Watchdog Report Vol.18 No.22 October 22, 2017 EST: 05.05.00 Celebrating almost 18 Years of weekly publishing

>>>With all the natural and unnatural disasters. I know people’s pocket books are strained and in my case I lost 8 days of fundraising and am once gain sadly short. Given the Vegas massacre and flattened Puerto Rico. I feel embarrassed asking for monetary help given what these people are dealing with in the scheme of things and I do not ask lightly and if I can get Through October, my fiscal position should be better but right now I am facing my own big issue and hope you would consider helping and to make a contribution go http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport

What about the make Miami better community discussion?

This past week was a continuation of my struggle to keep the community informed and when it comes to a community discussion of how we can make Miami better.

I would submit that these community discussions are on the whole based on many times inaccurate or no information and that has been one of the problems I have talking with people and their lack of knowledge is widespread and we see it in voter apathy and lack of public participation at public meetings and when it comes to better and more ethical government having a member of the media changes the dynamics of citizens performance on public boards and even a camera flash gets people’s attention and if county government is only 1 percent more efficient that is a big deal since national IG’s estimate that is the case with many government entities. Further, I listen to people 24/7 from the County’s Community Relations Board (CRA) first created in 1992 as well as commission meeting speakers and for most people they do not have the time to know their political actors and the policies they might support and I wish this community dialogue the best but in many cases you are going against the tide when it comes to the public and their knowledge of their governance.

To host a conversation go to http://miamifoundation.org/my-miami-story-conversations-to-bring-thousands-together-to-talk-about-common-local-experiences-on-october-17/

Further government has come out of its dormant period and woke up in October when all the public budget meetings are held. And I will back in action next week with fresh news on how your billions in local public dollars are being spent and how your elected leaders are protecting your community tax dollars and why I cover the public schools Audit and budget review committee the community’s firewall made up of citizens and most have CPA qualifications, but was not the case a decade ago.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to donate to my pay Pal account go to http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport that accepts most credit cards in a secure site found and if you can help keep me out in the field especially with all the new GOB bonds passed by JHS, M-DCC public school district and needs to be kept watch on, and I am one of the few press that covers these important oversite boards watching how your public billions are being spent. Further, as I close in on my 18^th year of weekly publishing. I think I have established myself and hope to continue for many more years with your support. Micro Soft has given my Pay Pal account a thumbs up and dropped the warning about the site since they thought I was a phisher

And here is my philosophy on why I do this?                   

This national story ran in all the Tribune papers around the nation and covers the early years of the WDR: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and sand here is a different versionhttp://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

 

>>> However, I have not used social media effectively to expand my audience with younger leaders trying to make their mark in Miami-Dade County. Further I have interviewed a large number of political candidates from former President Barack Obama, John Huntsman and presidential candidate John McCain, and a host of others since 2000 after Miami’s election fiasco back then.

 

>>>And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. >>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net  in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings. That is why my motto is ‘I go when you cannot.’

 

>>> Further, I am very efficient since I work alone and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100 mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways. 

 

CONTENTS

 

ARGUS REPORT: Trump and U.S. Rep. Fredericka Wilson verbally duke it out with President Trump after phone call to deceased Green Beret Johnson’s widow —could community transportation dilemma be solved by solar powered self-propelled gondola, air conditioned, and system from Miami to Miami Beach, TPO looking at possible use on beach corridor

State Of FLORIDA: Former congressman Riviera tells federal Marshalls, catch me if you can regarding serving federal civil lawsuit documents

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: The arts have risen from the grave generating $1.43 billion in economic impact, 40% jump since last study, the last few years and people now come to Miami for the arts as well as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia where centuries have gone by versus Miami’s transformation during the last decade said Cultural Affairs chair Adolpho Henriques.— Opioid Task Force, dealing with scourge of overdoes, 33,000 Americans died last year, 3,000 alone in Florida, different treatment than heroin addiction – County’s Opioid task Force says, great need for public detox centers only 20, after state cracks down on pill mills and is exasperating this epidemic.

MIAMI-Dade County Public Schools: check out last week’s school board audit committee report and federal IG audit investigation of Friends of WLRN — Has a resolution been crafted for Friends of WLRN, still being worked on and how it operates with the district where the board holds the license says Supt. Carvalho?– When it came to hurricane Irma school district’s “42 shelters,” capable of three days of food and water, Mayor Gimenez said the district schools were critical in such weather events — — Florida House bill 7069 is fiscal “Armageddon,” to nation’s fourth largest public school says, Carvalho district credit rating drops to “credit negative,” by Moody’s credit agency. Further on Aug 16 a WLRN workshop is being held on Friends of WLRN— Supt. Carvalho focus on education excellence pays off in big way with no F schools after state rating, has been an elusive goal over the years — OIG report looks at minority owned firms getting contracts under GOB and is a priority with Supt. Carvalho — FIU Panther Scholarship program helps fund 1,131 students in 2017 needing fiscal resources to graduate in four years, great opportunity for Miami-Dade students wanting a higher education

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: BCC Taps Arriola and Dr. Wayne Steven’s as new PHT trustees– Community Crown Jewel Ryder Trauma Center has its Silver Anniversary last week, only Level 1 public trauma center in Miami-Dade, saves lives daily a community treasure!

CITY OF MIAMI: Miami Dist. 2 Commissioner Russell kicks off his congressional campaign Sunday at Merrie Christmas Park in Grove, “wants to listen to neighbors’ concerns, and do the right thing,” — in the contentious house race, has raised $350,000 (and another $200,200 in last quarter) to challenger Haggman’s $500,000 in large democratic Party field of candidates.– Outgoing Mayor Tomas Regalado now believes in climate change and got a long story in the Herald and in some ways the man is an enigma while being a populist, contrarian and commissioner for 22 years – depending on Florida Supreme Court ruling, city could go “bankrupt,” if courts rule in favor of unions cut in pay, cost could be as high as $200 million, says union rep at commission meeting– Mayor Regalado rides into the sunset in November legacy is a mixed bag, created his own nemesis, Crespogram with some of his patronage hire – See all of Miami’s elected leaders financial disclosure forms for the year

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH: France taps Mayor Levine with high honor for his climate change work – Convention Center event update after Irma – Mayoral campaign calms down as candidate Grieco drops out of race after controversies and state attorney probe

EDITORIALS: Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times in their own actions Florida Constitutional commission should insist on transparency, not darkness as Sunshine law gets diluted — Most politicians hate the press- Florida needs Sunshine Amendment many municipalizes out of control and get little press coverage or oversight, legislators on wrong side of this one

LETTERS: Commissioner Xavier Suarez on county’s use of half-cent sales tax — Fordham student Ram co-editor Knight intern studying how people get there local news, what about you where do you get your micro local news let us know? ­­– important mission of Lotus Village, helping women and children needs community support

 

>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)

 

>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message.

