Watchdog Report Vol.18 No.19 October1, 2017 EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating almost 18 Years of weekly reliable publishing

>>>Further government has come out of its  dormant period and reawakes in September when all the public budget meetings are held and I will back in action next week with fresh news 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?                   

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: >>> Puerto Rico’s four pediatric hospitals gets a “lifeline,” for four critical patients from Nicholas Children’s hospital —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: >>> 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 — Candidate Taddeo wins  in her Sen.40 race against Rep. Diaz, a long time Trump supporter-The Florida Supreme Court rules Gov.  Scott can reassign cases involving the death penalty after one state attorney said she did not believe in it

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: First Public Budget hearing a long affair with many speakers, transit cuts, and animals were just some of the topics citizens brought to the chambers, final hearing expected to be a rowdy affair -Charter Review Task force members concerned about lack of public input in the process, also ask if commission needs to produce counter county budget that gets reconciled. PBA union representative Rivera, says current form of strong mayor makes Gimenez more powerful than the other 13 commissioners, “my way or the highway, he says about union negotiations.”   — With $50 million spent on studies on the six transit corridors Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava would like to see a final report — Ferre asks why the charter review body has no money wants two elections with finalist running countywide and believes the task force needs better media coverage of the important review of the County’s constitution. Further Ferre and Neisen Kasdin both believe a commissioner pay increase should be included but not the first item on the charter ballot in 2018  — When it comes to Hurricane Andrew Commissioner Moss wondered “where was the cavalry?” first arrived in the form of Miami-Dade County police officer Lt. Robert parker who (would later become the first African American County Police Director now deceased).Are surveillance Cameras coming to county’s regional parks, hope is to cut down on gangs and drug sales in Miami-Dade County Regional Parks, will prevent rapes says, Souto. Also Thousands of cameras left over after FTAA event where security was massive are in the county’s warehouses, dropped after privacy rights rears its head.  –After five years of a surplus, Jackson Health this year with budget cuts only “breaks even, but at end of year has surplus, “has become the “hospital paying patients want to go too, not because they have to,” said PHT board chair Arriola in joint trust BCC meeting — 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: 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: PHT gets a $20 million bump as a result of JHS settlement with ACHA, County attorney’s office praised for their work in this matter- JHS ends sixth fiscal year in the black but challenges remain — 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: 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: Convention Center event update after Irma

Mayoral campaign calms down as candidate Grieco drops out of race after controversies

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

 

>>> Puerto Rico’s four pediatric hospitals gets “lifeline,” for four critical patients from Nicholas Children’s hospital

 

With Puerto Rico calling for federal help on the devastated island that has President Trump on the defensive and lashing out to the islands political leadership

 

What about the four pediatric hospitals on the island nation?

 

Further, the physicians are working with Nicholas Children’s Hospital in Miami and the hospital sent a plane to bring four of these small and fragile patients to the Miami hospital said pediatric heart surgeon Redmond Burke, M.D., last week.

 

However Trump who was playing golf at the end of the week doesn’t seem to care what the optics might be and some are wondering if he would want a second term now that he knows what it involves and is fighting to get some legislative victories and tax reform a heavy lift but he periodically is dismissive of the two legislative branches and needs to tone down some of the divisive rhetoric in 2018 if Republicans want to have majorities after that election.

 

>>> Joe Copper of Topical Currents on WLRN says sayonara after 18 years and 4,000 shows decides to retire, show was a great source of a host of news topics and their contribution will be missed will be missed. And the show helped me establish myself in the early years.

 

Topical Current founder Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman said sayonara on their last show on Thursday and past regular people were commenting on the show including Michael Putney, Jim DeFede, Sen. Bob Graham and the Watchdog Report along with Dan Christian of The Broward Bulldog and is doing stories on the north Broward hospital district

 

>>> 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

 

>>> If S. Florida was “spared,” what would have happened if direct hit? Asks County Commissioner Levine Cava

 

If South Florida was “spared,” the fury of Hurricane Irma Daniela Levine Cava said the county commissioner what might have happened if it had been a direct hit and with the oppressive heat and no power tempers were on red alert and neighbors got to meet their neighbors an many types of kindness was exhibited by friends and neighbors but  the clean-up will take months and Irma was not a Andrew  that sounded like a freight train was next to your pillow and in my case power was out for almost 8 weeks back then and I  was 40 versus 66 which makes such storms harder to physically tolerate and now Puerto Rico needs are help after it was ravaged by Hurricane Maria and the island previously facing financial problems will have a massive undertaking to rebuild and to contribute to the victims of the storms go  to the Red Cross web page:http://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief

 

What about the good and the bad and the ugly?

