Watchdog Report Vol.19 N0.33 – Oct.20 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot- Celebrating almost 20-years of weekly publishing
>>> Today is the Watchdog Report’s 32th issue this year and when I started back in 05.05.00 I never imagined I would be doing this weekly publication now closing in on 20 years. I am not a big chest thumper and just try to be an informational electrolyte, between the many large public entities (That in total is about $16 billion and Miami $1 billion). that make up Miami-Dade County. However, many times it is at the lower level of government that deals are made, and other beefs are discussed and to my early supporters thank you for putting your trust in me.
I had hoped after 20-years I would be in the endzone for me, but that goal is showing to be elusive as supporters retire and the support contributions are in doubt and hope you will consider pitching in during this time of need and I thank the organizations that stepped-up and a thank you letter is on its way to you. Thank you, Dan
After 20-years I need community help to keep at this and know you have many Thank you!
I was once asked by county commission chair Barbara Carey -Shuler what I thought in the press room in the chamber? I said it was a blend of announcer and umpire occasionally like when MPO was going to give $10 million to an obscure a.m. station to do traffic up-dates that are already being done as a community requirement for free. The commission shot it down, but it had commissioner joe Martinez saying to the board member “you’re on fire, bail out,” and the commission did not pass it.
Further, I write about the homeless since back in 2002. I was one of the people laying on the government center plaza and learned these people were essentially looked on as trash.
Further, human waste and urine is becoming a major issue with the DDA needing more of the much-vaulted bathroom but is not cheap. However, this issue of clean-up has been a hot topic at the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust which does give significant funding some $37 million but the scale of the need is outstripping trust funding. And is why Surfside and Bal Harbor currently excluded from a food and beverage sales tax. Here is a breakdown of the homeless census in August: http://www.homelesstrust.org/library/homeless-census-comparison.pdf
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article236262158.html https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article236262158.html
Further, for some reason September has traditionally been a tough month when it comes to fundraising. So, if you appreciate what I have done for almost 20-years weekly using thousands of my own money go to: https://www.paypal.me/WatchdogReport 0r Daniel A Ricker, 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami Fla., 33133
The Florida ,’“Stanley G. Tate Prepaid “ College program turns 30 this year and the program has over 1 million participants including many politicians children and at first was resisted by many Tallahassee legislators and was pushed by legislators Ileana Ros- Lehtinen and her now husband Dexter Lehtinen https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right 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 I hope some of my sponsors will continue their support though I may have lost a few, and hopefully it was not for something I wrote about some of our politicians and their leadership. I hope you will support me again for billions of dollars are in play at our very large public institutions and need someone to watch over how these tax dollars are spent. Thank you and please help if you can. I am right on the edge. Best to all Dan
EDITORIAL
At the last Democratic Party candidate debate not one question to candidates concerned climate change and sea level rise something Mimi is experiencing every day and Miami along with Miami Beach are ground zero for this water intrusion and a presentation at the Miami Sea Level rise meeting a sweeping presentation showed the $8 billion problem (just for septic tanks) and how Palm Beach county is protecting its shoreline and water quality that had a mayor swim across a river and then suddenly got very sick and was in the hospital for weeks.
https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/library/reports/golf-course-monitoring.pdf
>>> Carollo suggests he and wife are being targeted by Miami police, suggests its mayor’s doing, she is being followed by police people, videotaping his residence
Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo believes he is being targeted by Miami police along with his wife who recently got a bogus ticket he said Thursday. He believes she was targeted so that his name would be in the press. He suggested the cops wanted her to say, “do you know who I am?” which would become the issue with media and suggested it was being orchestrated in the mayor’s office. He also said he was pulled over as well falsely and two other police officers showed up and he put his hands outside the window to show ‘he was not armed, “he said.
This comment came after Keon Hardeman reflected what blacks must deal with where reaching 21 years was a major achievement in his neighborhood and discussed how blacks with potential were targeted when they were young and was told a phrase he had never heard before. They “kill you in the cradle,” is phrase used in California he said to any black rising star and called his District 5 seat ‘toxic,” considering all the past commissioners that were removed from office ranging from Michelle Spence-Jones to Arthur Teele,Jr. who killed himself in the Miami Herald lobby and he noted within his family relatives have been targeted by the media as well.
Carollo calls mayor “Lord Mayor,” believes he was the one that killed strong mayor form of government, Suarez’s says that’s not true but sharp exchanges becoming more frequent will national press start covering Miami again like in 2000, was a glory period for Carollo on national TV almost every night?
What about Carollo’s blow-up with “Lord Mayor,” Francis Suarez, not a good look for commissioners to see the exchange where Suarez says, Carollo is not ‘being respectful not a god moment for commission, Suarez needs to change his tact highlights his inexperience in this new position
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article236028243.html
>>> With wide swath of County mayoral candidates, trying to be non-partisan, will it stay that way? I believe no
With the pool of candidates running for Miami-Dade county mayor to replace termed out mayor Carlos Gimenez increasing with former commission chair Jean Monestime, a family man with a MBA from F.I.U. and the county’s first Haitian commission chair and succeeded past commissioner Dorrin Rolle in the district seat after a number of ethical Lapses and the man has been straight on the 13 member commission creating a committee to look at economic disparities in the county.
The dark horse is former Mayor Alex Penelas, a Democrat, burned president Al Gore’s campaign and ‘did not lay a finger,’ to help Gore after being reelected in 2000 and disbanding his campaign and going to Spain. However, it will the runoff during the presidential race with large voter turnout that may play the critical role.
>>> State lawmakers should keep out of Miami-Dade’s two major economic drivers MIA, Port of Miami, doing well no need for state oversight, would become a lobbyist pinata
The rumor that state legislators are looking to try to put MIA and the Port of Miami under the thumb of the state will be a work program for all the lobbyist state legislatures who already are full time lobbyist and would only be detrimental to the two major county economic drivers and must be fought by the public. If this was the late 1990s it might have been a good idea. But reforms and other changes have produced a 180 degree turnaround and the political meddling has decreased significantly, with revenues and passenger traffic up to record levels and the idea that state legislators would support Miami-Dade’s interest empirically has never been the case and while the MDX expressway authority is one example how this new entity will manage the roads is an experiment in progress and it seems all the critics want to do is slice the county up like a melon and a work program for the so called lobbyist legislators that populate the whole county from senators to representatives and is a piggy bank for their campaign contributions. The county is not perfect, but neither are these carpet bagger lobbyists that walk the halls of the 34 municipalities trying to grease the wheels for their clients.
