Watchdog Report Vol.17 No. 40 February 19, 2017 — EST.05.05.00 — I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 Years of Weekly publishing

 

>>> 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 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 [16^th] 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.

 

ARGUS REPORT- Heard and seen on the street

 

>>> Trump’s Rochus campaign rally in Melbourne, fires-up base supporters ticks off achievements, continues to go after media trying to intimidate reporters, still being dogged by Russian connection as Flynn resigns

 

President Donald J. Trump started the week badly after his National Security Director Michael Flynn was fired after questions regarding contacts with Russians operatives, and the conversations were picked up by the NSA, even though Flynn at the time was a private citizen and for what he told Vice-President Mike Pence. Further his potential replacement vice. Admiral Robert Harward highly regarded declined the post of national security director. because of family and business entanglements and for more on the vice-admiral go to http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/16/vice-admiral-robert-harward-turns-down-trumps-nati/

 

However Later at a rally Saturday in Melbourne the president whipped up his supporters and even brought one supporter to the podium who came to the event at 4:00 a.m. and Trump said he is “now a star,” and the crowd went crazy but the president continues to hammer the ’dishonest media,” and its biased reporting and he noted presidents from “Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln,” have had contentious relationships with newspapers when they were in office. And Trump continues to call out the national media to TNYT and ABC, CBS and NBC and newspapers need to remember what Trump has tapped into is the hundreds of years of papers and people’s resentment to past stories that may have involved their family. I have found and this aggrieved feeling is feeding into the president’s narrative of what is wrong with the country as he speaks from the hip with authenticity and is very media savvy.

 

But many are beginning to question. He should tamp down this over the top rhetoric and wonder if the public will get tired of it and his supporters just wants to see results and Mike Pence in Europe ha to tell NATO the president wants them to pull their financial weight and contribute 2 percent of a nation’s GDP and Germany is said to be willing to kick into the alliance’s mission deterring Russia aggression but Vladimir Putin is expected to be very concerned about this bolstering of the 28 member alliance of nations.

 

What about the chaos in the White House?

 

“A fine-tuned machine,” said Trump about his administration an reports in the press that it is “in chaos,” and nothing is farther from the truth and even had Trump saying the “press is the enemy of the American people,” he said even though last year some 1,232 reporters were killed throughout the world and the president believes the media is an effective foil in keeping the press at bay and his supporters stoked. “A new loyalty,” and one “glorious American Flag and make America proud and safe again greater than ever before,” he closed and The Stones “you can’t always get what you want began playing at the end of the achievements rally. And when it comes to immigration “WE want people who will be great for our country,” and not wish it ill he believes and the crowd whooped followed by Chants of “drain the swamp,” went on and he went after the Democrats for the ’delays and obstruction in Washington work with us ‘to lower taxes and “reform this healthcare tragedy and is totally unaffordable,” said the president

 

>>> Costs of Winter White House security around $10 million says FOX News for the last three visits. Further, the Palm Beach County commission approved a new helipad at Mar-Lago, should ease traffic jams with presidential motorcade.

 

What about his third trip to Mar-Lago and its cost over the time for Palm beach County and the U.S. Secret Service and Fox news is stating the trips have cost some $10 million for the county and federal government and the long presidential motorcade is causing major local traffic disruptions that may be curbed since the Palm Beach County Commission approved a helipad at Mar Lago last week, and his visits is killing the local general aviation industry given the restricted fly zone when Trump is in town and on Saturday he held a rally in Melbourne and his campaign is paying for the event and pundits are saying this rally is to get his mojo back after a Thursday press conference where he once again blasted the media as “being the enemy of the American,” people and would ask reporters were they going to ask a “friendly question,” and he also took a jab at a BCC reporter and its reporting but the press conference was unlike any other such event with the president who called his fledging administration as being “a fine tuned machine,” an believed the media was stoking the fire of the White House being in disarray and in chaos. Further the press conference was supposed to introduce the new secretary of labor R. Alexander Acosta the respected law school dean at Florida International University

 

What about the 2020 presidential race?

 

Trump on Jan.20 filed his reelection campaign papers and it is unusual for such a registration to come before the mid-term elections. And could explain why he talks about having an eight year term in office and assumes he will be reelected something that is very dangerous for a politician to say and assume.

 

>>> Trump learning about three branches of government rails against federal judges, part of checks and balances in Constitution, and has signed 30 executive orders, keeping brisk pace up, but what will courts say about some of them?

