Watchdog Report

  Miami-Dade Florida – Daniel A. Ricker, Publisher & Editor

Archive for May 2019

Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.20 No.15 May 5, 2019 Soon Celebrating 20 years of weekly publishing! www.watchdgreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for 1almost 18 years & a trusted community education resource & news service, without the attitude

CONTENTS

ARGUS REPORT: Miami Civil Service board violates Sunshine Law with extensive discussion while on coffee break after commissioner testifies about firing of aide claiming whistle blower status, all caught on city television — 2020 Census complete count top priority $177 million lost in 2010 count only,82 percent, says census bureau outreach coordinator Diaz a former Little Havana resident $675 billion annually at stake nationwide $29 billion goes to Florida commissioner Bovo leading the charge, school district must work closely to ensure accurate count students’ best way to explain to parents what the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new future house seat like in 2010, 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.
STATE of FLORIDA: Check out Children’s Trust heart gallery, kids needing forever homes, will break your heart when you see their smiles – Disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust — Complete 2020 Census count critical to get our share of $675 billion annually, some $29 billion in 2010, undercount costs $1,400 in lost revenue
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: M-D County Youth Commission finds “rampant,” bullying and “code reds,” climate change, vaping new issues, body creating the leaders of the future, and note Miami is one of the first “cities to run out of water say,” studies show- Will the county float a new GOB for infrastructure, getting thousands off septic tanks, suggests commissioner Jordan? –Commissioner Souto says with humongous county government mayor should “crack the whip,” believes, running slower, “wants more eyes on major contracts”– Last week’s hot topics were, vehicles & furniture, “4 to 10 police,” vehicles a week can be processed by county in new police cars, $84 million contract, $38 million from previous year “1,006 new cars from that amount
Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Charter schools 134 of them are asking to receive some of the $1.2 billion GOB proceeds passed by county voters, teacher raises and facilities upgrades, is running into protests.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center– New wellness program cohort had a “600 Lb.” loss of weight and another cohort had 29 employees getting their B.A.’s at MDC, says trustee Dr. Lipof — Christine E. Lynn rehabilitation facility fitted Friday $175 million rehab, home to UM Project to Cure Paralysis
CITY OF MIAMI: Commission shoots down intruding into Ferré park, but Carollo suggests filling in the FEC slip, would add 10 acres of extra “green space,” something he Wanted to do when he was mayor –Carollo staffer Miro loses his whistleblower civil service board case against Carrolo, federal court next up, — Mayor Suarez needs to get commission under control law practice gives Carollo a huge opening and now we find he is a lobbyist for ritzy Fisher Island, he is a well-paid mayor, causing his own problem by not fighting acknowledging the potential conflict — Will commission turbulence affect bond ratings, “you are not the chair,” says Carollo, says he “knows one Harvard idiot [referring to mayor’s father and political nemesis], commissioners tooling around in new $73,000, SUVs with massage chair button — Is Omni CRA public records request suggest Sarnoff will run for Dist. 2 seat? Man is known to be vindictive aloof, I was polled again- Commissioner Carollo attacks staff and administration for dereliction of duty and code enforcement, end of meeting like a Tchaikovsky sympathy’s climax — Mayor Francis Suarez gave his first state of the city speech at the Miami Freedom Tower and the high energy young man and attorney was received by quests almost like a rally as he detailed the administrations goals in the coming year, but can he deliver? – mayor Suarez moving on up now sitting on dais between manager and attorney, make it seem he is a strong mayor though voters rejected that idea, not stopping him – Bayside Foundation Willy Gort scholarship to get $250,000 anti-poverty funding from his dist.1 fund, foundation gives $200,000 in scholarships, odd taxpayer money being used, will it start a trend of scholarship programs?

EDITORIALS: Carollo claims extensive corruption in code enforcement, verbally beats down mayor Suarez and administration, 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

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>>> 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.)

 

>>> 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

>> Will inconclusive Mueller report satisfy anyone or will congress, and House be the determining factor?

