Watchdog Report Vol.17 No.16 October 2, 2016- EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot Celebrating 15 Years of reliable 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 l. 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 public 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 I also keep watch for the all-important tourism industry and with the Zika Virus people are starting to understand how vital these tourists are for a host of amenities like culture and the arts, Jackson health System and transportation dollars all entities that benefit from tourism.

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account at www.watchdogreport.net

>>>And you can now easily support the Watchdog Report by going to my new PayPal Button account, you know you want to do it at www.watchdogreport.net for as media resources contract residents still need to know that someone is also watching out for their interests. Because government watched is a better governing experience for voters and their local quality of life?

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 future 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 and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american    

>>> And here is the story done by Miami New Times when they named the publisher as the community’s Best of Miami and Best Citizen and to read the story go to: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

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 16^th Anniversary, and I thank all my supporters and can’t believe it has been that long and hope you will help keep me in the field and reporting back how your public tax dollars are being spent.

>>>> The WDR hits 65, and your mother was right it is all about your health

And the publisher recently hit a milestone since I turned 65 over the weekend and it reminds us to follow our mother’s advice. That there is nothing more important than “ones health” and while over the past 16 years I have been writing I have had some medical issues. I have had some great doctors and technology that has allowed me to motor on despite a number of challenges.

>>> And here is the verbiage related to the award: Three years ago we said Ricker was our Best Gadfly. Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observer. Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem so problematic and indifferent to the democratic process. This month his e-mail newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its [16th Anniversary. In a former life Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog, though, he’s struggling financially — this despite the fact that his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!”

>>> And checkout the new Watchdog Report merchandising campaign featuring Knowledge is Bliss coffee cups and includes premium cotton super soft tee shirts.at http://store.inkcampaigns.com/watchdog_report_store .    >>>

http://store.inkcampaigns.com/watchdg_report_store or go to

www.watchdogreport.net

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>> Some of Trump antics getting strange after tweeter storm last week, continues his stream of conscious dialogue, Clinton could be just waiting the race out with two more debates coming up people forget the poor performance of Obama in one debate with Romney

With the first debate over between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump that seemed flat by his standards and people suggest Clinton was better prepared. But that had Trump firing back she has been in politics for 30 years and what has she accomplished, he asked saying he was not a Washington insider and that is one of the themes voters find intriguing but he blew any goodwill this week when on Twitter he made disparaging comments about a Venezuelan Miss Universe Alecia Machado and has set off a firestorm questioning what was he doing tweeting these rants at 3:30 a.m. And the issue of temperament is once again on voters lips and millennials are having a hard time connecting with Clinton and many are still longing for Bernie Sanders.

And while her crowds are more enthusiastic for the past secretary of state. She has yet to reach President Barack Obama’s stature with voters and the question is voter turnout. However Trump is bringing up Bill Clinton’s infidelities and is trying to cast Clinton as an enabler but this line of attack is considered very risky. Since he is attacking her for something her husband had done while in office and last week I asked every young person I ran into and many women voiced an objection to his constant “interruptions [25],” of Clinton during the debate but they also noted objections to the former First Lady and that is her challenge to get these voters to the polls even if they are reluctant on election Day.

What about Trump’s tweets?

For more on that controversy go to http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/us/politics/donald-trump-alicia-machado.html

Trump supporters are stumped why the Republican candidate took to tweeter at 3:30 a.m. texting about and won’t let this go after so many years and the question is why he is not letting it go and Clinton’s campaign are using some of these quotes against Trump who may have been able to avoid paying taxes and while legal. The tax issue is getting intertwined with his refusal to release his own taxes and once again his temperament is being questioned as the weeks go by to the Nov General Election and the next series of debates are critical to both Clinton and Trump where the polls are narrowing.

What about the WDR publisher’s health and what about the second surgery (that was cancelled Wednesday) and I hope to be back soon?

I am slowly coming back after I heal from a major infection of my right index finger’s tendon and had me in a hospital for some 18 days getting antibiotics IV and impacted my kidney’s and to be in a hospital for that long of a period gives one time to reflect on this unique and colorful community. And I thank all the readers wishing me well since then and continuing to support my efforts to keep the community informed while I have been on the sidelines but I continue. To monitor our local public institutions via cable and other methods and should be back in full- form in a couple of months. If not sooner God willing. And I have another procedure and hope to be back in action soon.

