Watchdog Report Vol.17 No. 49 April 30, 2017: EST 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 17 Years of reliable 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 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 Seen on the Streets

 

>>> Will North Korea’s aggressive behavior be swayed by PRC sending 1 million troops to the nation’s border?

 

With North Korea still in the world’s headlights as it continues to test short range missiles but a U.S. Navel strike force has arrived off the waters of North Korea and China has moved 1 million Chinese troops to the border and included a stern warning to the Hermit nation about stopping the missiles tests and the trump administration is trying to string a needle with this foreign policy along with a big stick. And given the past 100 days he has showed he wants to do the unexpected with many countries since the past policy of accommodation has shown little results since the Armistice was signed back in 1953 and established the DMZ only 22 miles from Seoul. Further Trump is finding being president is harder than he thought versus being a business executive, but he like all past presidents have learned in the first 100 days a lot and continue to learn as Eisenhower said to JFK after his first 100 days.

 

Further Trump in a speech in Harrisburg Pa., highlighted the e difference between him and his base after he skipped the White house correspondence Dinner which had him putting a finger into the medias eye and the black tie event filled with Hollywood actors and people are still wondering where Trump is taking the nation and in some ways seems to be evolving.

 

>>>> President Donald Trump in striking a new relationship with China and how to deal with the rogue state of North Korea could prove very beneficial to America and the Hermit King dome is more of a tributary nation when it comes to china and the nation is very sensitive about their independence of the nation.

 

Further Vice President Mike Pence made the rounds in the Far East including a stop in Indonesia one of the largest Muslim countries in the world and then he is heading next to Canberra Australia to calm any fears of America’s commitment to the vast country and our longtime ally. A Country that has its own fears when it comes to North Korea and is within striking distance with the rogue state. That on Sunday threatened to sink a U.S. Carrier steaming its way to the region and is ratcheting up global concerns about the state that has never been recognized by the United States and is a chip in the American foreign policy quiver since the nation is a pariah on the world stage.

 

>>> South Florida Congressional Dean U.S. Rep Ileana-Ros Lehtinen announces she will not run again after 38years in office rose to some of the highest positions in Congress, first Cuban American woman, constituent services top priority over the years

 

The longtime Dean of the South Florida delegation U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami after 38 years has announced she will not seek another four year term in the house after she was first elected in 1989 to the 27^th District after long time democrat Dante Fascell vacated the seat and she would be mentored in the early years by the long serving Democrat and a community legend. In the race she beat former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez a Democrat.

 

However, Ros-Lehtinen was willing over the years to strike her own way and was a moderate republican in many ways and she did not vote for Trump and disagreed with some of his ant immigrant rhetoric during the race and Ros-Lehtinen has held many top senior positions in the house including being Chair of The Foreign Relations Committee that House Rules would not allow her to serve again and she was on a major subcommittee and has always been a strong Israel supporter and while she believes she would win reelection in an off year she believes it is time and with four children has been busy over the years including getting a Ph.D., in education from the University of Miami and she is a great campaigner and constitute service was her hallmark and she supported LGBGT initiatives and while a fierce critic of Fidel Castro she also embraced a host of other issues including immigration reform and as a campaigner she is rarely matched and would be at the polls rain or shine and ran each race as if she was behind and never took voters for granted and was always accessible to the media and I am sure there are republicans eyeing the district and we will have to see who picks up her considerable political baton and she always greats people with a hug and she was interviewed in a national story on the Watchdog Report and she gave a great quote at the time and her calm demeanor in the halls of congress will be missed. And for more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article147718764.html And to read the story where she refers to The Watchdog Report go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

 

New Citizen Scientist wanted supply and degradation of their environment

 

A new Citizen’s for science engagement group called Citizen Scientist’s and the Cloud are monitoring water quality around the nation and they are local eco warriors and I saw one of the programs and it involves retired scientists and retired engineers who are concerned about their drinking water and environment and some of the most distressed areas are in China where years ago The Yangtze River was on fire something that happened once with the Cuyahoga River in Ohio in 1969 that also ‘caught fire’ and convinced president Richard Nixon to create the EPA along with smog alerts in LA, NYC and a host of other cities and prompted most of the clear air and water laws. And for more on the program go to: http://www.pbs.org/video/2365985099/

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+crowd+and+the+cloud&view=detail&mid=CD84F5C8382A9CB88ED3CD84F5C8382A9CB88ED3&FORM=VIRE

 

And what about CDBG and Meals on wheels cuts?