 

President Donald J. Trump had his first setback in the courts and it was because of a federal appeals court denying the lifting of a stay in regard to his executive order flagging people from seven Muslim nations from entering into the U.S, and Trump essentially said about an earlier judge that if America were attacked it would be on the judiciary’s hands, because the court ruling is jeopardizing the nation’s safety Trump tweeted and a brouhaha erupted after one Democratic senator in a discussion with supreme court nominee Neil Gorsuch said the president’s comments about the judiciary was ‘demoralizing,’ though what actually was said is still in dispute.

 

And while Trump ignores local editorial boards, one editorial suggests given the erratic behavior that if Trump’s cabinet voted. He could be removed if the cabinet thinks he is dangerous to national security and Vice president Mike Pence could possibly be sworn in and the president with a shoot from the hip style of diplomacy and believes smoozing is the way to do foreign affairs and he has some serious challenges with North Korea, who could have an intercontinental missile after years at the rate the country is going and Iran, while put on notice is also an ally in fighting ISIS and people hope he will become more deliberate and believe his tweeting is an awful way to do foreign policy and has Foreign Service officer’s balking and signing letters of protest. And while Trump said he was a disrupter and going to shatter the Washington establishment during the campaign but the transactional business approach in foreign policy has risks

 

What about the Japanese Premier visiting in Florida?

 

Further, It is no coincidence that North Korea launched a missile Saturday (that may or not have ICBM) capabilities and frankly scares Japan in a big way and while Trump emphasized the long term relationship the country has with America and that we are also obligated to also protect Japan. But Trump needs to watch what he says for in the short time of his administration chaos and shock and awe seems to be the coin of the realm, and many of our allies are wondering where Trump will be taking in regard to the ship of state, and his negotiating style is to throw out something outrageous and then walk it back to get concessions and is kind of what he did with Mexico’s president.

What about the One China reversal by Trump this week

 

Further Trump has also backed down on his friendship of Taiwan and is supporting the One China policy that has Taiwan considered a rogue province of the middle kingdom. After his call to the president of Taiwan and the Chinese strongly objected to this contact by the president.

 

President Donald J. Trump is signing executive orders at a brisk rate and congressional Republicans are restless when former president Barack H. Obama did such orders and essentially by passed Congress, County Mayor Gimenez drawn into controversy, protests erupt around the nation.

 

Further Trump’s action to end sanctuary cities by ending federal funding (mostly for social services) is reverberating in South Florida and Mayor Carlos Gimenez is feeling the blow back after he ordered county law enforcement to follow federal guidelines because the $300 million loss of federal funding would have a huge impact on the county budget. However despite protests at County Hall all week Gimenez is not changing his mind and he got a shout out by Trump on tweeter but Miami with such a diverse population and in the public schools teaches English in 59 languages and has 450,000 students and this kind of clampdown is frightening many immigrants without proper documentation and was one of the things Trump pushed during his campaign http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article128984759.html

 

President Donald J. Trump is signing executive orders at a brisk rate and congressional Republicans are noting the actions when former president Barack H. Obama did such executive orders and essentially by passed Congress.

 

Further Trump’s action to end sanctuary cities by ending federal funding is reverberating in South Florida and Miami-Dade County’s Mayor Carlos Gimenez is feeling the blow back after he ordered county law enforcement to follow federal guidelines because the billions lost would have a huge impact (mostly in social service programs) on the county budget. However despite protests at County Hall Friday Gimenez is not changing his mind and he got a shout by Trump on tweeter but Miami with such a diverse population and a public schools that teaches English in 59 languages and a District with 450,000 students and this kind of clampdown is frightening many immigrants without proper documentation and was one of the things Trump pushed during his campaign. And in the Cuban American community one said while they benefited under the old laws. They also thought, “The borders need to be secure.” And keep dangerous people from entering and doing harm.”

 

And the courts will probable rule on the order that a local ACLU representative Howard Simon says is unconscionable and abridges the “Human Rights of People,” some with proper documentation but Trump is finding out in politics things generally don’t go smoothly and protests at airports have erupted around the nation. Trump also reorganized the NSA and appointed his political strategist Steve Bannon to the national Security Council. However, since the county was appealing the sanctuary status designated by Obamas’ DOJ that also included the seven Muslim nations on the list and President Jimmy Carter banned a Muslim nation once.