STATE OF FLORIDA

>>> Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott was briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Hurricane Matthew, a major category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. The state will continue to hold twice daily calls with the NHC and all 67 Florida counties as the storm approaches to ensure every local community has all available resources to prepare and respond to Hurricane Matthew.

Governor Rick Scott said, “This is a serious and life threatening storm. I was just briefed on the developments of Hurricane Matthew as it moves through the Caribbean Sea. I also just spoke with county emergency management officials who are working in our local communities to ensure our state is prepared for the potential impacts of this major hurricane. This storm is catastrophic, and if it hits our state, we could see impacts that we have not seen in many years. Even though the storm’s projected path is just east of our state, no one should take this lightly. Storms change fast and Hurricane Matthew could hit Florida as early as Wednesday. At this time, there have been no evacuations ordered in Florida, but that could change quickly. Please stay alert and watch your local news and listen to your local officials for protective actions and emergency messages. I urge everyone to visit FLGetAPlan.com to get prepared before the weekend is over. Make sure to have three days of food and water, flashlights, batteries and a battery powered radio.”

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon said, “Hurricane Matthew continues to pose a significant threat to Florida. I encourage everyone to take this potential threat seriously. Even if this storm does not make direct landfall, the significant risks of rip currents and severe weather will still exist. Take this time to ensure you and your family have a plan to remain safe, by visiting FLGetAPlan.com to assist in preparing for any possible impacts from this very dangerous storm.”

Finally Congress has approved Zika funding for Miami-Dade and in research dollars and prevention and the problem has been soaking up excess tax dollars has given tourist boosters a headache. Since a host of organizations get a bit of these tourist tax dollars like museums and other arts and culture treasures here in South Florida. And after Sept. 11, I saw the impact of reduced tourist dollars in Miami-Dade and many half cent sales taxes for the year were expected to hit $250 million prior to the Zika outbreak.

>>> What about the popular Miami Spice restaurant program?

What does the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau do to gin up business and promoting businesses that includes the very popular Miami Spice program from Au.1 to Sept.30 and is a culinary bargain during the slow summer months and has become very popular with locals as well? Editor’s note: The GMCVB was an early sponsor of the WDR. And with these tourist challenges a program created years ago Miami Spice jump starts the slow summer months with 32 restaurants offering three course meals from a $23.00 lunch to a $39.00 dinner at a host of tony restaurants and to see the list of restaurants participating go to http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/special-offers/monthly-deals/miami-spice-month

And more on the GMCVB: go tohttp://planners.miamiandbeaches.com/meeting-venues/miami-beach-convention-center?&gclid=CPWQgZ2A9M4CFcMmhgodUYABbg

 >>> Gov. Scott Encourages Floridians to Apply for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission

Gov.Scott press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Governor’s Office will begin accepting applications for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. The 37 member Commission convenes every 20 years to review Florida’s Constitution and propose potential changes to be approved by Florida voters.

Governor Scott said, “Every 20 years, we are given the opportunity to review Florida’s Constitution to ensure that our laws are best serving the citizens of our state. The Constitution Revision Commission will serve on behalf of all Floridians, and appointees will learn firsthand what issues and potential changes are most important to our families in order to best make these impactful decisions. I encourage Floridians interested in serving on the Commission to apply today and I look forward to appointing qualified individuals who will represent our families and communities. “To view the appointment application from Governor Scott’s Office, click HERE. Of the 37 appointments to the Constitution Revision Commission, the Governor will appoint 15, the Florida Senate President will appoint nine, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives will appoint nine, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court will appoint three, and the Florida Attorney General will be automatically appointed. Appointments will be made no later than March 6^th, 2017.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> After two years, HIV Task Force met Friday, and all meetings and committees’ are public chaired by state Sen. Rene Garcia, R Miami, Broward No. 2 in new HIV cases, population of cases, not small cost, with JHS treating the patients in county jails

An HIV Task Force at county hall had experts from the Florida Health Departments and the New York health department making presentations and the number of AIDS cases in the county’s jails is considerable (around 180 a month) and Miami is the number one county in the nation and Broward County is right behind in new cases and the task Force was legislatively created two-years ago but the body had never met prior to last Friday’s meeting in the Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers.