 

 

>>> 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 observe

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 [18^h] 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!”

 

ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Streets

 

>>> Trump and U.S. Rep. Fredericka Wilson verbally duke it out with President Trump after phone call to deceased Green Beret Johnson’s widow

 

President Trump’s call to the Gold Star wife of Sgt. La David T. Johnson a Green Beret soldier killed in Niger set off a spate between local congresswomen Fredericka Wilson, D-Miami and has set off a media firestorm the last four days. Further, the soldier was interned on Saturday and during the call. The president refutes that he said, “The soldier knew what he was getting into,” when he joined the U.S. Army but the congresswoman known for her hats has many times pushed the envelope before and she has told the media that she is tough and “it is just water under the bridge,” she told WPLG Channel 10 last week. And thousands of residents lined the streets when the man’s flag draped coffin past by and the man was a member of an educational program founded by Wilson called the 5,000 Role Models that tries to have young black kids graduating from college. >>> And to go to the family’s go to fund https://www.gofundme.com/sgt-la-david-johnson-scholarship

 

What about the physiological impact of Hurricane Irma on children and the loss of social media?

 

I have talked to a number of physicians I know about the effect of the storm on children and what these physicians said was the profound withdrawal from social media and the community has a great opportunity to study the impact of this social media and its denial among young people and could possible provide some empirical data of the effect how the technology has almost become an addiction for these young people of today and given the size of the potential cohort scientists should study the effects the outage had on our young given the large size of the affected co-hort.

 

What about what is going on at the Miami Dade County’s family courts, probate courts?

 

The Watchdog Report over the years has heard about a number judges in the county’s probate courts who favor certain attorneys and many times who a guardian was to be and I decided to check on two local judges Michael Genden, now retired and Celeste Muir both serving on the probate courts and I started looking after these justices finances a few years ago and Muir in the past listed her net worth at $13 million a few years ago and that has dropped to some $3. 9 million, through Dec. 31, 2017 and Genden’s a Coconut Grove resident lists his net worth as “one half of $4.5 million.” And here are a couple of stories on the jurists and some past press.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-163106 and here is another story on the matter.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article144479184.html

 

Further, Muir who ran unopposed in 2014 raised a hefty war chest of $220,000 and even her daughter Jane contributed $300. To the non-campaign that includes a host of attorneys given the 225 individual contributions.

 

What about the Clerk’s Auditor?

 

The Watchdog Report had no idea the clerk’s office had an auditor and it is Michael Ukwendu and I have a letter from him to an attorney asking for information and if that info is not received by Sept 29, 2016 the matter would be “referred to a judge,” states the letter. However, there is no indication he is a CPA something most auditors have.

 

What about the Coconut Grove Playhouse?

 

The county’s plan for the Coconut Grove Playhouse has landed with a thud and many people are calling it a mix use retail property with a theater and some residents have been fighting the design conceived by the locally politically connected Architectonica firm and people are looking for details on how the firm was selected for that project and under the eye of Michael Spring director of Cultural Affairs at Miami-Dade County. Since many people believe Richard Heisenbottle who has extensive preservation experience and did the city of Miami’s chambers restoration years ago And his final product is seen by commissioners everyday on the chambers and while the county has the $20 million set aside in the 2004 bond passed by voters but all plans have stalled to date and the theater languishes and is essentially becoming demolition by neglect. And I am going to ask about how the firm was selected and if it was a competitive process.

 

>>> Knight Foundation injects $2.5 million to fact check news

 

The John S. and James L. Knight foundation has committed $2.5 million to organizations fighting fake news and the idea of fake news I believe it started when Dan Rather of CBS ran a story on George Bush II that turned out to be wrong and after that mistake broke a republican candidate when I was interviewing said “are you going to Rather me?” I joked back you want me to FOX you and that blunder on Rathers part started the bowl rolling and Brian Williams added to the fire when he embellished his military coverage and saying he had been under fire which was not true.

https://knightfoundation.org/press/releases/knight-foundation-announces-major-trust-media-and-democracy-initiative-to-build-a-stronger-future-for-journalism

https://knightfoundation.org/press/releases/knight-foundation-announces-major-trust-media-and-democracy-initiative-to-build-a-stronger-future-for-journalism

 

Further, Knight has donated $2 million for relief in Caribbean nations destroyed by Irma and hurricane recovery. For ore go to: https://knightfoundation.org/press/releases/knight-foundation-donates-2-5-million-for-hurricane-recovery-in-puerto-rico-u-s-virgin-islands

 

Norman Braman the automotive magnate is looking to create a contemporary Art Institute in Miami and the civic leader led the charge to derail the Miami Marlin’s enclosed ballpark costing with interest some 41.6 billion over the life of the bonds and many of the higher payments come in the next 15 years. And to read along interview on the art maven and Republican go to

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2017/10/10/norman-braman-prepares-opening-institute-contemporary-art/
The Miami arts and culture community has grown considerable and Adolpho Henriques told Miami-Dade County commissioners that the arts in the county need a “permanent,” revenue stream and for every one dollar $32.000 comes in to the community. He said some 300 studies have shown that the arts generates some $1.43 billion in economic impact and the Adrianne Arsht Center recently gave free tickets to some 2,700 public school fifth graders students. And exposure to the arts has grown the cultural community from the Walls of Wynwood to a host of other areas seeing a resurgence. County Commissioner Dennis Moss told the banker that through their work there has been “a profound impact [and in the past], the county was a cultural wasteland,” versus the burgeoning arts scene that now competes with Philadelphia, New York and is drawing some 40,000 art tourists to South Florida and seniors get golden tickets to events and the Arsht Center has become a major help in opening the world of the arts up to thousands of students and in the early years Mrs. Arsht would volunteer as an usher and the volunteers at the center save millions in public tax money.

 

>>PAST WDR: Could a vexing community transportation dilemma be solved by solar powered self-propelled gondola, air conditioned, and system from Miami to Miami Beach?