With the Robert Mueller III report released on the Trump campaign. The report portrays a campaign that did not conclude (while not definitive will probably not satisfy either of the political parties) and is why this is the first time I am writing about the investigation that was kept very close to the vest by the Mueller team. What the report suggests while no collusion the Russians GRU was trying to help the Trump campaign after Hillary Clinton caused a nightmare during the Arab Spring and could have spread to Russia especially after the Ukraine invasion by the Russians. Further it highlights the number of conflicting contacts during those years and suggest naiveite or new to the political world of global spying and the efforts adversarial countries to try to influence the nation’s politics, something America has a long history of doing from Vietnam to Panama. An invasion that Barr bought into in a position paper under President George H. Bush during Iran Contra when Cap Weinberger was pardoned by Bush, but Barr wrote the memo that the nation could take out a leader Daniel Noriega. Here are some of the stories on the matter and other media comments on the report and there is a wide range of views. Editor’s note: readers please don’t go crazy with this story because it will in the end be decided by the congress. Further let’s see how this plays out.

Barr Misled Congress in 1989 Summary Memo

Here is a great story on Mueller’s wartime record in Vietnam after he graduated from Princeton University and was a Marine Corps platoon captain in the conflict.

https://medium.com/@Smalltofeds/the-untold-story-of-robert-muellers-time-in-combat-6fde3bd69d18

>>>> Miami Civil Service board violates sunshine law with extensive discussion while on coffee break after commissioner testifies about firing of aide claiming whistle blower status, all caught on city television

The Florida Sunshine Law and open public records is being assaulted in the municipalities in a variety of ways and since many public meetings are being televised it is easy to see board members talking among themselves as was the case at a City of Miami Civil Service board meeting April 2nd and 3rd just after commissioner Joe Carollo testified concerning the firing of a former staffer Steven Miro who was claiming a whistle blower status in front of the five member board where one member had to recuse himself.

At this meeting around 11:40 a.m., there was a long animated conversation between the members and chair and finger pointing to make a point and it also had the chair moving the mic away even though it was turned off while they were waiting for someone to bring them coffee but it was so blatant I later went down to the commission to cover this blatant disregard for the law and to get the names of the board members since they are not on the city’s webpage for this board.

Re run because so important: 2020 Census complete count top priority $177 million lost in 2010 undercount, says census bureau outreach coordinator Diaz a former Little Havana resident $675 billion annually at stake nationwide $29 billion goes to Florida

The Miami-Dade County Community Relations board (CRB) met Wednesday in the county commission chambers and the topic was community “fear,” when it came to the upcoming 2020 Census. Where some $1,400 is lost in federal funding across the board through federal agencies and in the 2010 Census only “82 percent” of the community was counted and nationwide the percentage was “74 percent,” said Ana Maria Diaz with the Census bureau outreach coordinator.

The importance of the Census is not only financial but is key to reapportionment of congress and in 2010 south Florida picked up two congressional seats.

What about community outreach and education?

Further, while many residents may not be eligible to vote these people must be counted for the federal funding helps these possible undocumented and the citizenship question is what many residents and while many residents fear that ICE or HSH might raid and arrest them. The count since 1790 has been sealed for 72 years and a president cannot unseal the information and that can only be done by an act of congress said the Census Bureau outreach coordinator who grew up in Little Havana populated with seniors and may have their kids living with them and they all must be counted she said and “a 3 percent increase in the count,’ would be a major achievement for the county and while it is a year away now is the time to educate. For many residents who don’t understand the Census that starts April 1 next year. The WDR spends so much time on this subject since I interviewed many people working on the 2000 Census and the count was terrible after the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez was extracted from his Little Havana home after federal authorities raided the home and chaos erupted in Miami with extensive ethnic divisions and curb sitting counting was a problem where there were many people living in homes or apartments and the undercount was considerable and had to be adjusted later but that may not happen again so it has to be done right because as Diaz said “It starts and cannot be stopped,” despite weather or any other issue. She noted when challenged about “doing damage control, ” for the Trump administration and her boss U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross and the fear in the community which is a minority majority committee that keeps many people afraid to even go to a bank and use check cashing stores where there are lines but that is the reality of South Florida and is why getting a complete count is so important.