Trump should look at the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust model to end homeless in Ca., a national model of good practices. No boulders on the swales like San Francisco
With President Donald Trump highlighting the homeless in Los Angeles and San Francisco being indicative of what happens when Democrats are in control, both major cities should look to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust model where prior to the creation we actually had a mayor of the homeless encampment and some 8,000 homeless on the streets of Miami that has dropped to some 800 on the street at the last point in time account that includes a continuum of care and includes facilities like the Lotus House Village that takes in homeless children and is a jewel for this desperate population of needy souls.
Update on San Francisco homeless that has residents placing large boulders on the street swales and is a public safety matter
Update on Miami trying to take over the County’s homeless trust suggested by commissioner Manola Reyes, and trust Chair Ron Book’s responds
“Thankfully, Commissioner Reyes isn’t the voice of the Commission nor the majority on the Commission. It’s always wonderful when people are generally uninformed on homelessness solutions and understanding but end up being Monday morning quarterbacks. It is unfortunate that Commissioner Reyes has continued down this path. We’ve only been named 6 times by HUD as the national best practice model, we’ve only reduced street homelessness by 90% in the 25 years of our existence, having gone from a little over 8,000 in our streets 25 years ago to 1,149 today, it’s funny we’ve been subjected to the toughest criteria to have reached an end to Veteran’s homelessness in any continuum in America, yet we did it. It’s interesting HUD rewards us in our continuum with over $35M a year, but I guess that’s because we do a lousy job.
We have a wonderful working relationship with the City, they are our partners, but some notion that they don’t get their money’s worth when 88% of all referrals come from the City of Miami outreach teams, 66% of which come from the geographical boundaries of the City Miami and that costs us just over $27.5M a year. While we do collect significant revenues from restaurants in the geographical boundaries in the City of Miami, I do believe people like me who do not live in the City of Miami’s geographical boundaries, eat almost every day in the restaurants and contribute that money, it isn’t as though it comes out of the City’s coffers,” wrote Book in an email.
What about the Super Bowl and sex trafficking and the Guardian Litem Program (GAL)?
At a school board meeting a few months ago a human trafficking expert and prosecutor said with the big event traffickers are building “capacity of young girls,” and many of the 7th and 8th graders are in foster care. Further the pimps use 7th and 8th graders to recruit these new young girls and this was brought into focus after N.E. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was busted in a Broward massage parlor. Further state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also busted some people doing sex trafficking and this dark side of the community will only intensify up to the Super Bowl next year.
State attorney Rundle in a Sunday editorial noted some 570 people over years have been arrested for human trafficking and her office is working with Super Bowl host committee chair Rodney Barreto. And the state attorney this week busted a couple, and this is an ugly scourge on our community with many retirees on break the Guardian Ad Litem program is looking for children advocates. The organization provides training for these children representatives. For more call Victoria Harris at 786.469.3840.https://guardianadlitem.org/
Miami has become a premier cancer care destination, UM & $400 million Proton therapy at Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida all cutting edge cancer centers, community residents are lucky when it comes to new cancer therapies, Baptist giving low cost mammogram tests during breast cancer month and has Coral Gables police cars in the pink.
Miami has become an area destination for cancer care with University of Miami’s new Federal designation as a National Cancer Institution (NCI) and The Baptist Health South Florida Miami Cancer Institute is the health system with a Proton beam device. The only one in South Florida and a $400 million investment in cancer care, especially for children, and patients whom no longer must go to north Florida to get this less damaging treatment than chemotherapy and is more precise for more go to:
https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center for more on Baptist go to:https://www.baptisthealth.com/pages/services/cancer-care/treatments/proton-treatment-for-prostate-cancer.aspx https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/treatments-and-services/radiation-therapies/proton-therapy Further Baptist has a low cost breast cancer screening program that is only $50.00 and for more go to www.baptisthealth.net/breast/health
And when it comes to medical care early detection is key and as I age, I am becoming more cognizant of that fact.
And here is Dr. Stephen D. Nimer’s message on the new Miami’s NCI designation:https://umiamihealth.org/sylvester-comprehensive-cancer-center/research/message-from-the-director
For more on lotus House go to https://lotushouse.org/contact-us/ https://lotushouse.org/childrenfirst/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1J22jC2bBY
We did things to create new best practices, and if you had the opportunity, which you may already have seen the video from the Chicago Summit, you would see that the other 4 that participated in this 100 Day Challenge were truly taken by our efforts, commitment, and our success. We blew our goals out of the water, and we will continue to push, and pursue every youth that are on our streets until we have everyone out, and taken care of,” wrote the long-time chair.https://www.wesh.com/article/desmond-meade-on-time-100-speaks-to-what-this-country-is-all-about/27185500
> the 2020 Census Task force and the bureau are looking for census takers who are paid between $16.00 to $18.00 county commissioner and include health benefits. In the recent federal job creation report is 25,000 new census workers. Miami is appointing Jacqui Collyer to the census task force headed up by Bovo.
>>>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,
I am a fanatic about having an accurate public record with no gaps in the conversion after I had an attorney challenge such a gap saying, “IS that God speaking from a burning bush?” He asserted.