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article175368391.html

 

With elections in November candidates and leaders were handing out food, water and ice to many residents shell shocked but a semi class war erupted when people perceived richer communities were getting preferential treatment and FPL is facing a number of lawsuits from Coral Gables to other municipalities but given the storm touched the whole state resources were limited given the scope of the devastation. Further the Watchdog Report knows a number of people that opened their homes to some of the line men to shower and sleep and these technicians came from Canada to Tennessee to help rebuild the south Florida community and the region should expect an influx of new arrivals from Puerto Rico since power could be out for six months and many of their residents have relatives in South Florida. Editor’s note: FPL denies that was the case

 

What about N. Korea?

 

The exchange between President Donald J. Trump and the despot leader of the rogue state has escalated into insults and the communist country has shown no willingness to back down from the harsh rhetoric from the petulant leader and Trump just seems to egg him own and is diminishing a diplomatic solution

 

President Trump is learning all kinds of problems come to the Oval office and earlier in the week it was North Korea and its threatening rhetoric and had the president threatening the rogue nation with ‘fire and fury,’ like the world has never seen and China’s premier Li Kegiang, an economist, asked the president to restrain his comments when it came to Hermit Kingdom and the PRC has told the belligerent nation that they are own their own if they escalate the tensions. However, the area of most danger is the ballistic missile test launches. Since the world cannot determine if it is nuclear tipped and is why the Trump administration through a back channel is pushing a diplomatic solution. However, the world is worried if Korea continues its provocative tone and a misunderstanding could trigger an accidental exchange.

 

>>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

 

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

 

>>> 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

 

>>> 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

 

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, 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

 

>>>Further to search for any Florida Constitution officers net worth go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/reshttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.htmlhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article159147759.html isults.cfm

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>> First Public Budget hearing a long affair with many speakers, transit cuts, and animals were just some of the topics citizens brought to the chambers, final hearing expected to be a rowdy affair

 

The County commissioners worked over Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s budget during the first public hearing last week and Commissioner Xavier Suarez and called the proposal a “minimalist budget,” since it included cuts in transit funding   in a system that has seven years of fare collection reductions and is crimping the creation in any new mass transit lines.

 

Further, Gimenez noted when it came to affordable housing dollars the number was a respectable figure

 

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.

 

What about FEMA?

 

When it came to cleaning up the county with debris Gimenez said the county has 1,600 miles of roads on private property and while the county picks up the trash they have to get a memo of understanding from these many developments

 

FEMA does not reimburse all expenses and clear documentation must be provided and  ice is excluded as well as tree replacement something county Commissioner Dennis Moss wants the county to help with to reestablish down trees and try to keep as much of the county canopy as possible but it is clear it will be awhile before Miami-Dade gets back on its feet and at the first public budget meeting very well attended millennials and others talked about the need for a better transit system and objected to funding cuts in the system. Further after Andrew FEMA had to write off billions in federal aid back then and the city of Miami essentially used some of this money to run the city and that will not be the case this time because money is scarce versus back then.

 

What about the massive citizen participation at the long meeting and how millennials and community based organizations (CBO) have bed the “safety net, “lifeline for so many needy in the county providing critical services from the elderly to the community’s youth, Further the county commissioners with Gimenez dissected how the county did and how the county departments did. Gimenez said the county worked closely with the public schools district and that 42 shelters were opened very quickly. However the mayor thought in the future they should identify an ice source and carped that elected officials giving out water was odd since there was no boil water issued and the county’s water was just fine, he said

 
GMCVB: During June 2017, passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by +2.9 percent compared to the same time last year, marking a new record for June passenger arrivals. More than 96 percent of all visitors to Greater Miami and The Beaches arrive by air.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
Total Arrivals
June 2017	June 2016	% Change vs. 2016
1,915,998	1,861,969	+2.9%

 

Clerk Ruvin gets stop gap funding after finding savings for six more months

 

What about the Miami-Dade County Clerk’s office and needing at least $2 million in funding after the Florida legislature cut funding to clerks offices around the state and had Clerk Harvey Ruvin, telling commissioners that through savings in his office he had found $2 million in savings and the county has given the office enough to operate for the next six-months, said the long serving clerk, after discussions with Mayor Gimenez’s budget office.