 

What about extreme vetting and a Green Card?

 

Further, Trump does not appreciate what it takes for an immigrant to get a Green Card, no easy task and while diplomacy is not his strong suit and he says he is just doing what he said he would do on the campaign trail. However, he is moving at a fast pace and the question is how long the public will buy into this tectonic shift in the presidency and on the whole many of his supporters say let’s wait and see and Trump by saying Christians are welcome and only heightens them as targets within Islam.

 

 What about 10 mile long Under Line?

 

U.S. Rep Ileana-Ros Lehtinen, R-Miami on the floor of the U.S House recently talked about the 10 mile linear Park known as the Under Line and the extensive exercise trail will also have public art and it is gaining momentum with millennials and the municipalities it runs through including South Miami and the city of Miami. And the line stretches from Dadeland under metro rail and is model after the Under Line in New Yok City. And is expected to be tourist draw like Wynwood has become where the streets are filled with street art and tourists pose to get selfies in front of the street murals.

America must get a handle on cyber security with it evolving so rapidly the nation and world are many times all defenseless

 

Fast paced events that are evolving in the world and the issue of cyber terrorism, should rise to the level of the Manhattan Project, or the moon shot with the hack of a Vermont wanted to ‘influence the election’ power company where malware was found suspected to be from Russia and cyber sabotage ( and confirmed last week in a FBI,NSA, CIA released report) noting that the nation did not hack into any voting machines or change outcomes to the number of voters–Russia can be just as destructive as weapons and computer specialists say every “organization has been hacked, they just may not know it yet.” But with the presidential election over. The nation must design a cyber fire wall as we become more and more dependent on computers. And maybe a bounty for hackers if they find a backdoor and Chrysler Motors was the first company to hire hackers and look for vulnerabilities and later had Apple paying $25,000 for bug hunters. For it is clear there are some very determined and smart people out there and it may be time to try the economic incentive of a bounty for hackers who find a backdoor in software and for more go to http://abcnews.go.com/US/russian-hacking-malware-found-vermont-utility-computer/story?id=44479579   http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/223266-report-russian-hackers-infiltrate-us

 

What about Trump and the press?

 

The national press “and the dishonest media,” is taking a beating and Trump still has no press pool that follows him around just in case something happens and can be reported on and has been in effect for decades and the WDR has gotten the pool reports. Since George W. Bush. And this disdain the billionaire has for the press should be considered and Steve Bannon said the media, “should shut up and listen,’’ he is quoted saying because the media is the nation’s watchdog. But after the terrible election polling Americans believe the press is slanted and that it tends to favor liberals made worse when Clinton called Trump supporters “the basket of horribles,” because of what some supporters were saying. And for more go: Further every president has carped about the media and the media is the “party of opposition,” on the Trump administration. However the opposition is not always the enemy in a Democracy and should not be treated as an appendage and the press plays a key role to check government oversteps of power. But the Trump team argues “The dishonest media,” never gave Trump a chance in the election and now that he won the media is getting the stiff arm but the Watchdog Report believes there will be blow back to such a policy, Even though most Americans hate the media and the IRS.

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-american-press-is-under-threat-as-never-before/

Further Trump’s tweets are reverberating around the globe and the China response is an example of what happens when foreign policy is made by the technology and should remind Trump the world is a dangerous and complex challenge.

 

What about President-Elect Donald Trump?

 

Trump is still deciding his cabinet, some of whom are having tough confirmation hearings and some of his choices are sending howls in parts of the foreign policy community and with environmentalist. Who are aghast but the billionaire businessman, is picking some unorthodox people and it remains to be seen what transpires during the confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate. Though the GOP has 52 seats enough to carry a Trump nomination and the nation with this man is in uncharted waters and the Democratic Party is trying to re build after the drubbing in the general election but in fighting is still occurring and the party has to rebuild its bench and here in Florida only one Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. has a statewide profile and he minority party has some soul searching to do to stay relevant in the world of politics.

 

What about China?

 

Trump who had tough words for the People’s Republic of China is going to find the Chinese are no pushover either and the nation deals in hundreds of years as it seeks its rightful place on the global scene. And China is introducing its new fighter with the J-20 stealth fighter After the Middle Kingdom hacked into the Pentagon and stole the plans   and for more go to http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/31/asia/china-zhuhai-airshow-j-20/

 

New J-20 with stealth

Technology.