>> 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
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.19 No. 33 Oct. 20, 2019 Soon Celebrating almost 20 years of weekly publishing! www.watchdgreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. EST: right here 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for 1almost 18 years & a trusted community education resource & news service, without the attitude
CONTENTS Having the G-7 at Trump Doral National was a bridge to far, and President Trump for the first time changed his mind. After the firestorm on the hill regarding America’s sudden withdrawal from Syria. — TS
ARGUS REPORT: Elderly phone scam uses fear, persistence to try to take advantage and get personal information, hang-up, most government concerns come in the mail not by phone– Commissioner Reyes believes Miami should administer the Miami Dade County homeless Trust, 25th anniversary, he is not interested on serving on board, does not understand the homeless needs, drugs, mental health, people with crack pipes, on the streets,” continuum of care the trust provides a national model of best practices, in 1993 8,000 homeless, now 3,000. Community leader Alvah Chapman, Jr. led the charge for a public private partnership – f Bahamas shows depth of charity after Dorian flattens the Bahamas, similar to what Andrew brought to south Dade, and took a decade to recover-Local Grand Jury report says Biscayne-bay on life support, septic tanks poor infrastructure, plastics deadly to bays survival, past attempts to turn bay around have not been successful, but at tipping point, says jury report –
— Miami Civil Service board violates Sunshine Law with extensive discussion while on coffee break after commissioner Carollo 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: Attorney General Moody Secures 60 Years in Prison for Opioid Trafficker- Threat calls into schools get amped attention as state attorney Fernández-Rundle notes such calls are a second-degree felony, not a student resume builder will be prosecuted -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: Is Gimenez looking to run for congress or his old commission dist. 7 seat? Mayor’s son with interest in economic development funds for steel mill, defies county’s conflict of interest, that used to ban “immediate family,” PHT has much broader category, for purchasing includes, “girlfriends and a host of others 11 in total after purchasing scandal years ago, commission passes little discussion, Leroy Jones key to projects passing- – County Commissioners want to tighten up municipal whistleblower laws, will it run into municipal resistance like what happened with county IG office? –With Miami-Dade #1 in HIV infections UM Idea program showing results needs second mobility van for dispensing HIV preventative drugs Prep doses “middle school students,” at “risk,” too says county commissioner Rebeca Sosa an educator. At the disparity committee Monday, a sobering presentation was done on the rising HIV infections IDEA the UM needle exchange pilot program needs dedicated mobile van may get surplus county van suggests, commissioner Jordan: -The Miami-Dade property Appraiser Thursday released his estimates and countrywide property tax value rose “5.9 percent,” with a value of $307,213,billion and this revenue bump is because of the new development to see the report by municipalities go to: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/reports.asp – Will county commission spend this new tax revenue wisely while new commissioners are termed out, how much in rainy day fund? — 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: At Wednesday’s school board monthly meeting an iconic educator and union negotiator Dr. Shirley Bailey Johnson was honored and there was not a dry eye in the chamber. Johnson, known for her warm smile was honored for her work in the civil rights movement after she came from Mississippi and at the segregated Miami-Dade Public Schools desegregated by federal senior Judge .C. Clyde Akins in 1969 ruled that the district had to desegregate and set up a panel made-up of prominent black leaders to oversee that activity. – School Board Budget Review Advisory committee, is the taxpayers firewall, made up of CPAs & tax attorneys, not always the case until 2004, when chair Hank Mack finally steps down reluctantly, two schools named after the man one in Dade another in Broward – District saves $68 million in COP bond refinancing, IG busts electrical contractor and minority “front” –Community leaders in shock after M-DC public Schools former chair Dr. Solomon Stimson charged with felony after shooting at police in Broward, has dementia Parkinson– School district will get property appraiser funding on time after value adjustment board met Monday and whittled down the time for appeals with more hearing masters, loss years ago was $171 million hit to district– School District Impact Fees audit Check out the audit and what the county owes to the public– — 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,. Audit committee meets Tuesday
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: Quality Trustees at JHS help keep trust on straight and narrow, allowing CEO Migoya to run hospital— Has JHS health trust been hit with a body blow feds audit of Florida and LIP draw down Medicaid program could cost $436 million in returned federal funds. Being litigated with feds, not good news – state funding cut proposed $58 million versus $1.5 million JHS trustee Rep. Duran R-Miami worked across party lines to mitigate cuts- Joint PHT BCC meeting goes smoothly love fest versus the past CEO Migoya says, “Doral west on budget and on time by Nov. 2020,” can be seen from landing MIA planes The new AOA agreement calls for health trust to pay $130 million to UM for a host of medical services and below is a complete breakdown of the services and payments.
http://www.seiu1991.org/files/2011/07/AOA-Payments-Rationale-and-Distribution-3.pdf
CITY OFMIAMI Commissioner Reyes says administration “disregards,” commission “directives, city settles again federal suit against MPD union rep. Capt. Javier Ortiz, $65,000 hit for using excessive force MIAMI:– Bike scooters rentals causing concerns it’s like “Dodge City, with the freewheeling riders also includes kids on the scooters pedestrians dodging the fast moving devices that jam sidewalks, over 1 million users since pilot program started, says Commissioner Russell, no one killed versus bicycles and cars — In a campaign flyer for Dist.2. candidate Javier Gonzalez asserts “I can’t win because I was born in Cuba, the piece state’s adds ethnic element to race? He was spotted directing traffic and closed road with yellow Jeep-Commission district 2 race gets more crowded with new entry Rosy Palomino, who ran in the past for house Dist. 112 —Commissioner Reyes calls mayor’s stalling tactic “Machiavellian,” since Reyes and Gort oppose deal and 4/5th vote needed for no bid deal with Beckham and MLS — Further, this continues the turmoil in the District 3 commission office that has major staff members being fired because of a hostile work environment and Carollo responded after hearing the charges. He was just glad there were no injuries but the political turmoil in the office should be monitored by manager Emilio Gonzalez for the lawsuits will likely be coming from some of these past employees including one claiming whistle blower status which ultimately was declined. – . — Influential attorney Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, not prepared is denied a zoning exemption for Montessori village school off Coral Way, associations not notified they say, Little Havana, Silver Bluff, his brother Alex running for commission , police policy to have a sergeant -of arms travel with mayor, WDR has made some 80 trips to Honolulu in my corporate capacity on my way to Japan, Suarez named a trustee out of 500 city mayors — Suarez administration runs into headwinds on MRC development project, Carollo calls it “sweetheart deal,” worse “than Marlin’s stadium deal,” the former mayor claims, only small # of city’s 4,400 employees work in building, mayor will deal after back from Honolulu — Unacceptable to hold public meeting in private venue excluding public Miami Parks Dir. Lara Hamway, needs ethics and Sunshine law class, I once went to a Fischer Island MAC and was welcomed, mayor talks transparency, we need to see it. – A behind the look at F1 race negotiations done by county ethics commission, no charges since attorney did not accept getting “full VIP credentials,” went diving instead memo closed out, but fascinating read, Commission Dist. 1 candidate Alex de la Portilla trying to bounce back has $167,000 in war chest leads pack of candidates since Gort termed out, ex Miami commissioner Humberto Hernandez plying the halls of city hall was disbarred attorney for mortgage fraud – 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 — 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 commissioner scholarship programs?
Community Events: Arsht Center function; Future of Miami Arts- New Knight Foundation programs strengthening democracy and a strong free media – Martin Z. Margulies Warehouse open: https://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home
EDITORIALS: Mueller testimony to congress not the silver bullet Democrats hoped for but veteran marine, did shoot a flare regarding hacking of America’s election infrastructure calls for paper ballots as back-up cyber-attacks coming from a host on nation’s not just Russia, Iran N. Korea in the mix. – “civility oath goes out the window,” says Mayor Suarez — 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
>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message. “
You may not take an interest in politics, but politics may take an interest in you.” –Pericles (430 B.C.)
