the community for years and their kids are said to have loved the old museum of Science facility next to Vizcazya and this is a timely contribution to the project and the Watchdog Report gives the family a tip of the hat for this significant contribution, as the museum tries to complete the $300 million project. And to read more about the company and its early years go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article1976152.html

>>> Commissioner Pepe Diaz, found not guilty in Key West DUI arrest on his hog bike doing Key West Poker Run ride

And Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz was given the gift of a lifetime when a jury in Key West found him not guilty of driving his Harley Davidson at the Poker Run intoxicated and his attorney argued no one could pass a field sobriety test and Diaz did not blow saying he “does not trust,” the devices though friends said he had two drinks earlier and he was pulled over for speeding and later lost his balance and to see the police video cam go to and what do you think? : http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article75597062.html

>>> 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/

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 Daniela 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?

>>> 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,” an 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.

>>>> 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

>>> ABC keeps nation’s fourth largest public district on the straight and narrow, CPA’s tax attorney’s, provide great public service, and was not always the case back in 2007

The nation’s fourth largest public schools district community firewall is meeting this Tuesday and the Audit and Budget Advisory Board is one of South Florida’s best boards and is made up of CPA’s and tax attorney’s and its leadership is rotated on a regular basis which was not always the case and back in 2007 the chair would not step down until 2004 when the man made a Sunshine Law violation and his physician suggested he step down but this ABC keeps Supt. Alberto Carvalho feet to the fire and along with Carvalho’ s leadership keeps racking up awards in education and he successfully pushed a $1.2 billion general obligation bond that was overwhelmingly passed by county voters back in 2012.

This e-mail is being sent on behalf of Mr. José F. Montes de Oca, Chief Auditor.

 

Please find below the link to access the Agenda for the Audit and Budget Advisory Committee meeting of May 10, 2016.  Embedded in the Agenda are the links to access the individual items and reports. http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_May_10_2016/agenda.pdf

>>>> 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

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>>> Jackson South opens new Trauma Center, Ryder Trauma still premier facility, staffed 24/7, U.S. Army physicians train their before deployment since 2000

Jackson South opened its new Level II Trauma Center in south Dade after JHS appealed to the state and Ryder continues to be the premier Level I Trauma Center and with HCA hospitals opening their own Trauma Centers these new facilities are getting many of the patients that have insurance versus patients shot or stabbed and Ryder was feeling this funding pinch a couple of years ago and it was around $25 million.

>>>> 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

>>> 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

>>> Miami Commissioner Suarez joins powerhouse law firm Grey Robinson, needs to be careful of conflicts on dais

Miami commissioner Francis Suarez is joining the powerhouse law firm Grey Robinson and it will supplement his some $90,000 salary he gets as a commissioner, but it also continues the trend of commissioners having outside employment that occurred when they were paid some $5,000 but voters changed that to the new payment level in the hope to eliminating conflicts but Suarez the Younger is raising a family and the extra income is maybe needed. http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/id=1202756894888/GrayRobinson-Adds-Miami-Commissioner-Suarez-Seven-Lobbyists?slreturn=20160407113230

What about former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson?

Sorenson who stepped down from the 13 member county commission board created with the University of Miami The Good government initiative and it provides programs on running a clean campaign and a host of other subjects including fighting and rooting out public corruption and she was a key player in the creation of the IG at the county and the ethics and public trust commission approved by voters back in the 1990s.

>>> What about the cheesy police recruitment clip that ran on the Miami television channel and uses one odd looking employee reading the statutes but since Miami wants only the best candidates this type of recruitment ad seems to miss the point the Chief is trying to make.

>>>” 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.

>>> 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

>>>> Mayor Phillip Levine amped up his criticism of Gov. Rick Scott, and FL minimum wage, with creative ad that ran in Ca. where Scott wanted to poach some businesses citing the low wages in the Sunshine State and Levine wants to phase in a higher hourly rate to see the video click here http://mayorphiliplevine.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.

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 17 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

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

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PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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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

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CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

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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

>>> 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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