 

Further, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are being cut substantially and the program feeds thousands of elderly people in Little Havana. Hialeah and at retirement homes, providing socialization and in past years HUD funding was using a poor funding formula in the case of the City of Miami. They had to work with the local congressional delegation to get the needed funding formula changed but in this case that seems unlikely and Trump’s budget does not attack the $19 trillion debt. And for more go to:http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/politics/trump-budget-cuts/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/the-concrete-cost-of-trump-military-budget/518193/ >>> http://www.crfb.org/papers/president-trumps-fy-2018-skinny-budget

 

>>>> Update from last week?

 

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said he had an opportunity to speak to HUD Sec. Ben Carson, M.D. about the unique role CDBG block grants plays in Miami such as meals on wheels and the city had to patch the cuts in funding with $10 million in Miami Funding and the meals program also plays a major social role with elderly residents in Little Havana. Carson a neurosurgeon and presidential candidate said The Trump administration is looking for the private sector partnerships called P3 and he believes there are plenty for public housing to be done this way like Liberty Square, that partners the Related Group with Miami-Dade County and the deal raised eyebrows with the county’s Inspector General recently with some communities getting chicken dinners. And here is more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/edison-liberty-city/article144081449.html

 

>>> A PBS Channel 2 program called The Crowd and the Cloud documents the thousands of people that are documenting water quality as Citizen Scientists and participants range from retired engineers and scientists and with the EPA budget cuts the local people on site in their community and these people from all around the nation

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365985099/

 

What about the autocracy of cars in Miami-Dade?

 

I am starting to see a new phenomenon in the county and it is drivers who believe their cars give a certain status and can tailgate drift into other lanes with impunity and pull out suddenly just because they are in a dually or high end SUV Many times a Land Rover, Hummer and some of these drivers believe they own the road and I only bring it up because recently someone had to come to screeching stop since the light had changed to red.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>>> Sen. Artiles resigns after liquor laced racial rant, used “N” word and degraded Sen. President Negron, says he believes he will be reelected, challengers are lining up from J.C. Zapata a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner, to Diaz de la Portilla

 

Finally a Miami moment is over with the resignation of Sen. Frank Artilies,R- Hialeah after a liquor laced racial rant with crudeness and racism being the operative word as he referred to fellow senators at a private club and used the N… word,, called Senate President Joe Negron a p…sy’ and the Marine veteran has for years been considered a loose cannon and he says that is the way his people in His district speak about minorities apparently and his broad brush approach angered Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah who responded that this is not the ethnic tenor of the City of industry and is an affront to the municipalities voters. Further, he resigned Friday in a terse letter and a special election will soon be called in the future and competitors are lining up from past county commissioner Juan Carlos Zapata d a long list of others and could possible include former senator Alex Diaz de Portilla R-Miami but it would open some old wounds including a well-publicized messy divorce.

 

What do we know about the senator’s finances?

 

Artiles as of June 2011 had a net worth of $196,250 and his home back then was worth $400,000 and had a $261,000 mortgage and he also owes a host of student loans and back in 2012 he had a net worth of $184,000. And to see any elected leaders disclosure forms go http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/search.cfm#org and here is Artiles most recent financial disclosure form http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2015/234989-Form6.pdf

 

Further, Artiles a family man with two daughters also hired a woman who was a Hooters “Calendar,” girl and she went with him to Key West for a fishing tournament and fundraiser and the Kentucky Derby and for more go to:http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article145942934.html and to see the Hooters former employee go: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article146029094.html and here is his resignation letter

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics- government/article145954434.ece/binary/Resignation%20Letter.pdf

 

>>> Further, Artiles sent a weird Christmas Day text about the solstice and a comment about Trump world and people did not know if it was a joke or not.

 

What about Ralph Arza and Julio Robaina?

 

Years ago former state representative Ralph Arza left a similar rant concerning the school district Supt. Rudy Crew on Robaina’ s phone an Arza was forced to resign his office after the accompanying firestorm and both Arza and Artiles are considered a bully and I watched Artiles at the County’s Regional Library early voting site and he was an aggressive campaigner when he was first running for the House and with these two women in his entourage he may have some explaining to do at home because they are very attractive young women and got a $600 payment as a political consultant.

 

What about former state Rep. Eric Fresen, R-Miami and the IRS?