>>> Census 2020 kickoff April 1, “all hands must be on deck,” billions at stake in a minority majority community, commissioner Bovo leading the charge, school district must work closely to ensure accurate count students’ best way to explain to parents

April1, is the kick off of the Miami-Dade County census efforts that include a taskforce that includes the public school district since students area key information electrolytes with their parents and since Miami is a minority majority community an accurate count is the top priority and the county is sending out some 90 community speakers and county commissioner Estephan Bovo, Jr.’ is heading up the county commission’s efforts commissioner Barbara Jordan is concerned that multiple families are sharing homes and could be worried of county code violations, she noted “there is fear in this population” and that fear is somewhat similar to the 2000 census after young Elian Gonzalez was extracted from his Little Havana home by federal agents in an early morning raid. And the community erupted and hated the federal government and attorney general Janet Reno.

>>>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

>> The super bowl is not the big enchilada of upcoming events, but the 2020 Census is, undercount costs millions, maybe even a new house seat like in 2000, the worse count after Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, sent fear through the Cuban community of federal government, Chair Bovo wants to help this important event, All hands-on deck activity

While Miami-Dade county is preparing for the Super Bowl next year a bigger event is coming in the 2020 U.S. Census that in Miami the count has been generally a flawed process and the worst count was the 2000 Census after the young boy Elian Gonzalez was extracted from Little Havana and the community erupted in ethnic tensions and fear for many residents since even though the count is done by the commerce department many saw a “federally,” and would not participate and years later the numbers had to be revised and south Florida got an extra congressional seat that was later filled by U.S> Rep. Mario Diaz Ballart, R-Miami and the census count per person back then brought some $23,000 in federal funding and was in stark contrast to other counties around the nation where very high count was achieved. Further for some counties the undercount could result in some communities losing some $800 billion in lost federal funding that includes Medicare funding and a host of other programs.

School Board member Lubby Navarro is part of the 2020 census taskforce being assembled an she spoke in front of the county commission about the important matter and noted residents will get a form with a number on it and they can file online using that number. She also noted there will be Major outreach at schools’ libraries and other sites with NGOs to get an accurate count and the community’s fair share of representation and federal funding. She also noted we might get a new house seat if the census is done accurately.

Update?

County Commissioner Dennis Moss asked to put a representative from the United Way of Miami-Dade, The Children’s Trust (the choice is Gus Barreiro a former state representative) on the 2020 Census Task Force given the importance of children to explain to parents what the national census is and is not used to target illegal people. Further he counts maybe asking people of their immigration status which is expected to diminish the count. However, the last time the government did this was during World War II with the Japanese internment.

Back in 2000 I watched and wrote a lot about the undercount and how it starts and then stops, though the county did get an extension back then but that is no longer assured.
https://www.naco.org/articles/2020-census-what-counties-need-do-now-prepare

>>> 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.

FLORIDA

>>> Check out Children’s Trust heart gallery, kids needing forever homes, will break your heart when you see their smiles

The Miami-Dade County Trust is featuring its heart gallery on children looking to be adopted into lifetime homes and to see the gallery that will break your heart go to Miami heart Gallery https://www.miamiheartgallery.org/children

>>>> Disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust

During a Children’s Trust television show on the cunty cable channel a speaker said when it comes to pre-K early learning programs many minority and other children are being “suspended,” for their behavior and since it is proven that these early programs put children in a readiness state to learn. And this a new challenge among these troublesome children age “3 to 5,” the expert said.

>>>> Complete 2020 Census count critical to get our share of $675 billion annually, some $29 billion in 2010, undercount costs $1,400 in lost revenue

The state of Florida must also gear up for the 2020 Census since the federal government will be allocating some $675 billion and for the state that is $29 billion annually and in Miami-Dade the undercount cost us some $177 million and this has got to be a top priority for the state’s leaders.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>> M-D County Youth Commission finds “rampant,” bullying and “code reds,” climate change, vaping new issues, body creating the leaders of the future, and note Miami is one of the first “cities to run out of water say,” studies show

A joint meeting with county commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Youth Commission created by the body in 2011 is always an eyeopener. These young members say what they mean with the bark on and in the past years school violence and bullying was a number one concern and after the tragedy at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas students expressed concerns when it comes to “code red,” drills that they need the teachers to explain more what the “procedures,” should be and that these drills “should end after some six minutes the students,” on the council said.