 

Ruvin also wants to  get more funding from the state abut commission Chair Estephan Bovo, Jr., a former state representative said they have to be careful when state costs are born by a county and becomes a repeated scenario when it comes to budgeting. Ruvin in frustration said Tallahassee, “treats Miami-Dade County like a step son,” and does not appreciate the volume of court work that is being done in such a diverse community.

 

>>> 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.

 

What about enhanced security cameras at MIA and the Port of Miami?

 

Commissioner Rebecca Sosa at a committee meeting last week asked the administration to look at the use of cameras at MIA especially in the baggage loading area given the attacks around the world and she noted both facilities are “our gateway,” to the world and must have enhanced protection. Further at MIA commissioner Dennis Moss wondered why with all the heavy rains at MIA “there are a lot of buckets,” catching water at MIA, “and is odd given the $6.5 billion spent to upgrade the airport over the past decade.

 

>>> 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.

 

Further JHS has sixth year in a row in the black through Sept 30^th

 

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

 

What about Jackson first?

 

PAST WDR: Jackson First is  a program to serve the county’s 26,000 employees health needs and is doing well and in the past few years have served employees medical needs and has grown to 1,431 at the beginning and is now heading up to 2,981 paying county employees and since the county is self-insured and if this population continues to increase the savings to the county is significant and all the PHT new facilities take into consideration “resilience,” and the perception among Miami- Dade residents is Jackson health System “is the hospital you want to go to,” rather “than the hospital you have to go to,” said PHT board Chair Joe Arriola and Migoya and Arriola told commissioners UM Miller Medical School “relationship has never been better nd is helping to provide cutting edge medical care, and Jackson just completed a three year contract  with the institutions nurses and it is “maintaining the nursing ratio,” said Migoya and the nurses leadership is working well with the administration and SEIU Union Local 1991,said the CEO Carlos Migoya. Further, the JHS has reduced the “length of stay,” a major cost saving and while the health system had a $830 million GOB, the trust still has a $1.2 billion capital plan and the institution is “stretched thin,’ and with the “squabble,” in Washington “we are heading for some very tough times,” said Migoya to commissioners that had a number of trustees at the dais and Arriola stressed the point that “Carlos is one of the lowest paid presidents of large healthcare systems, and had Migoya saying his  work at Jackson is “one of the proudest chapters in my career,” he closed.

 

County employees raise $ 1.million for Miami-Dade United Way yearly fund drive, helps fill in “some gaps,” the county can’t cover, says CEO Mogul

 

The county workers that were loaned to the United Ways yearly fundraising, raised over $1 million and includes the mayoral ball and a host of other events and the organization helps fill in gaps that the county can’t, said united Way CEO Harve Mogul

 

>>> 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

 

>>> 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

 

Mayor Carlos Gimenez said having the schools open 42 shelters in two days was a lifesaver and he and district Superintended Alberto Carvalho had worked closely as the need continued to increase and these school had three days of food supplies, something not found at all public schools and inn future storm events the county is going to need the nation’s fourth largest public school district.

 

>>>> 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 Worn 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

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> 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.