 

And Trump will soon learn every word he speaks has real consequences as the nation digests how this could have happened and one millennial told me Saturday the race was “rigged,” even though all the polls and pundits had the nation going for Clinton. Who just had too many controversies, the Clinton Foundation and then the emails and people wanted some of that too end. And having her husband Bill campaign so much looking old and tired probable did not help and reminded many voters of his own controversial time in office despite being re-elected and popular. And has Democrats reflecting on where the party goes from here and what to do with the old guard that Clinton represented but did no inspire millennials to vote.

 

>>>> FIU Dean Acosta tapped as labor secretary in Trump cabinet

 

Former U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Florida R. Alex Acosta was tapped by Trump to be the secretary of labor and Acosta a local boy from Hialeah was widely respected for his outreach with community leaders and I got to know the Harvard College and Harvard Law School graduate who also went to Gulliver prep before spreading his wings because he would stop by often at the city of Miami because of a couple of federal consent decrees and he went after Medicare Fraud and corruption with a vengeance and did a solid job in the pressure cooker job.

 

>>> US. ATTY Ferrer says sayonara, was a solid thoughtful local man in post and will be missed

 

What about Wilfredo Ferrer who is stepping down as the current U.S. attorney and the University of Miami graduate went to the University of Pennsylvania’s law school?

 

The current U.S. Attorney Wilfredo Ferrer has announced his retirement and the family man also was very visible in the community and supported two FBI details fighting Medicare fraud and many of the scams beta sites are found here, before “They are exported to other parts of the nation along with identity theft a huge problem round the nation,” Ferrer has said in the past to media.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>> FDOT hit with a lawsuit after two women on Harley Davidson motor cycles hit by a pole diver running over the yellow poles that define the express lane but the Lexus lanes are dangerous since there is a limited shoulder, full story in Miami Herald

 

Further the state spends some $1 million on replacement poles yearly and some 6,000 accidents but it is unknown how many were because of pole divers. And the women are represented by high profile Coral Gables attorney Lewis “Mike” Eidson of the law firm Colson Hicks Eidson.

 

However, for Floridians toll express lanes are said not to be going away said transit maven Maurice Ferre who is tight with Gov. Rick Scott and is on a state transportation board he said months ago at a County MPO committee meeting. But these lanes must be better segregated and some have suggested concrete barriers but I have been hearing about these poles and cars that drive through them creating a very dangerous situation for years and while there is no number with the FDOT lawsuit it could be the frequency of accidents. And for more on this go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article132704339.html and here is the FDOT secretary peaking on the matter with poles being closer together and there will be a 13 foot shoulder. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article132704339.html

Editor’s note: I know one of the injured women Cynthia Fleischmann a local talented Coconut Grove artist and she is one of the gutsiest women I know and wish her nothing but the best.

 

VIDEO RELEASE

 

>>> Florida Economic Development Visit Florida and Tourism Leaders Fight to Save Florida Jobs

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida economic development and tourism leaders, small business owners, and concerned Floridians from across the state traveled to Tallahassee to speak or stand in opposition to Legislation in the Florida House that would kill Florida jobs by eliminating Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA.

 

WATCH: Roger Dow, US Travel Association

 

WATCH: Cathy Chambers, Florida Economic Development Council

 

WATCH: Jaret Davis, the Beacon Council

 

WATCH: Joe Mayer, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

 

WATCH: Laura DiBella, Nassau County Economic Development Board

 

WATCH: Bill Talbert, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

 
Further, while the WDR does not know what the precise number might be. But after 9/11 when tourism tanked and hit Miami-Dade hard tourist leaders convinced Gov. Jeb Bush to kick start tourism back in Florida a global tourism campaign and the state rebounded much faster than other states in the nation.

 
GMCVB press release: Governor Rick Scott announced on February 16, 2017 that Florida set another record in tourism by welcoming the highest number of visitors in the state’s history.  Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Florida has once again welcomed a record number of tourists with 112.8 million visitors to the state in 2016. Visitors spent $109 billion and supported a record 1.4 million Florida jobs in 2016 – a testament to the vital importance of tourism to our growing economy.”

This is the sixth consecutive record year for visitation to Florida, exceeding the previous high of 106.6 million in 2015 by 5.9 percent.  In 2015, every 85 tourists supported one job. Today, VISIT FLORIDA data shows that every 76 tourists support one job – proof that tourism continues to be a major and growing influence on job creation in Florida.