 

>>> A local millennial Cynthia Fleischmann, an artist and someone I know from Switzerland and an active environmentalist came up with the idea of using a solar powered self-propelled, air conditioned gondola from Miami to Miami Beach a barrier Island. And I showed these design renderings to a number of millennials who all said they had, “no problem riding,”   and one person I showed it to said it “was cool,” and two others had the same “cool” comment and of course would have no problem riding in the pod. And the terminal could be near a Metro station located around the old Herald property, if Genting bought into it and given there Asian connection might see the eloquence of the design that would become known around the world for solving a major transportation problem, especially using solar power. Further it could be one of the global iconic views of the Miami and Beach skyline especially at night and given Baylink a wireless street car est. costing $2.44 million, this design could be another creative feature to any mass transit to the beach.

 

Editor’s note: I have no financial interest in the project. But it could be a low cost way to fix a vexing long term community dilemma. Further, this is a guaranteed tourist drawer with families taking the gondola and seeing the Miami skyline. Especially at night and it would put the rusty pelican view of the Miami sky line to shame. But if leaders can think out of the box: http://gondolaproject.com/ Images By Cynthia Fleischmann & Edgar Alvarez

 

 

Out of the box: http://gondolaproject.com/ Still no response from Miami-Dade County.

 

>>>> Update at the County’s” Transportation planning Organization (TPO) is looking at new emerging technologies and one is for the Miami to Beach corridors: And the Watchdog Report contacted TPO vice- Chair Francis Suarez and he responded when asked about the gondola project he wrote back, They’re looking at it, writing, “Yes on the Beach corridor,” wrote the Miami mayoral; candidate.

 

>>>Neighbors 4 neighbors an organization that helps a wide swath of people needing help turns 25 years and the organization a not-for-profit was created after Hurricane Andrew flattened South Dade and Homestead and for more go to http://neighbors4neighbors.org/

 

>>> However Lotus House Village is seeing cuts to the tune of $750,000 said Constance Collins who runs the facility for homeless mothers with children and she said about one third of residents are “youths,” and “Many times with children,” and what is “happening is a humanitarian crisis,’ said Collins to trust board members. And Trust staff said there were “41 families with children,” in shelters and the “length of stay is just too long,” said Trust chair Ron Book and the trust has spent over” $1. Million” for the year for these families needing homes said executive director Vicky Mallette at a past trust meeting.

 

>>> What does the local VA badly need in the Miami Hospital District city of Miami land?

 

The top VA administrator locally told Miami Commissioners Thursday morning the important medical institution is having patient delays and vets are “missing doctor appointments,” because of the lack of parking and the VA wants the city of Miami to contribute some City Land to be used for parking especially for amputees in wheelchairs and this the kind of issue that is important but will many times fall between the cracks and the Miami Manager a vet of Dessert Storm and the city should try to work something out in the future.. And one of the only good things when it comes to parking if you are disabled parking is a little bit easier but Miami is a city with a long history of supporting the military should get the parking issue resolved if the city really cared for the veterans something Mayor Tomas Regalado touts in public speeches

 

>>> 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/

>>> Connect Miami is a new program trying to get residents to engage with their neighbors and friends to broaden community interaction something that at times may be difficult to do. And for more go to www.connectmiami.org And Many of the events are free.in the future.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>> Former congressman Riviera tell federal Marshalls, catch me if you can regarding serving federal civil lawsuit

 

David Rivera is on the lam trying to avoid a federal civil lawsuit and a n election fine of some $486,0000 and federal Marshalls have on multiple occasions tried to serve the controversial Republican Legislator who escaped prosecution because of a statute of limitations to past election irregularities where he funneled some $69,000 to a straw candidate and he is claiming he is out of the country and unavailable to be served and the federal judge gave an extension to the Marshalls on serving the document.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article178797496.html

 

>>> Fresen’s trademark smile is gone after being sentenced for tax evasion after almost ten years of not filing taxes, point of the spear for charter Schools in Miami-Dade

 

Past WDR: Former state Rep Erick Fresen was sentenced to 90 days in jail and one year of probation for failing to file his taxes for almost a decade (but was charged for only 2011 non filing) and the high flying legislator with the gleaming white teeth had an arrogant streak in him and he would represent charter school application s in many of Dade’s municipality and more recently at coral Gables where the charter school was very controversial and Fresen spoke in favor of the Academica charter school in the city beautiful and the chambers were packed with pro and con residents. However, known as the education representative has now lost his luster and can never again run for elected office but critics wonder why such a lenient sentence by U.S. District Judge Richard Scala. And for more go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Fresen

 

>>> Candidate Taddeo takes a past Republican senate seat out spent some 2/1, after trying to win office for years, used Trump against opponent Diaz

 

With The Florida Senate race for Dist. 40 heating up and the clock is ticking until the special election with candidates Annette Tadddeo and Jose Diaz saying they were pulling campaign ads because of Irma and it would be unseemly but the ads have filled the airwaves despite the plight of many south Florida residents and the two debated on WPLG Local Channel 10 and the race is nasty and Democrats are hoping to pick up a GOP seat in the Republican controlled senate but it is unknown if the V.P endorsement will be significant in the tight race interrupted by Irma and its misery. Further Taddeo a perennial candidate has yet to cross the finish line in many of her past races and she is hoping this time will be the charm but voter turnout is expected to be light.

 

>>> The Florida Supreme Court rules governor Scott can reassign cases involving the death penalty after one state attorney said she did not believe in it

 

>>>> Gov. Scott press release: Governor Rick Scott Reassigns Kissimmee Police Officers Homicide Cases from State Attorney Aramis Ayala to State Attorney Brad King

Today, Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Order 17-222 reassigning the case of Everette Glenn Miller from State Attorney Aramis Ayala to State Attorney Brad King. Everette Glenn Miller is accused of shooting and killing two Kissimmee police officers – Officer Matthew Baxter and Sgt. Richard “Sam” Howard. In March, State Attorney Ayala unilaterally decided to not seek the death penalty in any case prosecuted by her office. As Governor, Governor Scott has sole authority in Florida to reassign cases when he determines that the reassignment will serve in the interest of justice.

 

Governor Rick Scott said, “Last night’s violence against our law enforcement community is reprehensible and has no place in our state. In Florida, we have zero tolerance for violence and those who attack our law enforcement. Today, I am using my executive authority to reassign this case to State Attorney Brad King to ensure the victims of last night’s attack and their families receive the justice they deserve.”