ARGUS REPORT: heard and seen on the street
Having the G-7 at Trump Doral National was a bridge to far, and President Trump for the first time changed his mind. After the firestorm on the hill regarding America’s sudden pullout of Syria, leaving our allies in harm’s way as Turkey continues its offensive.
However, while Trump said it would be at cost. The perception and debate raged. At a time when some GOP legislators have become more political and the president needs to keep five in line to stop an open vote in the senate on any impeachment.
What about Mayor Carlos Gimenez?
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez tells The Miami Herald that he was disappointed and suggested another site such as historic Vizcaya and Gardens that has hosted former President Ronald Reagan and even a Pope
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article236461658.html
>>>> Elderly phone scam uses fear, persistence to try to take advantage and get personal information, hang-up, most government concerns come in the mail not by phone
I’m starting to see how the elderly can fall for a scam given what they may be personally dealing with (perhaps a surgery) at the time. The current one is a phone call saying a bank transfer is occurring or that you are going to be charged with drug and money laundering charges and the FBI may be at your door. Part of this variation is that you will lose your social security and that your number has been compromised and cancelled and need to meet at a “target or CVS,” says the scammer and is very insistent asking “are you in your car yet,” since he has spent so much time and even asked you to write down his federal badge number. Most federal agencies contact you by mail and you should hang-up immediately despite their persistence.
>>> Commissioner Reyes believes Miami should administer the Miami Dade County homeless Trust, 25th anniversary, he is not interested on serving on board, does not understand the homeless needs, drugs, mental health, people with crack pipes, on the streets,” continuum of care the trust provides a national model of best practices, in 1993 8,000 homeless, now 3,000. Community leader Alvah Chapman, Jr. led the charge for a public private partnership
At the Miami commission’s Thursday budget meeting was a contentious affair and one hot topic was the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, that met Friday. And commissioner Manolo Reyes thinks “the trust” should be taken over by the city (The trust spends $37 million on Miami homeless on their streets.
The last homeless count had 1,800 people during the count and “41 families,” and around “10,000 students,” in the system said administers of the trust. Further, “another 7,000 more may come from the Bahamas and “were not prepared to handle it,” “said long time chair Ron Book. Reyes could be on the homeless board but “demurred” when asked and former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado used to go to the meetings and the city’s representative is Milton Vickers.
However, Reyes who prides himself on knowing the details Since the trust was founded in 1993 and at the time there were 8,000 people on the streets, with even a mayor. The point of the spear was Miami Herald publisher, Alvah Chapman., and he was known for his persistence. Book said the man back then called banker Carlos Migoya, Armando Codina, and other community leaders to help create the public/private partnership, that also got 33 percent of the restaurant’s food and beverage taxes, a year ago said Book. Miami-Dade commissioner Alex Pinellas was given the charge to reduce the homeless population of 8,000 and killing the tourist trade and the associated revenues brought with it. Camillus House and Lotus Village have gotten bumps in their public funding, and the role of Lotus House is moving -up given the surge of families.
Further, Miami is spending a lot on cleaning up encampments and wants help from the trust. Book said he understood and better coordination with Miami is necessary. Miami Manager Emilio Gonzalez at the budget meeting that he had talked with high level state officials to change legislation that they should participate in the taxes. The cities exempt are Miami-Beach, Bal Harbor and Surfside, though they included some funding in their new budgets for the trust.
The Chapmen partnership
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Died: December 25, 2008 (aged 87)
Alvah H. & Wyline P. Chapman Foundation
chapmanfoundation.org
Alvah Herman Chapman, Sr. Wyline Page Chapman: The selfless and philanthropic lives led by Mr. and Mrs. Chapman compelled their descendants to perpetuate their memories and good names with a charitable foundation that would continue their good work through future generations.
The Miami Foundation is teaming-up with the Miami Herald to help fund investigative journalists and dox the important long investigative stories like the Jeffrey Epstein investigation called “Perversion of Justice,” and resulted in former local attorney stepping down in the Trump administration.
>>> Local Grand Jury report says Biscayne-bay on life support, septic tanks poor infrastructure, plastics deadly to bays survival, past attempts to turn bay around have not been successful, but at tipping point, says jury report
A recent Miami-Dade County state attorney’s Grand Jury report has concluded Biscayne- Bay is at a tipping point when it comes to the bays health and is a major tourist draw. The report says banning straws and plastic bottles along with reducing septic tank leakage and the lack of an infrastructure to discontinue with septic tanks are one of the reasons to blame, but fixing it is not cheap. To read the report go to: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6248684-Grand-Jury-Report-Biscayne-Bay.html
The Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle was on WLRN recently discussing the grand jury reports findings (net worth $3.359 million through 07.01.19). She is up for reelection in 2020 since being elected in 1993. She noted The Super Bowl host committee is making two community commitments. One to too plant some 100 staghorn corals at Rainbow Reef offshore of Key Biscayne and the other is concerning “human trafficking,” said the state attorney on air and below is the federal consent decree on Miami-Dade’s. federal settlement with its Water & Sewer department and is costing billions in the coming years and the county has enhanced the funding given the size of the problem and some lead may be in pipes running into old houses from the connection and below are water testing findings and I was surprised at what appears in the county. Further check out the exploration of coral reefs in the Keys.https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article230807454.html and here are links to the county’s massive water and sewer plan and accomplishments.
https://www.miamidade.gov/water/library/consent-decree-overview-english.pdf
https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/water/consent-decree.page
https://www.mswmag.com/editorial/2017/06/utility_of_the_future
local pipe break: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/miami-dade-sewage-leak-still-not-fixed-over-1000000-gallons-spilled-so-far/ar-AAFUGIv?ocid=spartandhp
Miami got a wake-p call at the presentation of the sea-level rise committee Oct.9 and some key hot spots that re polluting Key Biscayne re the Little River estuary, a pipe in the hospital district and Seybold canal has to be tested yearly given years of medical runoff and 8 water and sewer lines manhole covers were misidentified suggesting water and sewer were running through the pipe said city staff.
Further, planting mangroves in large planters like you see at Monty’s in Coconut Grove.
Rerun 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. Update: in 2010, under the Obama administration which employed extensive minority outreach it is estimated in that count some 2 million children were missed in the final count.
>>>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 Trump will not add a citizenship question on the long form?