https://www.municode.com/library/fl/miami_-_dade_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOOR_CH2AD_ARTCVMIDECOSTOVTAFO

>>> Camillus CEO Boren put on leave, was a real contrast to retired Dr. Ahr

Shed Boren the new CEO of Camillus House and is a community treasure is on leave and he replaced the popular Paul Ahr, Ph.D. who retired and was a community treasure at Camillus that provides first class services for the homeless population and a continuum of care. But Boren is not a warm and fuzzy person in comparison to Dr. Ahr and the WDR hopes this gets resolved. Since Camillus does a lot on the mental health front and addiction services side and even has a clinic donated by Baptist Health South Florida in its new campus and Camillus in the course of a year serves some 450,000 meals a year and has an extensive volunteer rooster and some of the top civic leaders are on the board Chaired by former Carnival Cruise executive Bob Dickinson and outside attorneys will do the investigation regarding Shed’s stewardship. And his supporters are rallying behind the man including Judge Steven Leifman a leading mental health advocate. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article105294636.html

>>> During a zoning meeting last week one public speaker on a Lennar Townhomes project in north Dade, and a “former firefighter,” used Apple’s Siri to explain his position and it was a “historic first,” said BCC Chair Jean Monestime and the meeting was accelerated and cut short since commissioners wanted to go to Mayor Carlos Gimenez mother’s funeral a few hours later. And the device did a decent job and was brief…

>>> The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is asking Gov. Rick Scott to appoint a member to the regional planning board and the request came from Rebeca Sosa and she is close with Scott. And other municipal representatives come from Dade cities with over 50,000 residents and back in 2001 one governor representative Ron Krongold tried to get the MPO back then to fund to the tune of $10 million a local A.M. radio station to-do traffic updates (owned by prominent Haitian Dr. Rudy Moise that I pointed out these were free from all the other stations and was part of their federal community benefit package with federal agencies. And had then Commissioner Joe Martinez said “You’re on fire, bail out,” he told Krongold who was fighting the issue on the MPO and Bush would later remove him from the body after this incident.

>>> And Commissioner Javier Souto wants the MPO to study water taxis and using the extensive canal and water routes to reduce road congestion and Miami used to be a major boating manufacturer he said during World War II and it could become a considerable tourist draw he suggested at the MPO on Thursday and the man is the longest serving commissioner along with Dennis Moss..

What about the IRP?

Many people at the budget hearing wanted the Independent review Panel (IRP) resurrected and the board was sun setted out of business during the budget crunch years ago and had its executive director Eduardo Diaz, Ph.D. being well paid and the panel was controversial with the County’s police union and its leader John Rivera.

Gimenez said he supported the IRP but believed. The IRP because of this new technology is expected to have less cases than in the past and the Watchdog Report was the only press that attended these IRP meetings of the panel made up of attorney’s and the panel worked closely with the Miami-Dade Community Relations Board (CRB) in trying to keep the community calm after police incidents especially shootings that many times are including young children caught in the crossfire. And the CRB wanted to join a city of Miami amicus brief in support of the subpoena power the city’s Independent Review Panel has but was put off because of short time to join and it would need a BCC approval and with a deadline looming was considered not possible and the CRB Chair Ed Shoat is a top notch defense attorney and has represented many high profile cases during his extensive legal career.

>>> What about the Children’s Trust and Children’s Savings accounts program that Commissioner Levine-Cava wants to promote public schools on board?

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava had a presentation done at the Prosperity committee meeting on a new program to teach children financial literacy and the opening of Children’s Savings accounts. She noted the public schools district, The Children’s Trust have all been involved in this important skill that results in many of the participants attending a four year College or university and starts the saving habit early.

 
GMCVB press release: Miami Beach hotel demand has increased 7 out of 8 weeks since Zika announcement in July.     

Miami Beach hotel demand has increased 7 out of 8 weeks since Zika announcement in July.     