Six years of record-setting visitation does not happen by accident. VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing campaigns with a strong global marketing strategy have delivered stellar results. To continue to shatter industry records in today’s hyper-competitive global tourism marketplace, it is more important than ever to support VISIT FLORIDA and its successful formula of marketing our state’s diverse assets and attractions. With  the support of the Governor, state legislators and more than 12,000 industry business partners throughout the state, VISIT FLORIDA is well-positioned to continue to fuel economic growth, generate jobs and increase the momentum to make Florida the #1 travel destination in the world. The announcement of Florida’s sixth consecutive year of record tourism proves that sustained collective tourism marketing works, and it is not only important, but smart to invest in tourism marketing.
 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> Commission after 4 hour ruckus meeting upheld Mayor Gimenez 9-3 following federal law executive order, that sent fear into hearts of the undocumented, “a slippery slope,’ says one immigration attorney

 

A four hour hearing Friday demonstrated the diversity of the county as speaker after speaker implored the 13 member commission that they reject Mayor Carlos Gimenez plan to detain any undocumented residents for 48 hours and he is following federal guidelines and the mayor rejects the term sanctuary county, and the presidential executive order that could eliminate federal funding over $350 million Gimenez has said on television but many of the speakers believed the mayor was putting money over human rights and since he was Cuban-American how could he support such federal guidelines and he notes the police will not be immigration officers and that is being left to ICE to determine if they are a risk and should be deported. And commissioners repeatedly said that if someone is undocumented but has committed no crime they will be left alone most said.

 

Further there were a number of demonstrations in the chambers and the sergeant-of arms had their hands full and one veteran speaker Martha Baker, R.N. head of SEIU 1199 and is a nurse at Jackson and she complained about the line to get into the chambers when there were clearly seats available and she did not like the “process,” and how the public was being treated she complained to commissioners and Gimenez’s policy was up held by a 9 to 3 commission vote.

 

What did Miami Commissioner and vice chair Ken Russell say about the issue?

 

“Miami will have your back,” if you buck this federal edict and he noted Mayor Tomas Regalado is also objecting to this federal request as well

 

>>> A Miami-Dade chair’s Policy Council Meeting was held Thursday and the discussion focused pan transit and how to build a new courthouse and how to finance it, perhaps through a P3 proposal but the new court house is a vexing issue especially if county voters have to approve such a project. Further, The County commission also waived the process rules for how the commission can appoint members to the Miami Expressway Authority(MDX) and Commission Chair Estephan Bovo appointed Miami- Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to the controversial board that sets tolls and is a flash point with the public, who tend to blame commissioners. Further Bovo appointed Vice Chair Audrey Edmonson to the board as well.

 

And Commissioner Bruno Barreiro was named to the South Florida Transit Authority that oversees Tri Rail and Barreiro has been a long time member of the authority and it was Barreiro who fought against a one-cent sales tax back in 2002 believing a full cent was necessary to fund the County’s transportation build out and he was proved right because the public id grumbling not enough progress has been made with the current financing. However a previous one cent tax in 1999 failed when the vote was held on an obscure day in July when most voters were out of town and leaders at the time wanted super voters since they believed it would pass more easily but voters rejected the slick, marketing program that even had some money going to the Coconut Grove playhouse but voters revolted and shot it down. After auto magnet Norman Braman pointed out if the commission wanted it passed it should be held on the day of a general Election and years ago the tax passed when placed on a high volume election.

 

What about the County’s Value Adjustment Board?

 

>>> Bovo appointed Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to be the board member on the VAB that reviews peoples’ property tax and it can be contested.

 

The Pace schools were honored by the county commission last week and the organization teaches STEM courses to women and some 70 percent of women want to take science technology mathematics courses but believe they have to be twice as good as men and Pace excels in robotics done by their women students and for more go to: http://www.pacecenter.org/locations/miami

 

>>> Further at a Miami-Dade County school board meeting a robotics class demonstrated a robot capable of bouncing a basketball and it was amazing to watch and STEM is moving along at full speed in the schools for women and men.

Fire chief admonished for failing to report game tickets

 

 

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>> Children’s Trust offering a free book once a month to any 3-year old held that is three

 

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County is working with the public schools district on a new program for three year olds where every month the child will get a new book free and is the Trust’s way to improve reading skills at an early formative age and being a strong reader early is a lifetime achievement and these children develop to their full potential and to sign up go to:https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/parents/initiatives/read-to-learn-book-club Further, reading skills can also predict children that might fall into the criminal justice system a former us attorney who reads to children said. And this program could jump start a child’s interest in books.