 

>>> Mayor Regalado rides into the sunset in November legacy is a mixed bag, created his own nemesis, Crespogram with some of his patronage hires

 

Lame duck Mayor Tomas Regalado gave his last budget presentation to commissioners noting that while in office he has kept taxes flat but the city’s tax base has also grown through the roof with the rampant development and housing is no longer affordable for many residents and there is an increased divide from the haves and have nots and the mayor is pushing a $400 million bond dubbed “Miami Forever,” and the original amount was $250 million but commissioners bumped that number to the higher when some sweeteners were added to the list of projects and at Thursday’s commission meeting the commission overrode a mayoral veto and Regalado has been a political fixture in Miami for decades an went through a time when a number of commissioners were removed from the dais when they were inducted

 

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 tsar 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,”

>>> Miami Commission keeps Mayor Regalado’s final reach with deferral of a $50 million marina complex on Virginia Key, won’t be on municipal ballot in Nov. City still has bonding capacity for 45  million Marine Stadium restoration

The Miami Commission deferred a vote e on putting on the municipal ballot in November, a theme hotel on Jungle Island and a Marina development on Virginia Key and a lease extension for  Monty’s Raw Bar and Marina managed by Regalado confidante Steve Kneapler, whose corporation is registered as “Hocus Pocus,” and the man had issues with the SEC but he sits in a number of key city boards like Miami Exhibition Sports Authority (MESE) that the city uses to bend deals generally for Miami waterfront property. Further the mayor made a tactical mistake in calling commissioners” s (no show Monday) trying to suppress voter participation rather than the commissioners just not believing the administration’s proposals and wanted them more fleshed out. Further the mayor’s family are all jumping into politics with his son Tomas Regalado, Jr., running for a commission spot and his daughter Raquel Regalado running for vacated congressional seat 27 district an is facing a host of challengers and the father has blended his radio show host with politics as has the daughter and while she won a school board seat. She lost a bid for County mayor and many wondered why she did not run for mayor but past issues have dogged her political life and had to pay a fine when she was treasurer of her father’s campaign. And for more on the mayor go to: 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.

 

>>>Past WDR Mayor Regalado writes letter in support of disgraced Panamanian leader Martinelli, who embezzled $45 million from school lunch program, claims it was because the man has a ‘heart condition,’ seems odd for such a diehard critic of the Castro brothers

 

The Watchdog Report almost fell out of my chair when I read Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado had written a letter in support of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli now being held in federal provision for crimes when he was in power including embezzling 45 million from a children’s school lunch program.  This show of support demonstrates. The secret in Miami is who do you know and the acceptable bar is not that high since some 90 people wrote letters to federal U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz’s before the sentencing hearing for Jorge and Carlos de Céspedes brothers for Medicare fraud and the hearing produced one of the best lines about Miami, “where stopping at a red light and paying all your taxes was a aspirational act,” the jurist said from the bench. Further the mayor tells the Miami Herald that he wrote the letter because a media friend told him the disgraced leader had a heart condition but Regalado who is a hard liner when it comes to the Castro regime must somehow have softened his view since Martinelli has some of the same traits as the Castro regime and the $45 million embezzlement. And for more go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article165469042.html

“I was embarrassed” at the pathway to the Perez Art Museum and people on the July 4^th had to use flashlights since the anticipated solar lighting has not been completed, said Carollo. And he wants the money rehab the path to fit the enormous investment in the Perez Museum of Art PAMM.

 

What about the city’s new proposed budget?

 

The city of Miami with its booming real-estate market is looking at a $1 billion budget total budget and includes a host of projects that may or not pass and while Regalado says these deals are not about his legacy and tells the media “it either passes or it doesn’t’ he says in an extensive story in The Miami Herald on the last few months of the administration that ends in November. To read the budget go to: http://www.miamigov.com/Budget/docs/FY18/fy18proposedoperating.pdf and her is the long story on the Regalado administration: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article161030464.html

 

>>> 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 $250 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.html

 

>>> Former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo made an appearance in city Hall and he suggested to commissioners that when doing leases there should be “penalty,” if they don’t begin the development after three years, the commission candidate said. However people are wondering if Carollo might jump into the mayoral race that has Francis Suarez with a $2 million campaign war chest

 

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

 

What about the exchange between Commissioner Ken Russell and Miami attorney Victoria Méndez?

 

Russell and Méndez got into an exchange where she said he did not “understand the law,” since he was not an attorney and after the exchange the city attorney kind of rubbed it in saying “she could lose her Florida Bar License and highlights the strain between Russell who a few months ago wanted to have her fired because of a past performance but it did not occur and just simmers in the background

 

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.

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

 

>>> 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.

>>> Further, 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

Photo credit: Leslie Harris