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>>> What about an audit of the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade discussion on a District Audit, new CEO Haj “asks [for time] to let him get his feet wet,” before Children’s Trust audit, says Dr. Feldman, trust Organization has had clean audits since 2006 says, treasurer Salver and CPA, no scandals since its creation reaffirmed by voters in 2006

The Audit committee also discussed again a district audit of the trust since the organization promoting healthy literate children uses some district facilities for community based organizations. And while this has been an ongoing discussion the Trust’s Treasurer Isaac Salver, CPA, said “Since 2004 the Trust has had clean audits. And school board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman said there was nothing derogatory,” when Salver objected to a Trust audit which files a comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and school board member Dr. Lawrence Feldman noted that the trust just got a new CEO James Haj a former District principle and he had asked for time ‘to get his feet wet,” said Feldman to the committee members. And Supt Alberto Carvalho is also on the Children’s Trust board.

>>> Pets for Vets and Teaching Responsible Pet Ownership to Kids

Press release: County Commissioners have unanimously adopted two initiatives, sponsored by Commissioner Sosa, to better the lives of Miami-Dade County’s pets. In a move to help connect veterans with pets, Commissioner Sosa advanced legislation that waives adoption and spay/neuter fees for qualifying individuals. This new initiative is meant to give Miami-Dade County’s over 60,000 veterans of war greater access to the health benefits of pet ownership. Recent evidence suggests that bonding with animals greatly reduces stress and the effects associated with PTSD, a condition identified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as afflicting the veteran population.

Additionally, Commissioner Sosa filed legislation to expand the Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum. The incredibly successful program, an initiative sponsored by Commissioner Sosa in 2013, now teaches over 89,000 elementary school students the principles of responsible pet ownership. This new measure seeks additional funding to bring the program to our community’s junior high and high school students.

“I truly believe that our veterans are this community’s greatest source of pride, and I know that they will give our pets warm and loving homes,” said Commissioner Sosa. “We are forever indebted to them for their service and protection of our freedoms.” Continued Commissioner Sosa, “In 2013 when I sponsored the initiative to teach our children the importance of responsible pet ownership I could never have imagined just how great the program would have turned out. It is my hope that we can grow the program to our older students, who can play a larger role in saving animals.”

Pets for Vets legislation:

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> Residents will feel first tax impact for needed GOB renovations with $830 million in 30 year bond sales on tax bills

The Miami-Dade County Commission passed the milage rate to pay for the $830 million in GOB to renovate the public systems ageing campus and the bond was overwhelmingly passed by county voters but this will appear on their tax notices for the first time and along with other bond payments property owners could be in for a surprise.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>>> Ken Russell walks into a Miami political and ethnic minefield, when trying to fire Miami Atty. Menendez, Russell admits mistake was not having the votes on five member body

Not since the spring of 2000 has the Watchdog Report seen such an ethnic split at the Miami commission meeting Friday. After Miami Commissioner Ken Russell called for a Special Commission meeting Friday after he lost “trust,” in City Attorney Victoria Menéndez, and wanted her fired, which did not happen.

He believes when he asked her for emails on a project she only gave him a partial set and he believed she was trying to help the developer of a controversial project on Battersea in Coconut Grove. However, Russell got drawn into a Miami whirlwind with major prominent Cuban American Attorneys, calling the discussion a “witch-hunt,” among others and one women who had moved from DC, said when she told people she was going to Miami. She claimed they said why would you want to go to that “Banana Republic?” And the phrase is a particularly sensitive issue in Miami where back in 2,000 after Elian Gonzalez was extracted by federal immigration officers. And Grovites were throwing bunches of bananas outside the front of city hall at Dinner Key Marina. And the media was all over it and these demonstrations inflamed the community to such an extent after Miami and Elian was the top national story in the months past and had then Miami Mayor Joe Carollo going on CNN And ethnic tensions were raw and had Anglos in Homestead, with confederate flags and African Americans shouting” F… the Cubans,” and it was not South Florida’s finest hour back then and had then Mayor Alex Penelas creating the “Mosaic” community dialogue initiative and extensive community dialogue on ethnic tensions among any group and it was sad to see this emerging again in Miami. and Mayor Tomas Regalado sat silently at the meeting as commissioners discussed the fate of Menendez.

And she has asked the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Commission to investigate her office and an investigator from the county agency was spotted at Miami city hall so they are on top of the matter it appears and commissioners will address the issue after that investigation is concluded, and hopefully things will calm down for it was not pretty.

What have other Miami attorneys asked in the past say who they work for say?

Years ago there was a debate at the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission about this issue and back then I asked the attorney who they worked for and? They said “I work for three votes on the commission they responded,” back then.