 

Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “Two Florida police officers were brutally murdered and the victims’ families deserve a prosecutor who is willing to consider all sentences, including the death penalty – that is why the Governor and I agree the investigation and prosecution of this case must be reassigned.”  And for more go to: https://www.local10.com/lifestyle/legal-news/gov-rick-scott-wins-death-penalty-legal-battle-against-state-attorney-aramis-ayala

 

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott: Florida Sets All-Time Tourism Record in First Half of 2017

 

TAMPA, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida set another record by welcoming the highest number of visitors of any six months in the state’s history with 60.7 million visitors, according to VISIT FLORIDA. This represents a 4.1 percent increase over the same period in 2016, and includes 53.2 million domestic visitors, 5.3 million overseas visitors and 2.2 million Canadian visitors.

 

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce today that Florida has continued its record breaking success by welcoming more than 60 million visitors to our state over the first half of 2017- the highest number of visitors of any six months in our state’s history. This means back-to-back record quarters for our state. Now, with the investments made in VISIT FLORIDA during this year’s Special Legislative Session, we can continue to break records and work toward our goal of 120 million visitors this year. Florida’s booming tourism industry supports 1.4 million jobs across the state, and I know that VISIT FLORIDA and their many local partners are continuing to focus on breaking more records in order to help create even more opportunities for our families.”

 

>>>> PAST WDR: With the summer break the Children’s Trust of Miami –Dade has a host of summer activities including getting one free book for a young person and helps with a child’s reading ability. https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/parents/initiatives/read-to-learn-book-club

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>>The arts have risen from the grave generating $1.43 billion in economic impact, 40% jump since last study, the last few years and people now come to Miami for the arts as well as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia where centuries have gone by versus Miami’s transformation during the last decade said Cultural Affairs chair Adolpho Henriques.

 

He noted there have been “300,” studies showing the economic benefits of the arts and the recent study showed a 40 percent increase in economic impact

 

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa is on a tear when it comes to selling countryman preferring a long term lease since the properties in many cases are in the unincorporated area UMSA and she believes these “properties are the people’s properties and an asset to the county.

 

What did Commissioner Xavier Suarez say about the 42,000 properties the county owns?

 

What about land for Key Biscayne deferred for a parking garage and possible government offices and Martinez asked if parking was going to be free given the $1 dollar lease payment and could not be converted to commercial use

 

Kendall Regional Hospital got approval for a nine story parking garage with a heliport on top of it for taking patients to the Class I Trauma center that is cutting into Ryders finances.

 

Also, Riviera Prep got authorized to expand its campus on 87 the Avenue at Wednesday’s county CDMP meeting after numerous speakers spoke concerning the local traffic but many noted rush hour traffic is terrible everywhere in Miami many speakers said.

 

What about county Legacy contracts #1 Moss?

 

At the last Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust meeting members discussed how the trust handled people on the streets and “some 600 homeless people,” were placed in shelters. Long time trust chairman Ron Book said the organization “with great passion,” tried to get as many people possible to safety as Irma approached and Book talked about one man he saw living on the seawall at the Bayfront Park site. He said the man was unresponsive and “barely had a pulse,” but Miami Fire Rescue came and gave the man a dose of NarCan and he was revived immediately and taken to safety and any homeless who would not go to shelters were Baker Acted following the “Laws,” so they would get to safety, said Book

 

What about the sexual predator encampment?

 

Book noted, when it comes to a sexual predator encampment the trust and county are “working hard,” given “residency law to shut down this “encampment,” he noted the population fluctuated from a low number during the day but swells to a much larger number at night and the trust is creating a map of the county which will show where a sexual predator can live given the various laws restrictions like schools or other places children congregate.

 

What about the trust’s Rent Connect?

 

The trust has a new program where people with rental housing can register their rental with the county and for more on the program go to: http://www.homelesstrust.org/rentconnect.asp

 

What about the Homeless Trust?

 

Vice Mayor Russell Beneford is leaving the Carlos Gimenez administration and is taking a high profile job at Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and trust chair Ron Book noted how talented and reliable he was and said if you looked in a “dictionary,” looking for a true competent “public servant.” you would see his face, said Book and the chairman said he was being replaced by Miami Fire Chief Maurice Kemp in the Gimenez administration and Beneford during his tenure was a solid Vice mayor and over saw the police fire rescue and a host of other departments and the Watchdog Report gives him a Tip of the Hat for a job well done and Book believed the cruise line saw his potential saying he had been a city manager in North Miami before coming to the county and all at the trust wished him well. Further Commissioners Dennis Moss and Jean Monestine said the man was all over the county and was an effective leader both men agreed. And he is going to be a vice-president with the cruise line.

 

>>> The county commission approved naming 50^th St in NW Miami after long time community leader Mrs. Nancy S. Dawkins Way and the woman was a pillar in her community and was a Girl Scout den mother and a host of elected officials spoke in favor of the street naming.

 

>>>> Hialeah Mayor Hernandez goes after ethic commission for holding seminar on doing business with Cuba, and public money was used, despite contrary claim

 

Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez complained about a seminar the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Commission put on concerning how to do business with Cuba and executive director Joe Centorino told Spanish media “there was no cost to taxpayers,” something he called a ”lie.” He asked where the professionalism is and maybe look at these salaries. He said he understands the need for an ethics commission but asked is it to embarrass public officials? And he said when the city did a record request he was first told the cost and Hernandez railed is the body about educating or embarrassing officials and with a $2 million budget that money would pay for a host of FBI special agents and he noted all the investigators are from The Miami Herald and yet no public corruption cases have been prosecuted. And he closed “who is watching this? Organization.

 

Further the ethics commission does put on municipal seminars on lobbying rules and county laws on gifts and public corruption but the mayor did not understand why a seminar on doing business with Cuba was held.

 

>>> Miami-Dade County Procurement Director Singer says sayonara after 35 years pressure cooker job

 

Thirty-Five year county employee Miriam Singer the county’s procurement officer and in a pressure “cooker position,” said Bovo and she always wanted to save “The taxpayers money,” Said Commission Chair Estephan Bovo at the retirement award ceremony in the commission chambers and she was trained in social work and has a Masters from the University of Miami in public administration along with vice mayor Alena Hudack.

 
>> GMCVB press release: RECORD LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR SEPTEMBER 2017
Greater Miami’s Leisure and Hospitality jobs increased +0.6 percent in September 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, showing the continued strength of the destination’s travel and tourism industry in generating jobs for the community.

