Watchdog Report Vol.20 No 8 March 10, 2019 – EST: 05.05.00 — 2020 Census issue kickoff April 1 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 20 Years of weekly publishing
See you next week I am not retiring and will be back ASAP. (I must raise money and it is slow going and hope if you can for the coming year because I am trying to get a fiscal cushion. Since I may have to have a surgery in the future and would be out of action for a while, I wish it were otherwise and hope you can help and PayPal is an easy method to show your support – Thank you) and hope you will consider supporting a reliable news service and keeping me in the field and I think over the years I have done my best work covering Jackson health System and the school board and these still need to be monitored and hope you will help. If you are no longer getting the WDR please send me an email after my internet service earth link account was hacked by a foreign actor a few months ago and the cost for the IT was not cheap. Thanks for all the past support! Please if you can use PayPal it will be most appreciated, and I need some help! Thank you.
>>>> Further today is my Vol.20, weekly edition since 05.05.00 of publishing the Watchdog Report and while I have had a variety issues over the past years, I thank my supporters again for the privilege of doing this free news service along with the internet.
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now and my goal is to hit 20 years in May with your help and now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) 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. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents to public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> 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, 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.
WATCHDOG REPORT EXTRA
CONTENTS
ARGUS REPORT: Miami commission erupts as chair Russell gavels the meeting over, Carollo calls move like a ‘dictator,” public corruption state attorney looks at his code actions against little Havana owner Bill Fuller, deep rifts on body, Reyes is his wingman – Enrollment in Florida’s Tate Prepaid college program is on, will you guarantee your children have tuition, 100,000 Floridians have now is the time .– The super bowl is not the big enchilada of upcoming events, but the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new future house seat like in 2000, the worse count ever after Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez sent fear through the Cuban community of the federal government, some $800 billion at stake for some counties around the nation.
EDITORIALS: Carollo claims extensive corruption in code enforcement, verbally beats down mayor Suarez and administration moving on up now sitting on dais between manager and attorney, make it seem he is a, not a good look for commission, political daggers out – Elected leaders’ foreign trips, could determine if they are Marco Polo, to county and city voters! – Mayor Suarez’s strong mayor proposal flawed should not allow outside income for either mayor or manager, not about him but future mayors – Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times (like now when congress gets paid but no other federal departments with a gov. shut-down) 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 municipalities out of control and get little press coverage or oversight, legislators are on wrong side of this one
Community Event: Lotus Village gala https://lotushouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2019-Gala-Sponsorship-Package-final.pdf
>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message.
>>> 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.)
ARGUS REPORT: Heard Seen on the Street
>>> Miami commission erupts as chair Russell gavels the meeting over, Carollo calls move like a ‘dictator,” public corruption state attorney looks at his code actions against little Havana owner Bill Fuller, deep rifts on body, Reyes is his wingman
A Miami Commission meeting turned into bedlam when commissioners and attorneys argued over the Magic City proposal and the sudden injection of $32 million in community benefit commitment done by commissioner Keon Hardeman and had Hardeman agitated. To the point an aide tried to calm him down after Chair Commissioner Ken Russell ended the meeting abruptly and in a festering battle between the chair and commissioners the headlines in the Miami Herald were ‘chaos’ strikes at commission meeting.
The WDR had hoped commissioner Joe Carollo had changed from when he was mayor and the city had a state financial oversight board watching the city’s finances and created a little stability in governance of the city and had mayor Manny Diaz coasting into the office back in 2003 after all the controversy of the Carollo administration back then.
Further new commissioner Manola Reye is Carollo’s wing man on the dais and both repeat the same President Ronald Reagan quip, “trust but verify,” something Carollo says can’t be done by this administration and Reyes after seven times running for a commission seat reminds everyone that he is a “economist,” and he ran because he wanted to bring “transparency” to Miami government and there is a rumor out there that he had a meeting with Carollo at the Melreese golf course a few weeks ago and he has put the Freedom Park MLS stadium deal on a upcoming special commission meeting set for March 7th or 8th and the commission
After a protracted hearing on a NCD for the Grove sponsored by Russell that would protect the lushness of Coconut Grove but became a property rights issue and after the discussion no commissioner would second his proposal and had Carollo suggesting that was why the chair suddenly canceled the commission meeting after it went past 10:00 P.M. and the commission would have to approve the extension that had a major police presence in the chamber and on Pan American Drive police cars were lined up around 6:00 P.M. in mass. Carollo who once almost got into a fight with now deceased commissioner Arthur Teele was only stopped by his bodyguard he had at the time when mayor. Carollo and his ally Reyes have taken aim at Russell who is up for election in November as is Reyes a former Spanish Radio host decade ago and he has his degree from UM.
What about the WLRN workshop Wednesday?