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
>>>> Attorney General Moody Secures 60 Years in Prison for Opioid Trafficker
Press release: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a total of 60 years in prison for a man trafficking prescription opioid pills in Florida. OSP secured the latest sentence Thursday, for Costadaryll Hughley, an Orange County man. The 15-year sentence for trafficking in Oxycodone 25-100 grams and Sale and Delivery of Hydromorphone will run consecutively with the 45 years in prison previously secured by OSP. The sentences follow a three-year investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Attorney General Moody’s OSP.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This case is a textbook example of how criminals exploit the excess supply of prescription opioids pouring into our state. Thankfully, through the hard work of the DEA and my statewide prosecutors, this drug trafficker should never be able to peddle dangerous and addictive opioids to Floridians ever again. Interdiction efforts like this are just another way we are fighting to end the opioid crisis in Florida and save lives.”
In 2012, the DEA discovered Hughley dispensing large amounts of prescription opioid pills into the Lake County community. According to the investigation, Hughley was observed in 2014 acting as a sponsor of two individuals outside a pharmacy in Lake County. A sponsor is a person who pays for a patient’s doctor’s visit and prescription for a portion of the pills.
Hughley then provided his phone number to a DEA confidential informant, under the auspices of selling pills. The confidential informant subsequently made five controlled purchases from Hughley, totaling approximately 220 pills from Feb. 2014 to Oct. 2015.
Based on testimony from co-defendants in this case, Hughley obtained approximately 3,000 Oxycodone pills and 4,000 Hydromorphone pills in the period of two years from patients he sponsored.
The OSP charged Hughley with a total of 16 counts, including: one count of trafficking in Oxycodone; 14 counts of sale and delivery of Hydromorphone, Oxycodone and Cocaine; and one count of unlawful use of a two-way device.
The OSP prosecuted the case, over three severed trials in Aug. 2017, June 2019 and Oct. 2019. Hughley has been sentenced to a total of 60 years in the Department of Corrections with a 15-year mandatory minimum.
>>> Threat calls into schools get amped attention as state attorney Fernández-Rundle notes such calls are a second-degree felony, not a student resume builder will be prosecuted
Local authorities are amping up the efforts to stop students calling in threats to schools a second-degree felony
>> 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
https://www.miamiheartgallery.org/
>>>> Disruptive pre-k children getting “suspended,” new challenge for Children’s Trust Miami-Dade County
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 for decades children age “3 to 5,” the expert said.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>Is Gimenez looking to run for congress or his old commission dist. 7 seat?
Mayor Gimenez is jumping into the Mimi commission race and is supporting Miguel Angel Gabela
Are Miami-Dade elections no longer non- partisan affair as candidate endorsements break along party lines Miami-Dade County has 378,112has 378,112 Republican voters and Democrats are 601,819 and NPA 14,548 rounds out the party demographics as of Sept 30.county voters will be voting for a elections supervisor, county sheriff and
However, this coincides with 5 county commissioners being termed out
This party breakdown is important given a few years
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article235971332.html
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article206692604.html
Termed out Mayor Carlos Gimenez is said to be eyeing a run for congress or even running for his old Dist.7 commission seat and the man appears to want to keep his finger in the South Florida political world. However, it remains to be seen if the mayor will get voter support given his long time in public office and may have voters looking for new political blood and he does have his detractors as mayor and any new office is not guaranteed.
| Greater Miami Record Leisure & Hospitality Jobs | ||||||
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>>> County Commissioners want to tighten up municipal whistleblower laws, will it run into municipal resistance like what happened with county IG office?
ORDINANCE RELATING TO MUNICIPAL WHISTLEBLOWERS; AMENDING ARTICLE LXXI OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA; REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO ADOPT ORDINANCES BY A CERTAIN DATE TO PROTECT MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES WHO DISCLOSE SPECIFIED INFORMATION; SETTING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO ENACT SUCH ORDINANCES; REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORTS; PROVIDING FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT; PROVIDING THAT BOARD MAY TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IN THE EVENT MUNICIPALITIES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
From back-up memo on the legislation:
County upcoming budget from mayor Gimenez twitter: : https://twitter.com/MiamiDadeCounty/status/1148705840175730688
>>> ‘Let’s hope no one needs a [fire rescue] bird],” after BCC defers getting new helicopters after 7 – year procurement process, says committee chair Sally Heyman
The issue of new helicopter for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is still up in the air and Heyman is getting impatient with not getting the new birds and while they have 4 many times these are being repaired and originally the county considered to sell them to fill a budget gap years ago and that has yet to happen. Check out the links for more on the department. At this week’s Healthcare committee, the county is going to buy 4 Agusta helicopters replacing the very old ones. Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he was going with Agusta because they outperformed the competitor Bell helicopters. Gimenez said the Agusta could carry more weight 3,000 more than Bell. They fly faster than Bell’s 124 knots versus 165 knots and travel 363 miles said Gimenez and 13 pilots split on either Bell or Agusta and has a higher crash rating than Bell. Further the county ethics commission found no conflict in the procurement process and it was redone and Gimenez said this companies and re investigator we fired the employee and his supervisor after doing are own investigation with an independent law firm and Gimenez said the aircraft great performance capability and was “more capable,” said Gimenez to the Bell. However, lobbyist Timothy Gomez said after ethics investigation the competitor was only fined $6,000 even though there were 100 violations in the $60 to $51 million contract. The contract has languished over almost seven years. Commissioner Xavier Suarez said this is example of a terrible “procurement and gone to sealed competitive bids.” The mayor says the Agusta safe operation since a turbine engine can operate for an hour without oil and transmission turbine would give you lift. This not the way this “should have been done and made more if old helicopters if sold four years ago, said Suarez.” I will move and send this to the commission,” said Suarez. Mayor made a brilliant, but there is “trepidation, we have a full board only four commissioners here and send to full commission and end the trepidation, said committee member Javier Souto and moved to send to full board. Editor’s note the contract came up last week and is going to the BCC with no recommendation Editor’s not; the commission accepted the four Agusta helicopters in a $69 million contract.
And for more go to :https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article138053133.html
>>> With Miami-Dade #1 in HIV infections UM Idea program showing results needs second mobility van for dispensing HIV preventative drugs Prep doses “middle school students,” at “risk,” to says county commissioner Rebeca Sosa an educator.