 

Fresen is going before a federal judge for sentencing for owing $30,000 to the IRS and his home was foreclosed on and the former state rep carried a lot of water for the Charter School industry and was also a Genting lobbyist looking to bring gambling to Miami. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article1945162.html Further, he did not pay taxes for eight years and people are outraged and shows between Artiles the South Florida delegation better lift the bar concerning their activities and women who are not their wives while they claim to be a family man, and elected officials who get convicted many times lose any public pension and can be a considerable deterrent that did not work with Fresen and his family and he could be sentenced to year in federal prison.

 

The Watchdog Report can’t believe how many taxpayers are shocked he did not pay taxes for 8 years and would never temp the federal agency in this way and it his hypocrisy that really annoys most taxpayers and U.S. District Judge Robert Scola has a history of rough sentences when comes to betraying the public trust when it is a state lawmaker and while a plea deal he could get a year in jail.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> Opioid Task Force, dealing with scourge of overdoes, 33,000 Americans died last year, 3,000 alone in Florida, different treatment than heroin addiction

 

The Miami-Dade County Opioid Task force met Monday and heard some of the committee recommendation on how to end this scourge that kills 33,000 people in the nation of overdoses and last year Florida saw 3,000 deaths from overdoses and it cuts across all ethnic lines an even physicians are saying they were guilty as well after medical reviews indicated treating someone for pain was beneficial and the clinicians were told many of these drugs were less addictive than in the past which turned out not to be true and many users in pain shifted to cheap Mexican yellow heroin mixed with very toxic fentanyl mainly from China and is highly toxic and a drop can easily kill.

 

Further, in New Hampshire they are arresting dealers as killers when one of their doses kills someone and here in Miami-Dade government leaders were warned about this scourge about three years ago when former addict now clean, Jon Schmidt told some commission staff the county was not prepared for the onslaught coming. And discussions are going on to increase the availability of NarCan, a drug that reverse the overdose but also has some addicts getting an immunity to the dose that may have to be given twice to the slumped over person. And the task Force will be presenting their recommendations in the coming weeks to Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

>>> County’s Youth Commission holds last joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners, for the year, host of commissioners going to top schools in the nation.

 

The Miami-Dade Youth Commission started a few years ago by Commissioner Barbara Jordan and this year’s class of commissioners were very impressive and in the past bullying and community violence were some off the students past top concerns. And when Commission Chair Bovo spoke to them he was nervous but “very respectful since these seniors could be the County’s leadership of the future. Further the young commissioners got citations and many of them are going to some of the top universities in the nation such as FIU, Cornell, Princeton and the Wharton School of business and these young people show the community should have a bright future.

 

>>> The office of the Inspector General released their Annual Report and to see what County IG Mary Cagle has accomplished over the past year go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>> Press release: Magnet Schools of America (MSA) announced last night during the 35th National Conference on Magnet Schools in Los Angeles, CA, that Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) was selected as the recipient of the third Donna Grady-Creer District Award for Magnet Sustainability.  This award is MSA’s designation of the highest performing district of the year, exemplifying a commitment to equity, excellence, diversity, as well as highly sustained support for magnet schools.

 

“A one-size fits all academic design is obsolete and, quite frankly, ineffective,” said Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “In Miami-Dade, we recognize the rich diversity of our student population as well as students’ many interests and career goals.  Each year, we aim to provide a variety of choice and school options so that students are able to cultivate an academic program that best fits their interests, skills, and talents. The national Magnet Schools of America honor is a testament to the focus of our students, the unparalleled commitment of our teachers and employees, and the vision and leadership of our School Board.  The entire Miami-Dade community has reason to celebrate this extraordinary achievement”

 

Miami-Dade Public Schools currently has 384 magnet programs at 114 schools including programs such as robotics, coding, biomedical, cyber-security, environmental and marine sciences, music, entertainment technology, international baccalaureate, business studies, visual and performing arts, world languages and legal studies.

 

In 2016, 42 of the district’s magnet schools were recognized as either Magnet Schools of America Schools of Excellence or Distinction.

 

Last year, the District hosted the national conferences of both the Council of the Great City Schools and MSA.  At the latter, Carvalho was named Superintendent of the Year in testament to his leadership in supporting and expanding Magnet programs in M-DCPS.

 

The award is sponsored by MSA board member and first president, Dr. Judith Stein. Donna Grady-Creer was one of the original founders of Magnet Schools of America. She served as President from 2000-2002 and continued her service on the Board of Directors until her passing in 2013.