Record Greater Miami Leisure & Hospitality Jobs
September 2017	September 2016	% Change
140,600	139,700	+0.6%

 

>>> Metro Rail is getting “136 new train cars,” in the coming months said Mayor Gimenez and they are needed since metro rail‘s polder cars are not as reliable as they should be. Further the production of the cars ‘is on track,’ said Alice Bravo and all the cars are due by July 2018 and the Hitachi built cars in Medley “are on track,” regarding the delivery timeline and all should be in service by that time said transit director Alice Bravo.

 

Further transit director Alice Brava said metro rail cars were from 1984 and parts an keeping the running has been a “yeoman’s,” job said the engineer and she noted the county is working with procurement in Washington D.C. where the cars on its system are being replaced and may give the county an opportunity to procure replacement parts

 

A resident speaker at Tuesday’s BBC meeting carped all commissioners do is ‘blah, blah,” about themselves and not listening to the public and one man could not speak because he got caught in people traffic trying to get to the commission chambers and they wore shirts asking for help in “condo-Abuse,’ something Commissioner Dennis Moss knows something about since he has a condo in Commissioner Joe Martinez’s district and he believed some of these boards were ‘corrupt,’ he considered.

 

However Jose Pepe Diaz went after the man giving him a dressing down for making such remarks and the board was trying to help him with what was a stat issue and not here locally but Diaz really put it to the man who essentially was just asking commissioners to get to the point an there are many people who feel that way if they have to sit in the chambers seats for hours to hear an item.

 

>>> Commissioner Daniela Levine-Cava said she along with Hasbro toys and Baptist Health South Florida donated toys to Puerto Rico and some 10,000 pounds of medicines to the beleaguered island smashed by Irma and commissioners also contributed monies from their personal commission budgets and the islands residents are expected to come to Miami or Orlando and could inject 28,000 more residents and they will need help in relocating during this tragic time for the residents.

 

>>> Animal Activist are getting some attention after the Miami-Dade County inspector General released a report on how successful the county’s Animal Services no kill rate was especially with cats and I had heard that some thousands of cats were killed because they were considered aggressive and also applies to dogs. Further the IG report puts more pressure on the Mayor Gimenez’ administration to get these numbers further lowered.

http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/1.%20IG14-39%20Transmittal%20&%20Executive%20Summary%206.26.17.pdf Further I have learned that many animals adopted are not checked on and some dogs are said to be “bait dogs” used in dog fights that can be held apparently easy in any empty pool and is still occurring in south Dade.

 

What about FIUs fifth year medical school students?

 

The FIU Herbert Wertheim Medical school graduated 114 new physicians, the universities 5^th class and many are staying in the community and some 30 percent are going into primary care said Medical school Dean John Rock, M.D. and the medical school is working to “create a primary care program as well,” and is one of the prime reason FIU got the medical school since these doctors were hoped to go into primary care medicine and these students are seen at a number of hospitals including the Baptist Health System and are a welcome addition to patients with chronic diseases and getting the appropriate treatment before it gets worse and is saving “Jackson\n Health System money.” Said Rock

 

>>> The Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General is making some recommendations on an $11.852 million no bid waiver to modernization of the traffic control services at MIA and it is a great read with some suggestions and recommendations being made for the administration to consider and to read the report go to:

http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/TrafficControlModernizationServicesBidWaiver06.12.17.pdf

 

>>> PAST WDR: Americans died last year, 3,000 alone in Florida, opiate addiction different treatment than heroin addiction, but death toll nationally huge

 

PAST WDR because our Youth are dying at a terrible rate: because this is killing our kids and caused the creation of The Miami-Dade County Opioid Task force met 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. Where 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. Editor’s note: I keep running this story because it is such a scourge that kills across all ethnic lines. Further to read the county task force’s report go to http://www.miamidade.gov/mayor/opioid-addiction-task-force-group.asphttp://www.miamidade.gov/mayor/opioid-addiction-task-force-group.asp

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/20-facts-hurricane-andrew-anniversary_n_1819405.html has saved millions by refinancing the extensive bond holdings

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

The Watchdog Report will do a story next week on what happened at the and to read the school district audit committee and to tread it go to: go to http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_October_10_2017/agenda.pdf

 

>>>> Board’s Audit and Budget Review committee meets Tuesday and a verbal report will be given on the Friends of WLRN federal audit is expected at the meeting according to the agenda and the fund raising arm of WLRN is undergoing a federal audit and previously reported in the WDR and the audit is being done briskly but until the conclusion the audit committee is essentially monitoring the overall process after the station for number of years did not submit audits to the school district. To read the agenda go to: http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_July_18_2017/Agenda.pdf

 

>>> OIG report looks at minority owned firms getting contracts under GOB and is a priority with Supt. Carvalho

 

At the $1.2 billion GOB oversight board recently there was a discussion on how many minority contracts have been given to minority firms and primes since the school board let out contracts and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has made this a crusade in that was promised when the bond was first voted on and the schools IG did a study of these minority contracts and to read the IG report go to:: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2017/GOBIG0013FinalReport6.15.17.pdf

 

>> Past WDR: FIU Golden Scholarship program helps 1,131 students needing fiscal resources to graduate in four years, great opportunity for Miami-Dade students wanting a higher education

 

>>> FIU Golden Scholar program funds for the economically distressed in Miami-Dade and is a new initiative started by the FIU Foundation

 

Florida international university President Marc Rosenberg, Ph.D spoke to the Miami-Dade Schoolboard about a new scholarship program called Golden Scholars and the FIU foundation is guaranteeing anyone that wants to work hard and qualifies will be able to get a degree in four years if the student economically cannot pay and it is a great program and school board members were enthusiastic in their support of FIU Foundation and its 54,000 students and for more on the program go to https://give.fiu.edu/tag/golden-scholars/

And for more go to http://sas.fiu.edu/golden-scholars/

FIU’s promise to 2017 freshmen: As good as gold

FIU Foundation News, Inspiration and Impact, Student | No Comments

FIU is making a promise to the 2017 freshman class: If your family cannot help you pay for college, FIU will. Call it a Golden Promise. FIU’s Golden Promise guarantees…

Read More   >> Further The Irma and Norman Brahman Foundation donated $1 million for needy students at MDC and FIU and is a great boon for those residents lacking the financial resources to continue their education and the WDR gives the foundation a Tip of The Hat for this very needed donation

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>> BCC Taps Arriola and Dr. Wayne Steven’s as new PHT trustees

 

The board of county commissioners voted on two new trustees from a slate of candidates interviewed by the trust’s Nominating Council and PHT past Chair Joe Arriola who got nine commissioner votes and Dr. Wayne Stephens got one vote and for more on the pediatric dentist go to https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-wayne-stephens and he is a Columbia University graduate and Arriola has led the public health care system along with CEO and president Carlos Migoya into the black and the approval of a $830 million GOB bond to upgrade the ageing facilities after years of the county shifting some $72 million in unfunded mandates since 2002.