At the disparity committee Monday, a sobering presentation was done on the rising HIV infections IDEA UM needle exchange pilot program needs dedicated mobile van may get surplus county van suggests, commissioner Jordan,
Miami-Dade is #1 in new HIV infections Idea syringe exchange pilot program going statewide, mobile van needed to deliver HIV medicine
The UM Miller Medical needle syringe exchange program was a major discussion at the community disparities committee chaired by county commissioner Eileen Higgins who has part of Miami Beach and is a “hot zone,” for new infections that cuts across all ethnic lines black or Hispanic and has one person getting AIDs daily and last week and the controversial exchange program has shown positive public health outcomes said Dr. Hansel Tookes, III, M.D., M.P.A. http://medicine.med.miami.edu/ideaexchange
Tookes who took the needle exchange program to the state legislature and high rates of HIV infections are found in Broward and Palm Beach Counties and a traveling Prep mobile unit donated by Sylvester Cancer is going into the community and giving testing and antiviral drugs. However, reaching some of the infected runs into stigmas that includes blacks and Hispanics who are sometimes reluctant to be tested and one hot spot is on 14th street in Miami and Higgins is trying to get a dedicated van to increase the coverage and help for infected patients.
>>>>GMCVB PRESS RELEASE: We Need YOU for Super Bowl LIV
>> 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 eye-opener. 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.
>>>>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
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 homeless 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:
>>> Quality Trustees at JHS help keep trust on straight and narrow, allowing CEO Migoya to run hospital –
>>> Seasoned trust board volunteers help kep JHS on the straight and narrow, one reason, C
The Public health Trust Nominating council is sending two names to the Miami-Dade County commission to approve. Mayor Carlos Gimenez is submitting for his slot on the seven-member board, Laurie Weiss Nuell, a “seasoned professional,” Gimenez wrote in a Aug. 15, 2019 memo to chair Joe Arriola. Nuell the former chair of the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County and a former PHT board member is a solid choice and has performed honorable in her public service capacities. The other name submitted is banker William J. Hefferman already on the board and he has given a solid performance in monitoring the health trust’s finances and is on the finance committee.
>>> Has JHS health trust been hit with a body blow feds audit of Florida and LIP draw down Medicaid program could cost $436 million in returned federal funds. Being litigated with feds, not good news
https://www.miamiherald.com/ for more go to:
https://www.miamiherald.com/site-services/profiles/article233162581.html
>>>> state funding cut proposed $58 million versus $1.5 million JHS trustee Rep. Duran R-Miami worked across party lines to mitigate cuts
PHT agenda: State Legislative Update: Carlos A. Migoya, President and Chief Executive Officer stated that the 2019 Legislative Session concluded with Jackson Health System (JHS) receiving a cut in funds totaling $1.5 million versus the proposed $58 million. Mr. Migoya stated that the work of the Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation, the House of Representatives who remained strong with their formula attributed to less funding cuts to JHS, and Representative Nicholas X. Duran who did a great job working across party lines. In all, slightly few health care bills were passed but for the ones that did pass are beneficial for JHS and long-term health care. The Certificate of Need (CON) House Bill (removes a requirement that general hospitals apply and obtain approval from the state to build or expand) passed. The approval of the House Bill does present some challenges but the positive side of it gives JHS the opportunity to finalize the CON for Jackson West Medical Center. Mr. Migoya stated that Don S. Steigman, Chief Operating Office, Mark T. Knight, Chief Financial Officer and the construction team are working together to maximize JHS opportunities to successfully complete the work to open and occupy the facility at the end of year 2020. 4. Adjournment Joe Arriola, Vice Chairman, Strategy and Growth Committee at 11:29
>>> Joint PHT BCC meting goes smoothly love fest versus the past CEO Migoya says, “Doral west on budget and on time by Nov. 2020,” can be seen from landing MIA planes
The PHT board had its joint meeting Tuesday with the county commission and it was a love fest versus years in the past where people were talking about selling the public hospital after years of mounting debt serving the uninsured and residence confidence was plummeting after all the bad fiscal news and leadership changes that included the county commission periodically weighing in and had a past CEO Marvin O’Quinn telling me after he arrived. This “place is so political,” and I responded back no kidding. Or more see the better building bond webpage. Doral east “is own time and budget,” CEO Carlos Migoya tells commissioners. Or more go to https://jacksonhealth.org/jackson-bond-program/
>>>> The AOA agreement calls for health trust to pay $130 million to UM for a host of medical services and below is a complete breakdown of the services and payments.
http://www.seiu1991.org/files/2011/07/AOA-Payments-Rationale-and-Distribution-3.pdf
This is a breakdown of the payments and a graph is on the pdf above
Distribution of AOA Payments Direct Patient Care, $20,057,576 Residency and Fellowship Program Administration, $5,704,521 Residents and Fellows Clinical Instruction Support, $22,941,836 Residents and Fellows Direct Expense Stipend, $587,640 Residency and Fellowship Program Coord and Admin, $1,391,611 Hospital Administration Support, $10,143,812 Recruiting Support, $11,752.
The 50-year affiliation with the UM Miller school of medicine is a tremendous boon for the community and ends the tag line. “You go to Jackson to die,” was a frequent refrain, but that medical synergy has made the health trust one of the top medical health systems in Miami-Dade and is rebooting after a GOB bond was passed allowing for new updated facilities.
>>> New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center, upcoming special PHT board meeting to ratify new committee chairs
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/
>>> 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.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> At Wednesday’s school board monthly meeting an iconic educator and union negotiator Dr. Shirley Bailey Johnson was honored and there was not a dry eye in the chamber. Johnson, known for her warm smile was honored for her work in the civil rights movement after she came from Mississippi and at the segregated Miami-Dade Public Schools desegregated by federal senior Judge .C. Clyde Akins in 1969 ruled that the district had to desegregate and set up a panel made-up of prominent black leaders to oversee that activity. For more:http://scholar.library.miami.edu/umdesegregation/70s.php.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Clyde_Atkins
What about Mast academy on Key Biscayne?
What about Breakthrough Miami?
Breakthrough Miami was honored and the 8year program that allows students to reach their highest potential and are paired with college students is achieving enormous success helping students advance their education.
https://breakthroughmiami.org/
>>> Civilian Investigative Unit (CIU) in June 19, had 96 investigations, 76 closed through June and adds 5 new investigators, another 124 cases pending,
The school board Audit and Budget committee meeting met Tuesday and the members made up of C.P.A.s and tax attorneys are the community firewall over the district’s $4 billion budget.
What happened?