>>> SEC Press release: Sept. 14, 2016 –“We are very pleased by today’s jury verdict holding the City of Miami, a recidivist violator of the federal securities laws, and its former Budget Director (Michael Boudreaux) liable for multiple counts of antifraud violations of the federal securities laws.  After a two and one-half week trial, the jury took less than a day to decide that the City and Boudreaux had committed securities fraud in connection with their disclosures concerning the deteriorating financial condition of the City during 2007 and 2008 and in three separate offerings of municipal securities in 2009.  Based on the jury’s findings, the SEC anticipates that the Federal District Court Judge will also enter a finding that the City of Miami violated a prior SEC order, imposed after a fully litigated administrative trial, prohibiting it from engaging in fraudulent conduct.  This was the first federal jury trial by the SEC against a municipality or one of its officers for violations of the federal securities laws.  We will continue to hold municipalities and their officers accountable, including through trials, if they engage in financial fraud or other conduct that violates the federal securities laws.”

>>> Grove residents win a victory on development, large plat without warrant denied, litigation likely, since there is precedent of lot splitting local residents must keep on the political heat

Coconut Grove residents won a victory at Thursday’s commission meeting when the body denied a replatting of a large property on Braganza and litigation is expected but Grove activists should continue to kept the pressure on because these people usually recede from the political process and The City goes about its business and many activists over the years are ignored by the five member body where developers are perceived to have a

>> As you can see, there are several units represented, but a lot may be missing. Please help to promote this project for its potential for interdisciplinary curricular integration, and feel free to contribute work to this collection, which can be as easy as emailing a PDF, URL, or other file (even if some things aren’t captured, they can help with that, too)! Contact Jamie Rogers (rogersj@fiu.edu) or Dr. Robert Gutsche Jr. (rgutsche@fiu.edu) for more information, or to add the work of your units or recommend others.

As always, you can visit our

Communications Coordinator

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/11/fSLSC website for more info, or email us (slsc@fiu.edu) with any questions and/or recommendations for other events to include. Thank you,

City of Sweetwater’s running man video totally different from the one in MIAMI and has certain City of Sweetwater edge to but it’s a must see it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t9M2zTxtfI

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Beach leaders continue to fight Zika, Mayor Phillip Levine goes on Sirius radio and discusses the issue with health experts

Residents packed the commission chambers last week and they were protesting the County’s spraying to kill the Zika virus mosquitoes and a thoughtful discussion on the matter was held on This Week in South Florida hosted by Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney and the panel had a strong medical bent and reporter Daniel Chang who covers health issues for the Miami Herald and to see the show go to http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida And while there is a passionate debate on the matter of spraying , County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says he will follow the medical communities and CDC recommendations when it comes to tamping down the number of cases and now includes all of the Beach.

PAST WDR: With Zika worries tourist mavens say “after 12 days we are open for business and doing well,” said William Talbert, III, the CEO of the Greater Miami Visitors and Tourism bureau (GMCVB) at a commission meeting concerning the Zika virus and he noted. Mayor Carlos Gimenez had been doing an outstanding job in interviews with the press trying to keep the issue in context and what Miami-Dade is doing to diminish the bugs impact on the critical tourism industry, whose taxes pay for a host of county facilities and organizations from the Homeless Trust to Jackson Health System to name a few and this revenue is critical to many of these organizations. As the County runs up to its public budget hearings in September.

>>> Mayor Levine press release: Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Miami Beach continues to implement and find solutions to aggressively stop the spread of the Zika virus. Yesterday, on my weekly radio show,  ‘The Mayor’ on Sirius Radio Insight 121 I had the opportunity two interview two top experts in the field, Dr. Michael Callahan of the Zika Foundation and Dr. Lyle Petersen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Both experts provided insightful information and recommendations. Please click on the link below to listen to the interview in its entirety. Sirius Insight 121 Interview

>>> Press release: Miami Beach Enforces All Prevention Measures – Miami Beach asking residents and businesses to do their part to reduce mosquitoes —

Miami Beach, FL – City officials continue taking all necessary steps to ensure effective and efficient elimination of mosquitoes in the Miami Beach area, including having Code Compliance Officers scour the city to determine and rectify potential risks.
“The city’s public works and sanitation crews have been on overdrive with addressing standing water on the public right-of-way, and we’re also doing our part to make sure the community is stepping up their game with the threat of Zika,” said Code Compliance Manager Sarah Saunders. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure all business and property owners are complying with ensuring no standing water.”