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Miami Dist. 2 Commissioner Russell kicks off his congressional campaign Sunday at Merrie Christmas Park in Grove, “wants to listen to neighbors’ concerns, and do the right thing,’ in the contentious house, has raised ($350,000 and $220,000. Last quarter) to challenger Haggman’s $500,000 in large Democratic Party field of candidates.

 

A rumor that outgoing Commissioner Frank Carollo is looking to be the next director of the Bayfront Park Trust is in the media and for years I have covered the trust but have missed the last few meetings but it is an odd report since he is a certified public Accountant and the charge is being pushed by Steven Kneapler a longtime friend and confident of outgoing mayor Tomas Regalado whose son Tommy is running against former mayor Joe Carollo for the commission District 3 seat and the former mayor has a history of conspiracy theories and high drama especially after an earlier election won by Xavier Suarez was overturned by a judge due to widespread voter fraud and Carollo was brought into office. But he fanned Miami’s ethnic breach to red hot in the spring of 2000 when the federal government was debating the fate of the young Cuban Boy Ileana Gonzalez whose mother died during the voyage from Cuba and it caught the world’s attention and Miami led national news almost every night for months and the outlets were camped out at Camp Elian, and included hats and coffee cups saying camp Elian.

 

What about the nickname “crazy Joe,” and what could he be like on the five member commission dais?

 

Joe Carollo with a mercurial paranoid personality is planning on being a force again on the five member commission and if Francis Suarez the younger son of the elder Suarez is elected mayor as planned. He may find Carolllo is a major ongoing stumbling block and the mayor once flew to San Jose to complain to Miami Herald publisher Tony Ridder about the paper’s coverage of him and while I was a Herald editorial columnist I asked him why he just did not phone the man versus a flight to San Jose. Further, I asked was it on his dime or the city’s back then and he did pay for the flight. After I checked and he claimed at the time angrily “that I ws being used by the Miami Herald,” he insisted and ultimately I got up and walked out telling Ronda Vangates don’t call me again and “He hears things I don’t here,” I told her back in 2000 and while he got the moniker crazy Joe people would always say “at least he is honest,” no small achievement in Miami politics but the WDR anticipates he will be a continuous thorn in little Suarez’s side and he is very confrontational for more go to: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94153&page=1http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94153&page=1 And here is more on Elian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli%C3%A1n_Gonz%C3%A1lez_affair

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article124820224.html

 

What about Jimbo’s Lagoon?

 

Under Commissioner Ken Russell’s guidance a more environmentally sensitive plan was created and there is a graded beach now to the lagoon shoreline and Russell a water board enthusiast of all types including paddle boards.

 

What about Russell’s run for congress?

 

Democratic Party underdog Ken Russell announced he was running for U.S. Rep. Dr. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s, R-Miami’s Dist. 27 seat Sunday at a picnic and there are a host of challengers in the crowded Democratic Party field including Matt Haggman formerly of the Knight Foundation and an attorney and a former Miami Herald county reporter.

 

What did Russell say at Merrie Christmas Park in Coconut Grove Sunday to about his run for congress?

 

One hundred supporters attended the kickoff event. The former yo-yo executive born at Doctor’s hospital said he got involved in politics because of the contaminated park he lived next to and the city of Miami’s initial response to the problem.

 

The introductory speaker Bobby a former elected official said Russell was running for the “right reasons,” and the man who believes in “social equality,” and Russell noted excluding asking his wife for marriage this “is the biggest decision in my life,” and he talked about his family and how his dad while at the University of Miami was a P51 mustang fighter instructor and his Japanese mother was the top yo-yo player in the country and since Russell is from Kentucky he may have some of Daniel Boone’s blood in him he once joked with the WDR and given there are a host of candidates running for the coveted congressional Dist. 27 seat. The candidate believes “the large field,” increases his chances of winning and believes the numbers show in the primary that he only needs some 10,000 Democratic Party voters to face the GOP candidate primarily former school board member Raquel Regalado who has the support of Ros- Lehtinen who is retiring after 22 years in the house.

 

Further, Russell noted that he has “traveled to [over] 50 countries and speaks “four languages,” including Spanish and he is the first Miami District 2 commissioner to speak the dominate language in Miami and the business man “loves water sports,” and had a business selling paddle boards and a host of other products to “100 surf shops,” in America and he gave money to such organizations as “big brother and Big Sister,” he told the assembled crowd. He also said he was committed to “listening to the people and doing the right thing,” he highlighted his underdog status when he ran against Teresa Sarnoff the wife of the former commissioner Marc Sarnoff who Russell beat by two to one even though her campaign war chest was over $2 million and was ten times the amount he had but voters are getting tired of dynastic political families and are looking for new blood and Russell believes he fills the bill. And supported a resolution urging tolerance for the 70,000 Muslims in the city and the county and he said what has been going on in Washington ‘and “national level issues,” had been tugging at him and he noted one success was overturning a rare Miami Mayor Regalado veto on a large scale development and when he ran for the commission seat “he did not make promises and people trusted him,” and that has been his North Star in politics. He also is concerned with President Trump’s “twitchy trigger finger,” an abrogation of the Iran nuclear deal as some of his concerns in the nation’s capital. For more go to:http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/10/miami-commissioner-ken-russell-joins-race-to-replace-ros-lehtinen.html And for more on the Haggman campaign go to http://floridapolitics.com/archives/246254-matt-haggman-appears-top-cd-27-field-512k-haul-third-quarter

 

>>>> Outgoing Mayor Tomas Regalado now believes in climate change and got a long story in the Herald and in some ways the man is an enigma while being a populist, contrarian and commissioner for 22 years

 

The mayor originally ran on slowing some of the rampant development and more affordable housing most of which never materialized during his eight years in office and many of his siblings have lived off the campaign cash for work on the fathers or sisters campaigns and now his son Tommy is running for aa commission seat facing off against former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo and Regalado and Carollo used to butt heads when he was a commissioner and while he calls himself a Republican his political afflation has shown some flexibility depending on which is the majority party at the time and during his first swearing in years ago the surprise guest was then Gov. Charlie Crist who would later become a Democrat and is a congressman in St. Petersburgh now after failing a bid for the Florida senate.