The school board held a four-hour meeting on WLRN radio and television and the recommendations from a consultant with expertise in FCC regulations. After the station was found to have received too much federal money because of the formula used and got federal IG attention and the school board holds the licenses and the spectrum which is of value (“though that time has passed,” said Carvalho) and the board members discussed a variety of options to keep the administration out of running the station and its content. Board member Dr. Lawrence Feldman noted that the 91.3 F.M. radio station ran a “school board meeting versus news concerning 9/11,”. The board was accused in the press of wanting to control the station’s content, which is a political hand grenade and had superintendent Alberto Carvalho assembling a panel of media experts to help figure out a governing system that abides by District rules and now includes everyone going through a background check and some WLRN employees are in a “grey area.” At the meeting. I asked three WLRN employees who said they had gone through them and the media was in full force covering everything that was said. Long serving board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman noted the board had never pressured the station in a Political manner. What she objected to was that board members could not even go into the station without express permission. Further, the community Advisory Board (should have more diversity since the station’s range covers four counties and to Key West, said board member Dr. Steven Gallon, III and for more go: tohttps://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article226891999.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article222659085.html
>>> Here’s the proposed WLRN agreement https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article134001659.ece/binary/Operating%20Agreement.pdf
>>>The Knight Foundation releases commission report on restoring trust in media
The John. S. and James L. Knight Foundation has released a report looking at restoring trust in the media and its corrosive effect to Democracy to read the commission’s report go to: http://csreports.aspeninstitute.org/Knight-Commission-TMD/2019/report
>>> Editor’s note: I was a frequent contributor on Topical Currents on WLRN hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman and only started following the station when an audit was delayed and the station is going to beef up its financial capability, but this has been going on for three years, but is a PR nightmare for the board and the listening public who love the station’s independent bent versus mainstream news.
>>> Last week was the soft opening of the historic D.A. Dorsey library and neither Miami Commissioner Keon Hardeman or County Commission Chair Audrey Edmonson attended, though Miami mayor Francis Suarez showed, and it is a county funded project and surprising they missed the event. Dorsey was the first black millionaire and philanthropist donated the land for the first black library in the segregated south and built a host of rental properties and for more go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_A._Dorsey
What about Alex Diaz de la Portilla?
Controversial former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla is back in the political mix after losing two previous elections and has been a perennial candidate but the family brand has waned and there have been a number of issues in his personal life while in past office and his brother Miguel, a land use attorney is in front of the Miami commission very often including Thursday representing a Blue Lagoon project and was the lobbyist pushing for the city to have red light cameras since removed. Below is the complete list of candidates running for office in November and their fundraising to date: This Extra is a special service of the WDR.
Office: Commissioner District 1
Office: Commissioner District 2
Office: Commissioner District 4
>>> Here are the candidates for the county commission: https://www.miamidade.gov/elections/library/elected-officer/md-ed-28-filers.pdf
>>> Lotus Village Event April 18
Join Us at the 2019 Gala Benefiting Lotus House and celebrating All Things New at Lotus House, most importantly, new lives and brighter futures with your help. Your sponsorship provides essential programs that heal, support, nurture, educate, and uplift women, youth, and children to improve the quality of their lives on every level and build the foundation for a safer, healthier, brighter future.
2019 LOTUS HOUSE GALA
ALL THINGS NEW! New Village, New Programs, New Clinic, New Lives
Thursday, April 18, 2019, at The Margulies Collection at the WAREhOUSE Wynwood Arts District: 591 NW 27th St., Miami, 33127
6:00pm VIP Reception, 7:00pm Dinner and Program 6-9pm Silent Art Auction
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EDITORIAL
>>> Carollo claims extensive corruption in code enforcement, verbally beats down mayor Suarez and administration, not a good look for commission, political daggers out
What happened last Thursday at the Miami commission meeting where commissioner Joe Carollo went after the mayor and city staff reminded me of the Sen. Joe McCarthy hearings since words like corruption possible incompetence were thrown around like confetti and it was only the police chief Jorge Collina who stood up to the inquisition by the former mayor, “saying he would not be bullied,” that had the moniker of “Crazy Joe,” it was Mayor Francis Suarez who had it worse and the man just got up and started to walk away (realizing anything he said was useless) under the tirade and has the magic city becoming one of the counties dysfunctional governments
>>> Elected leaders’ foreign trips could determine if they are Marco Polo, to county and city voters!
Since Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is termed out next year he is a lame duck and he is using this time to become the community’s Marco Polo as he travels the globe with his wife in tow and while he pays for her trip it comes across to the public as someone with entitlements and is his reward for being the strong mayor since 2011 and while luckily the region is booming people are wondering what is being accomplished on what used to be called junkets in the congress. However, Miami is not some unknown place throughout the world, and I used to joke. I could be with headhunters in Borneo and say Miami and they would come back with a response. The man a former Miami Fire and Rescue Chief should consider what his legacy will be in the twilight of his political career and these types of trips are little dings, especially since he never admits he might be wrong and bristles when challenged with is lobbyist son C.J. Gimenez his biggest liability as he ply’s the halls of the municipal governments.
And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan
Informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. And I thank my supporters over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american
Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2018, Daniel A. Ricker
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.
Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)
CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS
Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)
MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog
>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2018, Daniel A. Ricker
The trust has a new program where people with rental housing can register their rental units with the county and for more on the program go to: http://www.homelesstrust.org/rentconnect.asp
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american
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Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2018, Daniel A. Ricker
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog
>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
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>> Enrollment in Florida’s Tate Prepaid college program is on, will you guarantee your children have tuition, 100,000 Floridians have now is the time
The Stanley G. Tate Florida prepaid college program is open for enrollment and some 100,000 contracts are in the system that allows parents to ensure their children through a host of colleges and is the largest in the nation and for more go to https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/