Further the issue of vaping and e cigarettes is a big concern since some 2.3 million students in the county are vaping and has a variety of Side effects that still need to be studied more but it has become increasing number the student representatives said.
http://www.miamidade.gov/youthcommission/prindex.asp?year=2017&web=youthcommission

These members also did community service like Books for Tots where they give out children’s books like Vegetable Soup and others to get preschoolers reading early.

They also traveled to Washington, D.C. PAMM and a school board meeting where they believe “zoning changes should be modified where vaping stores in strip malls should be outlawed in the county code close to schools. Further, each member talked about the programs impact on them from a roundtable meeting with Miami-Dade County Police Department and changed people’s perspective about officers that was different from what you see on social media.

>>> Will the county float a new GOB for infrastructure, getting thousands off septic tanks, suggests commissioner Jordan?

On Tuesday the county commission had a discussion on whether the county should consider another general obligation bond since the 2004 GOB projects have mostly been completed and he noted many municipalities voters have approved recent bonds citing Miami Beach and Miami but while these were approved many people are asking when the taxing will end in a poor community

>>>> What about the Homeless Trust and this year’s number of who had died on the street, a new high many opioid related, last year 138 passed this year 201 passed state’s medical examiner confirms.

The Watchdog Report contacted Book about the solemn but stirring meetings after the students spoke and he wrote back, “It was even more because we had the vigil for an hour and a half before in the lobby and it was extremely emotional and painful. Last year, 138 individuals died on our streets. The number jumped up this year to 201, which is the highest year yet and 77% are confirmed by the medical examiner to have died from opioid overdoses. That is simply unconscionable and unacceptable and disheartening.

Secondly, if that’s not bad enough, the national average from a life expectancy perspective on someone who lives on the streets is 79 years of age nationally. Our average this year amongst the 201 was 55 years old. Think about it, our average is 24 years younger than the national average and we don’t have minus 44-degree weather. It was very emotional and very hard and draining. Then we go to the Trust Meeting and it just becomes a high, but it was a high after one of the worst downers in the 25 years I’ve served this Board. Then right after the Board meeting, I had to judge with four of my team members, our annual essay and poster contest amongst elementary, middle school and high school kids. Just a hard day around on homelessness, wrote the long-time chair. For more on the Sadowski trust go to;https://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article48810155.html

>>> Commissioner Souto says with humongous county government mayor should “crack the whip,” believes, running slower, “wants more eyes on major contracts”

“Let’s crack the whip,” says commissioner Javier Souto to mayor Carlos Gimenez Tuesday when discussing a controversial water and sewer contract and believes things are slowing down with a “Humongous,” county government and he believes it is important “for people to watch the process, the more the merrier.” He said the county is “sweating money at MIA,” and the county is floating some $700 million in new aviation bonds for MIA and I was reminded of the county’s “Review,” committee in the 1990s chaired by attorney Norman Powell and they were reviewing some $400 million in change orders twice and explained in a one paragraph memo referencing new airline “alliances,” but there was no discussion and it took about three minutes to pass the change orders and that trend ballooned the cost of MIA to over $6.4 billion and at one point having to pay some $1 million a day in debt payments.

What about shot spotter more cameras and extra police for school safety.?

Mayor Gimenez told commissioners recently shot spotter and their use by police that someday drones may be found “on police cars in the future,” after commissioner Javier Souto went into a discussion about the need for police “to have eyes in the sky,” he thought and would decrease gun violence.

Further the county has “three dome areas,” which is what the shot spotter areas are called and the Ring security camera on people’s homes i reducing crime and Gimenez at his home has one and he can keep track of his home.

Gimenez said the one-time funding to have county police guard schools cannot be sustained and will approach school district Superintendent Alberto Carvalho in January since the district had a bond passed to enhance teacher pay and more school security that the county cannot cover any longer. MDPD director Juan Perez that shell casings collected by ATF is an invaluable tool along with license plate reader technology. He noted two officers killed in south Dade end the shell casings showed the gun was “used five times before,” in a crime said Perez

GMCVB press release: During March 2019, Greater Miami ranked at the top of STR’s Top 25 Hotel Markets in the U.S., ranking #1 in ADR (average daily room rate), #1 in RevPAR (revenue per available room) and #4 in Occupancy.
March 2019
Average Daily Room Rate (ADR)
March 2019 March 2018 % Change vs. 2018 Rank among
Top 25 Markets
$255.61 $264.74 -4.2% #1

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)
March 2019 March 2018 % Change vs. 2018 Rank among
Top 25 Markets
$220.74 $233.44 -5.4% #1

Occupancy
March 2019
March 2018 % Change vs. 2018 Rank among
Top 25 Market
86.4% 87.5% -1.3% #4

Will elections and sheriff be political patronage havens, or repositories for termed out elected officials to land?