 

However his family has traveled extensively for a variety of reasons and recently his son Jose went to the Paris Climate Change conference where he is saying it was on his dime but no documentation has been produced and there are a number of open questions that he just generally ignores and is a Trumpian type excuse. And many of Regalado’s activities have been chronicled in the adult content www.crespogram.com blog and to read the Herald’s longer story on Regalado go to:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article177433831.html

 

>>> Depending on Florida Supreme Court ruling, city could go “bankrupt,” if courts rule in favor of unions cut in pay, cost could be as high as $200 million, says union rep at commission meeting

 

The Miami commission’s final budget hearing Thursday was a staid affair and earlier in the day FPO union head Javier Ortiz said the Florida Supreme Court was hearing their case concerning the city claiming a financial emergency and believes the city’s exposure could be some $200 million in past pay and said the city could settle now and if that doesn’t the union plans to demand the full amount and could “bankrupt,” the city something the police and fire rescue members don’t want to do. But he claims the lack of any negotiations in the waning days of Mayor Regalado’s administration and could sour his legacy in office that has had a number of controversies like taking his children on international trips contributed by a local airline and other perks while in office including asking for concierge service at MIA and while the mayor pushes himself as a populist but he has always been quick to have someone else pay for things

 

What about the Miami Out board Club wanting an extended lease?

 

Regalado noted the organization has an annual boat parade and one of the fees is to bring toys to be given out to needy in Miami and now I know where all the toys come from during the Christmas holiday. And it is this blending of politics and development that continued after Mayor Manny Diaz left office and after 23 years in public service the next administration headed probable by Francis Suarez needs to end some of these loose practices because over the past 18 years a number of past commissioners have been removed from office for a variety of reasons.

 

Further his son Tomas “Tommy,” Regalado is running for a commission seat and is facing former Mayor Joe Carollo a Regalado nemesis and his father’s administration went through city managers like M&Ms with almost ten coming and going in the administration and one of the worst was Johnny Martinez a former Sec., of FDOT and he could drink with best of them.

 

What about all the FEMA money after Hurricane Andrew?

 

What about all the past managers and some of his own new hires?

 

Further, Mayor Regalado has brought in a number of controversial people since he first became mayor. First was Angel Zayon as the city’s communication director and later fired after complaints by city employees and Regalado even created his own nemesis Al Crespo of the adult Crespo gram when he hired a local Grovite Harry Gottlieb to be the city’s movie czar who used to claim erroneously that he helped get the mayor get elected which was certainly not the case. Since he ran against former Commissioner Joe Sanchez who ran a very weak campaign and was associated with former Mayor Manny Diaz and the toxic Miami Marlins baseball stadium costing over $1.6 billion given the way the financing was constructed and is considered a “tainted” stadium an why major league soccer wanted a different location to the enclosed stadium and the team is up for sale after the team hood winked Miami-Dade County Commissioners who supported the deal like lemmings’.

 

However Regalado has a history of taking numerous international trips and many times takes his daughter Raquel (now running for congress) and his son Tommy now running for the commission and has in the past shown showed little interest in government and he is facing Joe Carollo in the commission race a former Miami mayor with the moniker “crazy Joe,”

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article170804042.html   Editor’s note: My criticism of the Regalado family and the way they govern has cost me a long time sponsor, but I will bounce back.

 

>>> And here are the July 1 financial disclosure forms for ‘Miami commissioners and the mayor Tomas Regalado

 

Commissioner Francis Suarez: file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Suarez%20Francis.pdf

 

Commissioner Wilfredo Gort file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Gort%20Wifredo.pdf

 

Ken Russell: file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Russell%20Ken.pdf

 

Frank Carollo: file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Carollo%20Frank.pdf

 

Keon Hardeman: file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Hardemon%20Keon.pdf

 

Tomas Regalado: file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Regalado%20Tomas.pdf

 

>>>>And next week I will run all the Miami commissioners July 1 financial disclosures and on the whole there is nothing to exciting about them except that Regalado is a paid board member on the HCA Coral Gables Hospital board where county commissioner Rebeca Sosa is the chair of the for profit board located in Sosa’s commission district. However in Regalado’s financial disclosure form he fails to list the $42,00 he is paid from Coral Gables Hospital as a board member too the for profit hospital. And I got this number from County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa who is also a board member and she lists the income but the mayor just lists being on the board but no income is listed. And to see the disclosure go to file:///C:/Users/DAN% 20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Regalado%20Tomas.pdf Editor’s note I emailed Mayor Regalado and asked him about the unreported income but he did not respond by my deadline. CORRECTION: Regalado verbally told me he did not attend enough meetings to warrant a payment.

 

Miami residents warning!

 

The city is rushing a deadline to get a proposed development on Virginia Key in front of voters to approve and this has been a past tactic for years and the Flagstone development had this same urgency back in 2002 and voters should wake up because the city has a long history of voters getting suckered in these “terrible deals,” said Commissioner Frank Carollo in the past and the matter is being rushed so that it can be on the Nov. 7 ballot that will also likely include a $400 million GOB bond called ‘Forever Miami,” and city leaders use this urgency to many times pull a fast one and frankly it is about the money, that in a number of cases never materializes. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article159278724.who html

 

Further while there will be a oversite board the members will be picked by commissioners and generally they pick people to be on it who are the usual suspects and this cash bonanza becomes a feeding frenzy for many prominent lobbyist given past over sight boards.

 

What about mayoral candidate Francis Suarez and the 1,000 petitions he submitted to the Miami Clerk’s office and he would avoid paying the $100.00 candidate fee for qualification and is a nice   gesture and shows the young man is willing to do the work necessary to earn the job of mayor no small achievement given his age.

 

>>>> What about Miami City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso who is looking at other opportunities?

 

Manger Alphonso is said to be shopping around his resume since he was a Regalado appointee and the Gulf War veteran has serious financial skills and came out of the pressure cooker county budget department and during his time the city was able to hire a number CPAS who a few years back would not come to the city and currently the city’s reserves are around $120 million. However, he has also crossed swords with a number of commissioners and if Suarez is elected mayor people think this manager is gone despite the management skills and fiscal understanding, but has been accused of not talking to commissioners enough about issues facing the city.