 

Who is the new county commissioner that will sit on the 33 member Trust?

 

County Commissioner Xavier Suarez was appointed by commission chair Estephan Bovo to the Children’s Trust and he will replace Daniella Levine Cava on the volunteer board that has been free of any scandal’s and was renewed overwhelmingly in 20006 by voters.

 

>>> What about WLRN and its late audit, I knew something was up when audit delayed?

 

The Watchdog Report asked Carvalho Wednesday at a school board meeting what was going on at Friends of WLRN and he said he “could not comment,” right then and he reminded me how he had to fight to get a charter with Friends of WLRN changed after it had been modified by the organization and made the station’s GM different. Since the school board owns the radio and television licenses. And the tension between the district and the station has now spilled into the public and the issue is freedom of the press and what control on content the nation’s fourth largest public schools district and Carvalho and the administration would have. Further another flash point is background checks and be fingerprinting (something I have had to do twice since 2000) under the state’s Jessica Lunsford Act. Since some interns are paid s and staff salary a past issue blew up in the media and has one employee making more than Carvalho. And for much more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article133698704.html

 

>>>> Chair Lawrence Feldman hosted celebrating friends and Family at Lotus House And the organization provides programs for homeless women and children, and sanctuary and I believe Feldman said there were some 250 women and another 150 or so are children at Lotus House shelter and Feldman believes for these fragile and vulnerable people it is a God Send and provides an excellent continuum of care. For more go to: http://lotushouse.org/

 

>>>> Press release: Dr. Feldman and his staff will join Lotus House residents and staff in celebrating February 14 with a Carnival and other activities for residents at Lotus day. Lotus House is an organization dedicated to ending child and family homelessness and improving the lives of women and children through housing, education and health resources. CONTACT: District9@dadeschools.net

 

>>> Will stay heathy “Blue Book, save district millions with $400 million self-insured, if employees go to the green hospitals since medical procedures “vary, “in price said Carvalho

 

Further, Supt. Alberto Carvalho discussed a new stay healthy care “Blue book,” that lists the cost of medical procedures throughout the county and since the district is self-insured the Blue book lists medical facilities and the different costs and Carvalho said if the employees used the “green marked” hospitals the district will save millions of dollars and in some cases procedures could cost the district less “if they went to the Mayo Clinic in Ohio,” said Carvalho. And if the districts 50,000 employees and retirees used the green facilities “millions” could be saved if the green medical hospitals were used and if the greens are used the employee could get a check back for seeking the more reasonable pricing but still keeping a ‘high,” level of healthcare. Further, Carvalho noted one of the big reasons healthcare costs are so high is because of all the Medicare “Fraud,” he said and is why the district has a “white collar fraud crime unit,” something most public districts don’t have but here in Miami it is a must. Since people from Miami do fraud beta sites here and then export it around the nation.

 

 PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> JHS CEO Migoya awarded business community’s highest honor’ Sand in my Shoe Award, at sold-out Greater Miami Chamber gala honoring the banker tuned hospital administrator

 

Carlos Migoya the President and CEO of Jackson Health System was honored with a sold out event at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce where he was honored with the Chamber’s highest honor “The Sand In My shoes award,’ for turning around the beleaguered Jackson System that was hemorrhaging millions in losses including in 2004 losing $84 million and making audit adjustments back to 1998. And for more on Migoya and the turnaround of JHS go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article131134874.html

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Will Comcast offer seniors a “discount,” commissioner Suarez asks CEO to look into it?

 

The CEO of Comcast is about to get a letter asking the company to enhance the availability of elders to get a “Senior discount,” and is part of the contract Miami signed with Comcast as the cable company absorbed local cable operators and was part of the community benefits Comcast had to agree to and is why Comcast broadcasts commission meetings for Miami for free and years ago it was deceased commissioner Arthur Teele,Jr., that put the screw to the cable companies as they tried to consolidate the industry and at the time got some decent concessions from the company to the benefit of the residents and Commissioner Francis Suarez sponsored the resolution.

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

 

>>> Will Beach support levying new sales tax, to expand homeless services, Commissioner Grieco believes after Zika hotels are burdened enough no new sale tax likely?