Lack of competency in candidates in new elected offices, highlighted during the last election cycle has many concerned what the future of key elected officials will be. For example, Miami-Dade state attorney in office since 1992 has said she was not running again back in 2015 her last election and there is no current successor of an organization that handles some 250,0000 cases. This highlights the problem when offices are political like a supervisor of elections, sheriff and a host of others recently created by statewide voters and create political patronage rather than competency is one of the reasons Broward elections supervisor Brenda Snipes had problems in November’s elections.

What is the new elderly crisis coming seniors & children housing money their lack of permanent long-term homes?

Homeless seniors are becoming the biggest threat facing the county in the future and it is a “Crisis, said Ron Book,” the Miami-Dade County Homeless trust chair. At past trust meeting and the need for permanent housing for this emerging group is critical and he is on a crusade to find permanent housing the trust can buy but in Miami the inventory is small an expensive he has said in the past. And to review the task force recommendations and has some elderly having to live in shelters for up to “1,000,” s and that number qualifying will only increase in the future.
Ron Book has been making the political rounds speaking at a Miami commission meeting about a new encampment in the inner city that has been blocked off by the health department after open sexual acts and drug dealing has resulted in a spike of AIDs cases and the finding of drug paraphernalia around the local schools and the trust has gone into emergency mode to get these people into rehabilitation and other programs and those coming back are being addressed where one Women had “black lips,” gangrene and was “spotted having a rat eating the food in her mouth,” in her stupor condition said Book to city commissioners and she was taken into rehabilitation but this is the challenge the county’s homeless trust faces. For more go to https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article219921130.html

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.rg/rentconnect.asp

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust along with Jackson Health System is opening a one stop public facility for homeless who qualify for a new diversion program with a mental illness and includes many veterans on the streets and is an old facility previously used by the state, but it will offer a continuum of care and was briefly discussed at the trust board meeting Friday. The whole community has been seeking ways to resolve the mental health issues of the homeless now drawing in people with opioid addiction and a drop of fentanyl can kill and many times is cut with cheap yellow Mexican heroin that appeared years past and is causing thousands of overdoses and the city of Miami spent $150,000 in procuring the miracle drug Narcan that can revive a overdosed person almost immediately and these people cut across all ethnic lines and the issue was discussed Sunday on “This Week in South Florida,” and to see the show go to https://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-oct-29 Chapman, Jr. partnership go to: https://www.chapmanpartnership.org/about-us/leadership/ https://www.chapmanpartnership.org/wpq_events/nextgen-gala-party/

>>> New wellness program cohort had a “600 Lb.” loss of weight and another cohort had 29 employees getting their B.A.’s at MDC, says trustee Dr. Lipof

Trustee Dr. Irene Lipof at this week’s televised board meeting noted a new wellness program cohort had a “600 Lb.” loss in weight. She further said that another program collaboration with MDC had a host of nurses getting their B.A. degrees and these programs are proving to be quite useful and while the trust given its payer mix is facing some financial strains and resulted in some staff administration cutbacks the health system believes it will be in the black by April and March (where cash was good). And there is 50 days of cash on hand that years ago was only 9 to 10 days but a leaner JHS has improved that condition.

>>> Last girder to state-of-the-art Christine E. Lynn rehabilitation facility fitted Friday $175 million rehab, home to UM Project to Cure Paralysis

On Friday the last girder was added to the new state of the art rehabilitation facility and it is dearly needed after the previous one was inadequate and antiquated and was always a hot topic with county commissioners especially commissioner Sally Heyman who had a back issue and had to get rehab there. The $175 center will also be home for UM’s the Miami Project to cure Paralysis and the fundraising got a jolt when Christine E. Lynn donated the first $25 million and was augmented with proceeds from the $830 million GOB approved by county voters.