In this year’s budget the Civilian Investigative Unit is adding 7 new experienced members and over the past year did 96 investigations, had 76 “open cases,’ and in 2019 “37 cases were closed,” and 37 cases were closed by June. Further in that year there were 124 pending cases. Further, the school district has 1” police officer per school with municipalities and the county helping and includes “114 schools,” in the nation’s fourth largest public schools district. And after a “friendly complaint the ABC web page is ADA friendly in three languages and even can speak and will allow people with a disability to log on and follow the committee’s activities and this is the best oversight board the county has given the professionals who volunteer their time. For the first time in 10 years I spoke at the committee meeting thanking the members and the flawless changing of the mandated ABR chair since 1994. Where a previous chair was on it for years and ended up being difficult to remove but that has all changed.
Here’s the agenda: http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_September_17_2019/Agenda.pdf
>>> Some board members not seeking reelection, will it impact a past school achievement no F schools in district with future turbulence on the nine-member board, Dr. Karp, Feldman leaving board?
>>> School Board Budget Review Advisory committee, is the taxpayers firewall, made up of CPAs & tax attorneys, not always the case until 2004, when chair Hank Mack finally steps down reluctantly, two schools named after the man on in Dade another in Broward
The school district’s Audit and Budget review committee is meeting Tuesday and this citizen based board is made up of CPAs and tax attorneys something that was not the case back in the late 1990s and 2000 and only changed around 2003 when the long time chair stepped down after the WDR broke the man Hank Mack had violated the Sunshine law and Mack has two schools named after him of which one is in Broward County as well as Dade. Here is the committee’s agenda great read:
>>> District saves $68 million in COP bond refinancing, IG busts electrical contractor and minority “front”
The school board is refinancing some Certificates of Participation (COP) bonds and the maneuver suggested by a treasury advisory board is saving the public district 468 million and the nation’s second largest district has an extensive bond portfolio and has been refinancing since interest have been so low especially a few years ago.
An electrical contractor was busted by the county’s IG for being a front when applying and complying with the district’s minority contract policies to read the report click on
http://www.miamidadeig.org/2019MDCPS/OIGFinalReportofInspectionGOBIG0015.pdf
here is the link to the audit agenda: http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/agenda/e35.pdf
School District Impact Fees audit Check out the audit and what the county owes to the public district http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_May_14_2019/Agenda.pdf
>>> 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 https://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/MiamiHerald/ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article229066424.html
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Commissioner Reyes says administration “disregards,” commission “directives, city settles gin federal suit against MPD union rep. Capt. Javier Ortiz, $65,000 hit for using excessive force
Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes says the administration “disregards,” commission directives and his complaint concerned the future contract for Freedom Park stadium deal for the Melreese golf club where MLS wants to ply its new team with David Beckham and the Mas brothers.
City to vote on a settlement with federal complaint that a Miami police Officer Capt. Javier-Ortiz for excessive use of force and the officer is a fixture at city hall and was the FOP spokesman and has had a controversial career in the force that raised eyebrows when he was promoted to captain.
What about Russell and the herald interview?
Commissioner Ken Russell missed a Miami herald interview with the editorial board because of a mis communication that had all the candidates being questioned by the general circulation newspaper. The candidates attending were realtor Javier Gonzalez, Jim Fried an investor, and Rosy Palomino an activist who also ran for a state house seat but did not prevail.
>>> Bike scooters rentals causing concerns it’s like “Dodge City, with the freewheeling riders also includes kids on the scooters pedestrians dodging the fast moving devices that jam sidewalks, over 1 million users since pilot program started, says Commissioner Russell, no one killed versus bicycles and cars
>>> In a campaign flyer for Dist.2 candidate Javier Gonzalez asserts “I can’t win because I was born in Cuba, the piece state’s adds ethnic element to race?
Miami Commission District 2 candidate Realtor Javier Gonzalez in a campaign brochure declares “Let’s ‘Turn the page,’ when it comes to the Ken Russell race, and asserts “the competition says I can’t win District 2 because I was born in Cuba….and a past candidate once said his name is ‘Gonzalez.’
>> Commission district 2 race gets more crowded with new entry Palomino, who ran in past for house Dist. 112
Office: Commissioner District 2 race has heated up with 4 candidates running and perennial candidate Rosa Maria Palomino has filed. She has also in the past run for the state house Dist112 but lost that race. She jumped into the crowded field after getting a campaign flyer listing what incumbent Ken Russell had achieved while in office and believes she can do better.
Here are the candidates running and their war chest
Office: Commissioner District 2
>> Commissioner Reyes calls mayor’s stalling tactic “Machiavellian,” since Reyes and Gort oppose deal and 4/5th vote needed for no bid deal with Beckham and MLS
The Miami Freedom Park discussions Thursdays was a drama with Miami commissioner Manola Reyes calling Mayor Francis Suarez “Machiavellian” given the mayor’s slow progress with The David Beckham groups $1 billion development deal and MLS soccer stadium on the Melreese golf course. Reyes and Wilfredo Gort suggest the delays are to allow for the upcoming elections to add new commissioners in support of what many call a sweetheart deal of a billion dollar give away to the politically connected Mass brothers. Since both Gort and Reyes are against the deal. Former Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff is part of the negotiating deal and his law firm Shutts & Bowen. Sarnoff noted that the traffic and environmental studies have yet to be done and won’t be ready till close to the Nov. election and the commissioners believe it is a stalling tactic by proponent Suarez who notes it was overly passed by Miami voters but the devil is in the details and the commission o them as commissioners put some form time lines for the administration to present a contract while Gort is still on the dais.
In one sharp exchange Reyes does not call Suarez and the mayor hot back that he should be called “mayor,” since he refers to them as commissioners, but the heated meeting highlights the divisions on the five member body as Suarez tries to wrap-up the deal expected in the coming months and the value of the golf course has yet to be established.
What Carollo and the Ferris wheel at Bayside market?
Commissioner Joe Carollo
>>>> Businessman Fried challenges Miami commission chair Russell, has company called “Fried on Weed, “his niece is AG commissioner Nikki Fried
There is a question if candidate James Fried an investor, is doing the funding for the west grove redevelopment and the newbie candidate has rarely except recently been to Miami commission meetings since I saw him a few weeks ago.
Incumbent Dist. 2 Miami commissioner ken Russell has a new challenger James fried whose niece is Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and he said he is a Democrat when I talked to him at Thursday’s commission meeting at the clerk’s office window and the business man is a neophyte in the Miami political world. He spoke briefly Thursday from the podium and wore a name tag saying he was a candidate.
>>>> Ken Russel subject of hit campaign piece paid by gambling lobbyist; how low will the District 2 race go?