 

However, Miami at one point in the 1990s went through ten managers ( and later two managers went to jail) and the city since then has had to defend two bond offerings after the SEC found irregularities and Alphonso and his CFO Chris Rose also a budget guru, will be very helpful if the city’s voters approve a $250 million to $400 million GOB and requires fiscal transparency if the city is to not run afoul of the SEC again, And the Watchdog Report believes they have a gem in the manager and the city is on solid fiscal ground. But Miami has a history of appointing political managers and not based on their skill set and taxpayers should realize after the Great Recession the administration under Regalado has bounced back partially because of the rising tax base given the development of Brickell

 

>>>>When it comes to hiring outside Atty’s, Commissioner Russell wants to be sure the city “is not out gunned,” in court after testy exchange with city attorney Méndez

 

When it comes to hiring attorneys, “I want a knockout punch, “believing the commission’s decision to call Flagstone in “default,” of the agreement had with the city and Flagstone now suing Miami for $120 million on damages for breaking the agreement first created back in 2002 when the city’s voters approved a massive project on Virginia Key and has yet to really get anything done except a mega yacht Marina

 

The County Ethics Commission has a new civility program and Miami-Beach and Coral Gables have all signed on including Miami and to see the program go to:

http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/2017-meetings/summary_jan_17.pdf

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article154960954.html

 

What about The Bay front Park Trust?

 

The Trust met Wednesday and negotiations are going on if the Omni CRA has to pay the Trust $2 million a year for 15 years (some $30 million) for the maintenance of the park and includes a proposed playground in Museum Park where the playgrounds facilities will cost some $2 million in a no bid contract for playground equipment that is made in Germany, and the deal was part of the County’s Global Agreement, with Miami. However the Omni CRA would like to use the $30 million for new affordable housing in the CRA area and negotiations are going on between Miami Commission Vice Chair Ken Russell and Commissioner Frank Carollo who chairs the Bayfront Park trust board and readers will have to see how this all pans out.

 

Further, Bayfront Park Trust is considering building a playground in Miami Museum Park and the Omni CRA in a past agreement has agreed to pay $2 million a year in park maintenance that Russell wants to go affordable housing in the CRA district.

 

VILLAGE OF COCONUT GROVE

 

>>> IS low cost affordable housing coming to county’s Shannon Rolle community center?

 

The county owned Shannon Rolle administrative center is being looked at by the county for a new affordable housing development that will also include some affordable housing and the former site years ago had a Winn Dixie shopping center and the project came in front of the Miami planning and zoning board and local residents were concerned about the cost of the affordable housing which will depend on how much government housing assistance is given versus costlier units and the range of units is estimated from $450.00 to $700.00 depending on the size of the unit. However this transit village is also facing some resident opposition and the county and developers are going to have to hear further the concerns they have for the long neglected area and its residents.

 

Further the new development on Main highway near Greenstreet’s café is going to be a five story office building with two stories of retail on the bottom at street level and the project is moving along at a brisk pace.

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

 

>>> France awards highest award to Mayor Phillip Levine for Climate change support

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article180035841.html

 

>>> Convention Center event update after Irma

 

Manager’s memo edited: Did the Building suffer any damage due to Irma?

Although Hurricane Irma has significantly impacted construction activity and the ability of the MBCC project to be cleared for occupancy by the public, the structure itself suffered minimal damage and was re-certified for contractor occupancy on 9/18/17. There was roofing damage and some additional minor water infiltration damage to the finished interior on the east side of the building, which is currently being addressed.

 

Note: On August 1, 2017, portions of the building suffered damage through the roof due to a heavy rain event that occurred on that date unrelated to Irma. These roofing repairs were taking place but were not completed prior to Irma affecting South Florida. These repairs have now continued after the contractor’s roofer remobilized last week.

 

What is the time delay impact to the project?

 

The construction manager, Clark Construction, has estimated that the project has lost a minimum of 2 weeks, which includes 1 week for Hurricane related preparations to secure the project site and demobilize, and 1 week after the storm event to re-mobilize once power was brought back to the building, the trailer compound and staging area. In addition, full work crews, many of who left the state, were not back as of Friday of last week, 9/22/17. The City’s construction Manager, Clark Construction, is doing everything possible to ramp up their labor force to gain the momentum lost as the result of the hurricane.

 

What was the impact of Irma to events?

 

A total of 4 events had to either cancel or be relocated as a result of Irma’s impact. For both, the cancellation and relocation of shows, City and MBCC staff have worked in lockstep with each show to protect the best interests, safety and security, and overall event success for the show producers, exhibitors, and guests. City and MBCC remain committed to providing world-class support and partnership to these valued clients. The 4 effected events (listed below) are under contract to return in 2018:

 

Auto Show – Irma struck during the scheduled Auto Show event, therefore the show had no other option but to cancel.

America’s Food & Beverage – The City cancelled the show due to there not being enough time to clear the building for occupancy by any event or show by the authorities having jurisdiction, i.e., the building official and Fire Marshall.

ICFF Miami – For similar reasons related to the ability to clear the MBCC for occupancy by the general public, the event was relocated to the Broward County Convention Center (Fort Lauderdale)

Jewelry Trade Show – For similar reasons related to the inability to clear the MBCC for occupancy by the general public, the event was relocated to the Broward County Convention Center (For Lauderdale)

 

Why did the shows have to cancel and/or relocate?

 

During preparations for Irma the City took precautionary measures to avoid the possibility of substantial storm surge damage to temporary fire walls and life safety partitions. This included partial removal of drywall below 4 feet as well as other measures. These walls could not be re-built and re-certified on time for the building to be cleared for occupancy for any event.

 

Will Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB) come back in 2017? The Show is under contract to return in 2017.

 

What is the impact of Irma to the ABMB event? There was no impact to the exhibit hall gallery area or the newly completed east entrance or support areas. There are ongoing discussions with the ABMB team, the City’s construction team, and the authorities having jurisdiction (Building Department and Fire Department) as to what will be available for use on the West entrance along Convention Center Drive.

 

What is the cost of the delay?

 

The amount of the delay and the premium time required to recover time lost from the hurricane interruption has not yet been fully quantified. The City is focusing efforts on proper documentation and submittal of receipts to insurance agencies for potential builder’s risk insurance and/or FEMA reimbursement.

 

Will Design Miami be returning in 2017?

 

The City is currently under contract with Design Miami for 2017 and the usual location in the City’s parking lot will be made available to the event. City staff is currently coordinating event details with Design Miami show executives.

 

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