>>>> Sen. Braynon taps Rep. Duran for PHT delegation appointee, replaces Rep. Avila, helps keep Tallahassee informed and major progress being made

Sen. Oscar Braynon, III, D- Miami Gardens and the chair of the Miami-Dade delegation has tapped state Rep. Eric Duran, D-Miami as the delegation’s appointment to the seven member PHT board. Duran is replacing state Rep. Brian Avila,R-Miami on the trustee board and Duran is on the healthcare committee and campaigned very hard back in November 2018 and having a member of the delegation helps in Tallahassee and began in 2010 when JHS was on life support and a smaller 7 trustee board was created from 21 considered unwieldy and the smaller board along with CEO Carlos Migoya has turned around the largest public hospital in the South East.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Charter schools 134 of them are asking to receive some of the $1.2 billion GOB proceeds passed by county voters, teacher raises and facilities upgrades, is running into protests.

Charter schools are asking for a portion of a 1.2 billion property tax that was expected to raise teacher pay and upgrade some schools and the district has 134 charter schools that are managed by private firms and upgrade private property with public funds and these entities do not have to follow the same rules and do not have to accept all students versus the public district and the legal battle is occurring in Tallahassee during the session, and these local tax dollars should go to the public district the fourth largest in the nation with 350,000 students. for more go to: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article229066424.html

Check out the OIG report on the selling of GED documents:
http://www.miamidadeig.org/2019MDCPS/MemoandPressReleaseGED.pdf

>>> Mentoring is being emphasized at the public schools’ district and was sponsored by board member Lubby Navarro who was mentored by board chair Perla Tabares Hantmen the school board chair and this activity can have profound effects on young people, WLRN agreement at workshop Feb.27 at administrative bldg.

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Commission shoots down intruding into Ferré park, but Carollo suggests filling in the FEC slip, would add 10 acres of extra “green space,” something he Wanted to do when he was mayor

Commissioner Joe Carollo may have used a canard to flesh out the commission’s feeling when the BayFront Park Trust put out a RFP looking for proposals to possible use Maurice A. Ferré Park for amusements which caused an uproar and while all the speakers said the limited parkland in the city is “Sacred,” he pulled the trap door because what he was proposing was filling in the FEC slip using dredging material as filler and would expand the park by some 9 acres and would make the park the “crown jewel,” people were wanting in the future. He said he had looked this possibility when he was past mayor and the discussion started when he was approached by some “European investors who were offering the city some $5 million for some development project but had some press envisioning high rise condo easing from what was known as bicentennial Park and now known as Ferré Park, said Carollo.

>>>> Carollo staffer Miro loses his whistleblower civil service board case against Carrolo, federal court next up,

Fired Miami commissioner staffer Steve Miro who had worked for Miami commissioner Joe Carollo For two days was on the dais during his hearing with the city’s Civil Service Board. Miro maintains he was fired for bringing a whistle blower case against Carollo since he was fired just after two state attorney investigators had stopped by the office asking about a campaign event at a senior center where another candidate Alex de la. Portilla was running for the county commission attended. Miro was claiming public funds were being used for that campaign and he was supporting a rival candidate. However, the city’s attorney said the man was a “Jeckle and Hyde,” because when there were no “men in the office he acted differently said one of three women to the board.

The chief of staff a former police chief Richard Bloom told the board that the women had come to him about their concerns because “they were visible shaken,” and felt he was harassing them by “standing behind them while they worked at their desks,” and his attorney hammered the city for the lack of paperwork of this behavior before he fired and when commissioner Carollo took the podium to be grilled about the episode. The former Miami mayor said when Miro was outside on the phone. Carollo wanted to know if it was “social day,” since the staffer was talking to a lobbyist. Miro the commissioner said was on a website for hours called “Second Life, https://secondlife.com/

Further at the end of the day the board did not believe Miro and his attorney did not make their case and the board’s chair stated, “He was having a problem with the burden of proof.” But the board ultimately voted, “that the city was justified and when it came to the whistleblower aspect. “Miro did not meet the burden of a whistleblower,” said chair Tray Sutton.

However, it is not over yet since he is taking the matter to federal court said Miro’s attorney. More background and ethics commission investigation.