 

While the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust wants   Miami Beach to approve and support legislation in the capital to add a sales tax along with Surfside, two municipalities exempted when the trust was created and Beach hotels objected to the tax that has Commissioner Michael Grieco saying after the Zika scare that hotels cannot take any more burden with a new sales tax and while Grieco is running for mayor this could be a political position for Grieco. Further Trust Chair Ron Book has legislation in the works in Tallahassee but he needs the municipalities approval for the bill to forward and the expansion of the tax has been a long time goal, especially with the cutbacks in federal funding and has Camillus House having to stop a program that provided meals and showers and the organization in 2015 served 547,000 meals, but funding from the Trust is limited and why the expansion of the sales tax area is so critical and the city does fund some homeless programs on the streets of the tourist hot spot. And for more on Camillus go to:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article132065024.html

 

Community Events & PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

 

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

 

>>>> Now open and the Warehouse has a new exhibit and check it out at http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

 

 

>>> And the Margulies Warehouse will be opening 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

 

 

>> 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 305-434-9560www.dwntwnartdays.com

 

>>> Press release: Baptist Health South Florida low cost cardiac Calcium Screening for $25.00

Offer available February 1-28, 2017; must schedule appointment before February 17. A doctor’s prescription and appointment are required.

Learn More
 

Editorials

 

>>> Politicians since the dawn of time have hated the media, Trump’s fixation on press, distracts from his policies and administration, needs to get more focused and fill key lower level administration staffers

 

Since the dawn of time leaders have hated the press and media yet President Trump keeps harping on the “dishonest media,” and actually singled some of the nation’s news organizations and a republic needs a diverse and strong press to challenge authority and calling the media the “enemy,” of the American people which is ironic since trump was in many ways created by the media and he is extraordinary marketer.

 

But people will get tired of this demand for adulation that the president seems to feed on and he won and now people want him to get to governing for the world is a dangerous and having the national security council head vacant is a serious issue and when it comes to Russia Trump should clearly state he or his staff did not have contacts and perhaps release the transcripts of the conversations if the president wants to end this distraction on the world stage.

 

Further he is saying some of the executive orders are being rewritten and he is moving quickly carrying out his campaign promises. However, in many ways Trump is a creation of the press and his constant carping is getting old with the American people and some are wondering why he is so fixated on his victory considered a long shot by the media ever since he went down the escalator but he won and Americans expect him to govern and keep the nation safe and that is the job he accepted when he ran for office.

 

>>> 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.

 

>>> 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 supporting 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 sales tax dollars.

 

>>> And while the Watchdog Report has reached 16 years of using my own money to survive in the costlier Miami community. And while I have cut expenses I need my readers help. In this fast changing world and with Pay Pal now you can easily use a credit card to contribute and I hope you will consider helping keeping someone out in the field. And I have not wanted to be a lobbyist but rather a lobbyist for everyone and is why I use the tag line ‘I go when you cannot’. But things were made worse after spending 18 days in the hospital with a badly infected finger. And is why I am behind sending my traditional thank you letter to any supporters contributing and hop to catch up in the near future. And I thank these people from the bottom of my heart for the past financial help.

 

>>> And one of my sponsors who hates reading the above financial pleas suggested to me. I just ask any reader, once a year who thinks this community resource is valuable to contribute five or possible ten dollars via my Pay Pal account for the fiscal issues sometimes keeps me from going to a meeting sometimes, and the stress also affects my health and only with my readers support can “I go when you cannot,” thank you and hope you will help so the WDR can celebrate 17 years on May 5^th.

 

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account at https://paypal.me/WatchdogReport

>>>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 https://paypal.me/WatchdogReport 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, it is no easy task to do the WDR weekly. And years ago the county Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free 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. And I thank my supporters 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        

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors

 

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

 

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

 

ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor)

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

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

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

 

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

 

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

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

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year

 

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbcommmunications.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

 

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors the Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extras have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. I welcome letters via e-mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

 

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2016, Daniel A. Ricker

 

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.

 

Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)

CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS

 

Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)

MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED

 

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

 

>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times

 

The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

 

>>> 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 16^th 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

 

>>> 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. ******************************************************************************************************

 

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form Thank you

 

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

 

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250 

Individual Supporter $150

 

Name & Address Make checks payable to Daniel A. Ricker

Send to 3109 Grand Avenue, #125

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