Miami Commissioner Ken Russell is being characterized for causing a court ruling that the city owes a flagstone development of putting the city having to pay a $20 million judgement and is being pushed by a lobbyist supporting clients that want the city to approve gambling. The race for District 2 is said to get uglier and he has only one opponent a realtor in the Grove Javier Gonzalez who claims he will be his own man since he owns a Maserati and has a Rolex he has said in past forums. And I received one of his campaign pieces Saturday.
>>> Commissioner Carollo tells Mgr. Gonzalez he was in Marine Corps, but evidence of proof not forth coming, and stonewalls media requests seeking proof
I have known Commissioner Joe Carollo since 1999 after an election was thrown out for voter fraud and his moniker was “Crazy Joe,” and had people saying, “That’s just Joe being Joe, but at least he is honest,” was he general refrain. I bring this up for recently his bombastic behavior has gotten more frequent.
However, the latest controversy concerns whether he had served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as he told manager Emilio Gonzalez and he received a certificate for his service in the reserves but the man in all my years has never given a hint he might have been a Marine and he is getting lambasted for his what appears a false tale and while he was once a Miami public service aide. The press and media are trying to hunt down the truth about his military service at a time he is up for reelection and is always carping about all the corruption in Miami. Here is Grant Miller’s take on the Carollo issue in community newspapers: https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/is-joe-carollo-a-victim-or-has-he-stolen-valor/ Further Carollo also has fired his chief of staff a former police chief in Doral Richard Bloom and had the commissioner suggesting https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article233555347.html
PAST April WDR 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 (since fired) 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/
>>>> Miami mayor’s counsel Eddy Leal gets some ink on Babylon project. Says not paid so does not have to register as lobbyist, ethics commission starts investigation, says ‘hit piece,’ in Miami herald, mayor vetoes commission vote on Babylon and zoning anomaly
Eddy Leal got some ink for his involvement in the Babylon project a ziggurat building since torn down and was an anomaly in the city’s zoning code argued attorneys and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez new legal counsel Eddy Leal was drawn in the controversy because he was not registered as a lobbyist. He is claiming he is not being paid but an ethics complaint has been filed calling the Herald story a ‘hit job,’ and said he did not talk to the mayor about the project that Suarez vetoed Friday. Suarez is claiming he is listening to residents ‘his employees’ not the city’s employees but the whole issue now has become an ethics commission investigation.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article233453547.html
here is Leal’s law office web [age http://www.leallegal.com/#leallegallawfirm
>>> Joseph Napoli a deputy Miami assistant manager has something in common with manager Emilio Gonzalez. The men are both retired U.S. Army colonels Napoli told me Thursday at the commission meeting.
It is interesting because commissioner Joe Carollo is referring to Gonzalez as the colonel and last Thursday he focused on Napoli in a very sharp exchange about the Ultra contract and really dressed him down.
What else happened?
Carollo reached into his old toolbox when people were asking about 4 new parks in his district. He said the people complaining just didn’t want people outside the neighborhood using the parks and one person actually “grabbed his wife’s arm.” And he suggested this was racially or anti Hispanic rhetoric from elites in his district and he used this tactic back in 2000 but now is a different time and he may not get the ethnic divide traction he is looking for and had people throwing bananas in front of Miami City Hall back then.
Speeding boats on Miami River scarring manatees in river
What about the speeding boats on the Miami River and these hitting manatees? The river with a dubious history has restaurants dotting the shores and residents are asking for a more robust police marine patrol and say the fast boats are scarring the slow-moving sea cows that swim along the shore to avoid these boats
>>>>The sea Level Rise committee wants bump in funding for resiliency officer’s office, an extra $500,000 in the upcoming budget would help for “most important Miami committee,” manager has said.
“The most important committee the sea level rise committee,’ is going to ask for more public funding for studies and members going to conferences and after much debate is asking the commission to fund $500,000 to the resilience and sustainability officer’s office and the chair will be speaking at a upcoming commission meeting since budget hearings are in September. To read the budget go to:
https://www.miamigov.com/Government/Departments-Organizations/Management-Budget
here are the Miami commissioner campaign reports: check out the serious coin raised: for races on the five member body https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=muncitymiami
Miami’s City’s budget next year http://archive.miamigov.com/budget/docs/FY20/BudgetinBrief.pdf
Here are the civil service minutes:
http://archive.miamigov.com/civil_service/Agendas_Minutes/2019/04%2002-03final.pdf
Here is a list of candidates and the amount of money they have raised
>>> Commission Dist. 1 candidate trying to bounce back has $167,000 in war chest leads pack of candidates since Gort termed out, ex commissioner Hernandez plying the halls of city hall was disbarred attorney for mortgage fraud
Former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla leading in the fundraiser bracket at over $167,000 in his war chest and he is a controversial candidate and has lost a number of recent races and is drawing more attention by his having a relationship with convicted Miami Commissioner Humberto Hernandez since disbarred and Hernandez’s claim to fame was mortgage fraud.
However, Alex had a controversial divorce is a chain smoker and got into it at a Boston hotel where he was smoking and interfaced with a police officer County Mayor Carlos Jimenez’s son C.J. Jimenez, an attorney and registered lobbyist continues to ply the halls of Miami and has his sister Tanya Jimenez (not a registered lobbyist with the city was spotted on Thursday and the sister and daughter team are trying to maximize the time their father is in office who refers to his kids lobbying that they have the right to make a living he many times has said and is not a conflict.
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EDITORIAL
>>>> Mueller testimony to congress not the silver bullet Democrats hoped for but veteran marine, did shoot a flare regarding hacking of America’s election infrastructure calls for paper ballots as back-up cyber-attacks coming from a host on nation’s not just Russia, Iran N. Korea in the mix.
While Robert Mueller’s testimony was not the silver bullet Democrats thought they would hear. The veteran Marine combat officer did make it clear the nation has to beef up its cyber and voting machine security as foreign actors like Russia and Iran try to impact are elections and states must all consider having back-up paper ballots and beef up their own internal security.
Further, with multiple municipalities, hospitals utilities have been held hostage and cyber ransom blackmail to regain access to encrypted computers. To read more about these hacks and technology go to these two links and it will open your eyes on the danger of these actors including North Korea and is only evolving in complexity and even the CIA has been penetrated along with the ultra-secret NSA.
https://www.wired.com/story/2017-biggest-hacks-so-far/?verso=true
https://decideconsulting.com/5-recent-cyber-security-threats-in-2018/
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
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 Timesfor 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
The homeless 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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Watchdog Report
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>>> 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
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>>> 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
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