What about the upcoming Miami civil service committee board meeting?

Steve Miro a former district liaison staffer for Carollo is having his civil service hearing on April.2 after Carollo fired him on June 14, 2019 the item is H-1 on the boards agenda and fireworks are expected. He is claiming Carollo wanted him to lie to county ethics investigators Here is part of the report – During the walk-through, Miró mentioned that Fuller’s partner, Martin Padilla, was there and Joe “was brushing him off”. Padilla wanted to request a meeting with the Commissioner in order to settle the differences.

Miró said Carollo never told him that he was targeting the valet servicing Ball & Chain in order to harm the business financially but in his opinion, Carollo was selectively enforcing/targeting Fuller’s properties: “In my opinion, Yes.”

He said Carollo did “brag” to him about following valets from Ball & Chain to the new lot they were using, and claimed he observed valets digging through the glove compartment of vehicles they were parking, presumably searching for valuables they could steal. Miró stated Carollo made a comment on the record about this during one of the Commission meetings.

With respect to the allegation in the complaint concerning filming at Ball & Chain, Miró said Carollo asked him to find out whether they had obtained a permit. He said that he contacted “Vinnie” Betancourt in the Special Events office and was told they had been issued a permit. He said he informed Carollo and because they appeared to be doing this legally, he did not contact Code Compliance to disrupt the filming.

Miró noted that after the COE Complaint was filed, naming Miró and others as Respondents, he was approached by Carollo and questioned about how he might respond to questions from investigators. Miró said Carollo expressed surprise that he had retained counsel and pressed him for details after he said he intended to answer all questions truthfully. He said that Carollo was not satisfied with this response and instructed him to tell the investigators that all actions taken against properties owned by or related to the business interests of Bill Fuller/ Barlington Group…. were the result of “anonymous complaints?” He said that Carollo wanted him and Lugo to get formal statements from neighbors.

Miró said Carollo tried to “coerce me into saying something that is totally not true” and he (Miró) would not put himself in that predicament, to lie about anonymous complaints. “Joe wanted me to say there were anonymous complaints and there were none. I never received any anonymous complaints,” said Miro, noting that in his city position, he would have to be aware of citizens’ complaints. He suggested that any complaints would be kept in a log for Constituent Complaints and Tanja Quintana would be the employee in Carollo’s office maintaining the log. Miró said that Carollo’s Commission Office has an annual operating budget of $514,000, and about 9 or 10 employees. These include his chief of Chief Richard Bloom, who came a month before his termination; Anthony Barcena, Deputy Chief of Staff; Jose Suarez, Special Assistant; Lizette Palares, Administrative Assistance; Tanja Quintana, Receptionist; Mara Roman, District Liaison; Gisela Maestre, Special Aide. Here is the complete ethics investigation report http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/closed%20investigations/2018/k_18-21–c_18-14-03_carollo.pdf

>>> Will commission turbulence affect bond ratings, “you are not the chair,” shouts Carollo, says he “knows one Harvard idiot [referring to mayor’s father and political The WDR writes about this because this simmering rehash of past political battles is making commission meetings real theater and eventually the rating agencies are going to pick up on this and could potentially downgrade the city’s bonds given the cities past fiscal issues.

>> Commissioner Carollo attacks staff and administration for dereliction of duty and code enforcement, end of meeting like a Tchaikovsky sympathy’s climaxes,

The Way Back Machine was in full use Thursday at the Miami commission meeting when commissioner joe Carollo had what was likened to a star chamber interrogation of code enforcement staff and past lapses, including verbally attacking Mayor Francis Suarez and his law firm. Further hours later commission chair Ken Russell later apologized to city workers for the way they were spoken to by Carollo who believed there was a plot to get him out of office based on his demands for code enforcement saying it was selective enforcement and some people connected got a pass especially if they used attorneys from the firm that Suarez is of counsel and he promotes the firm on his twitter page. Carollo used terms like corruption and had one sharp exchange with Miami Police Chief Jorge Collina, who shot back that the commissioner “cannot bully him,’ like he was doing with a lot of other staff.