If code inspectors determine that visible conditions within private property are an immediate threat to healthy, safety or welfare of the public, he/she may order the immediate correction of the violation at the expense of the occupant, owner, or operator. This violation, known as forthwith, carries a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 per each additional infraction.

Since the beginning of June, crews have dispersed standing water on streets if it has been stagnant for more than 24 hours. Where a significant volume of water is involved, it is being vacuumed out or treated with an environmentally-friendly larvicide. All showers along the beach walk have standing water removed on a daily basis in the early morning hours, and crews inspect alleyways on a daily basis to remove any litter or illegally dumped waste, which could be a potential breeding ground.

As of January, all catch basins in stormwater drains have been either pumped out to eliminate standing water, or using larvicide where standing water could not be removed or prevented.

At pump stations, the set points on the floats have been adjusted to circulate the water; in addition to having larvicide placed in the wet wells. This year, the City of Miami Beach has invested over one million dollars in vacuum trucks to improve cleanliness of the system. City irrigation systems have also been adjusted to not activate if there has been a recent rain event, and broken irrigation line repairs have been prioritized. At city facilities, larvicide has been introduced into any dumpsters or containers holding water.  All other items collecting rain water have been removed or eliminated.

“All City of Miami Beach employees, working indoors and outdoors, have been provided with mosquito repellent,” added Morales. “We strongly encourage all businesses on this urban-island to take the same precautions with their employees.”

BROWARD COUNTY

>>>> Supt. Snipes what were you thinking when you used a Ric Case Honda showroom as a poll site in the August election?

What was Broward Supervisor Brenda Snipes thinking when the county used a Ric Case Honda showroom as a voting site and was picked up in a WPLG story on the elections and normally these are in public buildings, churches or schools but a car showroom almost defies belief and hopefully will not be seen again if Broward voters are to have confidence in their voting system.

>>> IG Press release on misuse of procurement cards for the Town of Davie

September 8, 2016 –Misconduct and Gross Mismanagement in the Use and Administration of Procurement Cards in the Town of Davie

Broward Inspector General John W. Scott announced today that the Broward Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has issued a report finding that between October 2012 and July 2014, employees in the Town of Davie engaged in misconduct and gross mismanagement in their use of procurement cards (p-cards) by ignoring policies and procedures and failing to engage in the reasonable oversight of the p-card program that would be expected from a governmental entity. Despite our small sample review size relative to the town’s total p-card expenditures, we identified $160,630.72 spent in violation of procurement policies, a startlingly high ratio of vulnerability we would not expect to see in a local government with proper policies and controls. The report can be viewed at www.browardig.org The OIG found that purchasing staff failed to detect obvious and prolific splitting of transactions to avoid procurement controls. In this report, we detail instance after instance wherein employees deliberately split up purchases to avoid limits on their p-cards. We also found that purchasing and finance staff failed to develop necessary controls to ensure proper authorized approvals. In multiple instances, the town paid more than it would have if proper procurement controls had been observed.

Regrettably, at many times during the investigation, the OIG was provided with misleading information and documentation. The submission of the false documents and explanations led to additional and unnecessary time to complete the investigation and damaged the credibility of certain individuals. The consistent and prolific pattern of the deceptions we detail herein is certainly disconcerting. Fortunately, the town has already begun to address the OIG’s concerns—communicated during the course of the investigation—with a number of new processes and policies which are also identified in this report. The OIG is encouraged by the remedial steps the City has taken in response to the preliminary version of the report. However, we have requested that we be provided with a status report in 90 days regarding the City’s additional corrective actions in response to this matter.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: FFCR’s Claws for Kids Luncheon is an annual tradition! Whether you’re a regular or have never been before, don’t miss out. Mark your calendar and keep your claws ready to grab a ticket! In the meantime, check out these pics from last year’s event.

>> Press release: The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and Miami Science Barge join together to bring the expression of art to a scientific experiment. Visitors will have the opportunity to create artworks on a drift card that will be deployed into the ocean. These drift cards will help scientists gain understanding of how the ocean currents distribute debris through the Biscayne Bay. Admission is free.
Miami Science Barge
1075 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami 305-434-9560 www.dwntwnartdays.com