 

Follow us on Twitter at @mdcps and @miamisup, and on Facebook at @Miami-Dade County Public Schools and @Alberto Carvalho.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>> PHT board has full complement of Trustees with attorney Robert Zarco added as seventh trustee member

 

The seven member PHT board has a new trustee and he is attorney Robert Zarco and his brother was a long time and honored surgeon at Jackson and the smaller board met Thursday and it is running very smoothly as the JHS tries to maneuver through the ever change in landscape of healthcare in the nation.

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Bayfront Park Trust gets new CEO and director is long time Trust employee Jose Gell and he will be paid $83,882.70 which is a 10 percent bump in his current salary and it was approved by the trust board Tuesday.

 

Past WDR: The longtime executive director of the Bay Front Park Trust Tim Schmand has retired and the man has kept the Trust on the straight and narrow and the public forgets that back in 2000 when Ira Katz was director there was a real scandal at the trust and the city of Miami had to contribute $400,000 to keep the operation open and was chaired by J.L. Plummer and Katz later was arrested and the Trust was inflating bills and was detailed by Miami Herald reporter Tyler Bridges in an investigative story, but since Schmand’ s arrival the Trust has made money though this year it is showing a loss and I stopped by the Trust on Thursday and spoke with the director in his office and he made no mention of his departure and a dust-up with Commissioner Frank Carollo on a second concert after Ultra had just concluded and I wish him well for he was diligent and honest and his replacement should be carefully chosen. For more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article141918854.html

 

>>> What about the Peacocks in the Grove north hates them South Grove Tolerates them, the yang and yang of Grovites is on display, The Great Peacock war is going on in the tony Grove but residents are divided and for more on the kafuffle over the birds go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article147103874.html

 

>>> Miami is working with the county to get agreement to build a parking garage on Virginia key and resident’s hold keep their eyes on this project in the sensitive environmental area. Further, Miami Commission District 3 is the race to watch.

 

What about the Miami mayoral race?

 

Candidate and Commissioner Francis Suarez in his second attempt to be Miami mayor has amassed a $2 million war chest and that should discourage any competitors from entering the race that closes in Sept. Further Suarez is taking a page from former Mayor Manny Diaz and Marc Sarnoff where there is never too much money and gives the impression they are bought by special interests and while Suarez’s first t run had the tag line ‘it’s Our time,” and was directed toward millennials voters and it may show this new demographic has no fear of money even though he sends the message that he is a new type of city mayor candidate and when he first ran he helped his father Xavier Suarez rehabilitate his political career after getting the nickname “Mayor Loco,” when he was in office and is now a county commissioner. And the son intentionally did not use his given first name which is Xavier but ran as Francis he once told the WDR years ago after he was first elected. Further Suarez in a Miami channel 77 interview talks about his son who is just turning three and is learning that kids mimic their parents even in exercising and he is a man who is enjoying fatherhood and was playing ball with his father Xavier when the son was growing up and residents should check it out since he is running for mayor.

 

City of Miami Beach

>>> The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust commission released a survey after city workers all went through extensive ethics classes and the survey found some employees are still being asked if they want a bribe.

 

Further these training sessions have been done in the city of Miami and across the county and like the county’s Inspector general it is another watchful watchdog. For more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article141609749.html

 

What about zoning plan expediters’?

 

Builders across the county still use a practice of using attractive women to get building plans approved on a timely basis. And the beach is known to be a tough nut to crack and I have followed them and they get off on the building department floor

 

The Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust Commission issued a survey of Miami Beach employees and even after extensive ethics training they still were offered a bribe and to see the press release on the matter go to below.

 

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

 

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 this is a national story in all the Tribune papers

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.

 

LETTERS

 

>>> Reader and Physician supports freedom of the press with Jefferson quote about not having a government without a free press

 

Yes, many presidents have had issues with the media. Early in our country’s history, of course, the media was in print. As long as there is freedom of the press and other media sources to say what they want, whether based on substance or not, there will be complaints. Even Jefferson had conflicts with some of the newspapers of his time, but that did not stop him from making the following statement:

 

“…were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”  Thomas Jefferson, The third president of the United States

 

Will Blechman, M.D.

Miami, Fla.

 

>>> 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 reached16 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.

 

>>> I just ask any reader, once a year who thinks this community resource is valuable to contribute 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

 

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

 

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

 

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FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY 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, 2017, Daniel A. Ricker

 

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

 

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

CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS

 

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

MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

>>> General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice. ***********************

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

 

Make Checks payable to Daniel Ricker

3109 Grand Ave, #125 Miami, Florida 33133