Suarez on his twitter account had him giving blood with a tee-shirt that said “not all super heroes wear caps,” but on Thursday Carollo’s relentless hammering had the man and attorney sliding low in his chair at the dais and clearly Carollo bested the man in the heated rhetoric on selective code enforcement and had Suarez, saying the city follow’s the “law,”

Further later in the night Bill Fuller the owner of the Ball and Chain restaurant
came to the podium and accused Carollo being like Castro’s Cuba and the man said his uncle in 1960 “was executed in Cuba,’ and what was happening to him was like the communist country. The man also noted he had a federal case against the commissioner

What about Reyes and corruption?

Commissioner Manola Reyes said he was shocked by all the comments about all the “corruption in the city and noted in the media Miami,” was again cited as one of the most corrupt in the nation and the read the report go to: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/miami-dade/fl-ne-miami-ranked-among-most-corrupt-cities-20190213-story.html

The Playhouse issue comes to the commission again on May 8 at Miami City Hall.

What about Carollo verbally pounding Suarez like a punching bag?

At the last commission meeting Carollo verbally decimated the mayor and the mayor’s non response has made the young man and scion of his father former Mimi mayor Xavier Suarez an arch enemy of Carollo after a disputed mayoral election.

>>>More ammunition for Carollo as Suarez holds public meeting on housing in mega law firm Akerman where former Miami mayor Neisen Kasdin works, Magic City in Little Haiti is represented by the firm.

Suarez in a press release says he is holding a public meeting at the mega law firm Akerman managing partner is former Miami Mayor Neisen Kasdin and he is the attorney pushing and representing the Magic City project in Little Haiti. But the public meeting should be held in a public location like the commission chambers and the mayor is having trouble getting his political sea legs in his new job as mayor.

Further, Suarez an attorney is very mum about his clients but at a previous law firm he was hired by the ritzy Fischer Island residents to lobby Miami-Dade county Carollo has raised the conflict issue with the new father and has bought a $1.4 million home in the south Grove but is very coy about how he could afford such a high end home given his net worth and previously reported in the watchdog Report. The man blows off any criticism of any conflict many times saying it is not anyone’s business but Carollo keeps needling him and he allows a doubt of his true interest is the city or possible running for higher office, but many are now saying he is not ready for prime time. And he is shocked when challenged on the matter and seems oblivious why some would even ask.
or to read the actual report go to:

http://www.miamigov.com/internal_audits/audits/2017_2018/Review%20of%20the%20Miami%20Sports%20and%20Exhibition%20Authority%20(MSEA),%20Report%20No.%2018-07%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Community Events

 

>>>> Press release: ZOO MIAMI CELEBRATES EARTH DAY AT PARTY FOR THE PLANET ON APRIL 27 & 28, 2019 –Guests will learn how to be green with conservation-themed activities for the whole family, plus fun enrichment for our animals!

 

Miami, FL (April 12, 2019) – During Party for the Planet, held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 27 & 28, Zoo Miami guests can enjoy “green” activities and entertainment for the family. Even our animals will be joining the fun with enrichment items made in our new Animal Fun Factory from recycled and natural materials. Million Trees Miami will also be present giving away 100 large trees and 500 small saplings only on Saturday on a first come, first serve basis.

Below is the schedule for the weekend’s animal enrichment:

April 27 & 28

10:15 a.m.          North American River Otter
10:30 a.m.          Tiger
11 a.m.                Orangutan
11:30 a.m.          Meerkats & Wacky Barn
12 p.m.                Cassowary
12:45 p.m.          Sloth Bear
1:15 p.m.            Chimpanzee
1:30 p.m.            Giraffe
2 p.m.                  Saki monkey

2:30 p.m.             African Elephants

3:00 p.m.             Howler & Squirrel monkey

3:30 p.m.             Warty pigs/red river hog

4:00 p.m.             Black bear

Guests can come in FREE of charge on these days when they turn in a cellphone as part of our ECO-CELL phone recycling program. These donated cell phones will help gorillas by hopefully reducing the need for coltan – a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in Central Africa, home to the world’s endangered lowland gorillas. Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo’s out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade. Members and children under the age of 2 enter free to Zoo Miami. Parking is also free. Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami FL, 33177. Save time, buy your tickets online at shop.zoomiami.org. More information on Party for the Planet is available at www.zoomiami.org.

 

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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THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

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

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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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