Watchdog Report Vol.20 No.30 November 22, 2020 EST:05.05.00 May you and your family have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving Day Thursday – I go when you cannot

 

ARGUS REPORT- HEARD SEEN ON THE Street

 

>>> Elected officials should keep their masks on during public meetings where school board members, went unmasked, Chair Hantman, and vice chair Gallon, both sans mask, and Supt. Carvalho

 

I almost went down to the school board meeting Wednesday because board members were not wearing masks or removing them and had long serving chair Perla Tabares Hantman sitting close to vice chair Dr. Stephen Gallon, III, who on Tuesday fell to the floor who also sat mask less and elected leaders have to set a good example including superintendent Alberto Carvalho if we are ever going to get COVID-19 under control and is seen in surging cases at our local healthcare systems and if people want to get back to normal and stop the spread and many of these people who don’t think it, is important to cover their nose with a mask  are taking a big chance since many of these elected officials  are older. Some examples last week were county commissioner Raquel Regalado who fussed with her mask and Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla who is a heavy smoker and may have COPD.  

 

But to stop the spread good public health guidelines must be followed by everyone if the nation is ever going to be normal  while we await the arrival of the vaccines and is stressing all our public institutions and residents because having had COVID myself it is very serious and has long term affects for many people and young people have to know that getting this is a big deal versus how it affected me at 69 and having lived or spent almost 20-years many in Asia and have been exposed to number of these that might  exist out there. Further, young people should hope that the virus is not some new STD.

 

>>>Demotion of budget director Moon a big hit for taxpayers one of the most Knowledgeable employees in Miami-Dade County 

 

The demotion of budget director Jennifer Moon was a shock to the WDR and hope it does not suggest that new Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava wants payback after a hot mic caught her saying something she regretted. However, the woman has a MBA from the university of Miami is  very versed on the county’s financial health and for years I attended the resource allocation meetings where Dept heads argue on their budget  requests and while in the past she has had to work with then mayor Carlos Gimenez, which was her job and should not be punished for doing her job with over 77 revenue streams that are now in the tank and offers big challenges to the state’s largest county

 

ARGUS REPORT- HEARD SEEN

 

>>> County has served 15.2 million meals to seniors, CARE ACT funding spending 15 million to public schools for nurses

 

I got a form letter saying Miami Mayor Francis Suarez wants to her from me and sign a pledge to fight the Black Lives Matter movement in regards to community policing and to counter act the ACLU  and others trying to defund policing and it came from the not for profit National Police Association  located in Stafford, TX. 

 

On Friday, the Miami-Dade County commission held a special commission meeting under COVID guidelines, and the county budget director Jennifer Moon said the county has supplied “15.2 million meals.” She also believes that another COVID spike is expected on “the third week of November.” Further, the county in Care Act funds is sending to the public-school district some $15 million for school nurses, she said. The woman who balances her own check book is critical to understanding the 77 county revenue streams and the county’s some 22 billion in bond debt that includes the Miami Marlins stadium bond payments that are staring to climb higher.

 

>>> large demonstrations in D.C. show how divided the nation still is, if Trump wants to run again in 204, smooth transition will be key in any political future

 

President Donald J. Trump has yet to concede claiming massive voter fraud and Biden is not getting the daily intelligence briefings is concerning since the nation’s enemies may try to take advantage in these un precedented times. Here is more

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/it-s-critical-for-republican-leaders-to-explain-to-voters-trump-lost-john-bolton/ar-BB1b1Vwb?ocid=msnewshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/it-s-critical-for-republican-leaders-to-explain-to-voters-trump-lost-john-bolton/ar-BB1b1Vwb?ocid=msnewshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/it-s-critical-for-republican-leaders-to-explain-to-voters-trump-lost-john-bolton/ar-BB1b1Vwb?ocid=msnews

 

>>> Supervisor of elections prayer, “may it not be close,” and Miami-Dade could be ground zero for attorneys challenging election results, after 50 ballots found at a Homestead post office and has state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle intervening calling for an audit of post offices by federal IG

 

With Pennsylvania becoming a key swing state, I grew up in Solebury Township and New Hope, in Bucks County. A tight knit community that is just miles from Washington’s Crossing where Gen. George Washington on Christmas Eve crossed the Delaware River in the snow and surprised the German Hessian mercenaries in Trenton and was a key event in the American Revolution.

 

I still have a reliable source there my sister Ann and she and her two boys are voting in person since she does not trust the mail. However, she says the line to drop an AB is a 3-hour line and she plans to bring a chair since mail service is questionable in her mind.

 

Bucks County dotted with  Society of Friends meeting Houses and since between New York City and Philadelphia has a large number of new people but civics and honor are still a big deal in the community that includes the Bucks County Playhouse and Perry Mansion restored by the New Hope Historical Society founded by my father and some of his friends and is a New Hope historic site.

 

What about the 2000 election Bush vs. Gore?

 

I was fortunate to be on a panel election night on WLRN 91.3 FM. Along with Topical Current host Joseph Cooper, Miami Herald columnist Robert Steinbeck and independent candidate John Anderson, and Tony Doris and I was the only one that when Bush was projected to win, “I said it was too soon.” After I h ad interviewed over 100 voters there was little passion. Since both candidates had trust funds and an Ivy League education and the energy was not in the race we would see in, later years like when President Barack Obama  And to check if your vote was counted in Miami-Dade County go to this elections department site.

 

What about COVID-19 long term affects and could it become new STD?

 

Public service messages for the lasting health impacts should be considered since many young people believe you just get over it without any long term consequences and that is not the case as physicians and scientists study  the long term problems that the Mayo Clinic says can  result in inflammation of a variety of organs, heart, lungs brain, and kidneys. And below are the links to studies and these could stay with people the rest of their lives, not very comforting as I have found out.

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351 Here is another medical analysis

 

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-we-know-about-the-long-term-effects-of-covid-19 https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-we-know-about-the-long-term-effects-of-covid-19

 

Further, locally here is the Baptist Health South Florida’s take on the virus impact on the brain.

https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/en/cam/mni/3/covid-19s-neurological-impact-study-finds-link-to-strokes-rare-brain- inflammation/?utm_source=hg&channel=email&jobnumber=BHSF850009&serviceline=neuro&agency=hg  

 

>>> I want to apologize to my readers and supporters, I am still dealing with an eye issue, I am taking drops, but it makes it hard to write. The physician is confident it will resolve and next week. I should be back in action and to my sponsors thank you for the continued support with all my heart in these tough times

 

>>>> Campaigns using the airwaves to get their message out, but not at polls, only saw one candidate after hitting multiple early voting sites even Westchester Regional Library the mother of all early voting sites, no long lines Friday

 

sleep is odd, and no dreaming seems to be the case and my lower back is tender and I am wondering if all my years in Asia in the 1970’s 1980s when I was in China and India extensively and came back a couple of times sick after these trips when the countries were not developed as they are now and I wonder if these past exposures make me more vulnerable to COVID symptoms and have stayed home and watched the virtual  meetings  of governments and elected leaders staff need to watch these meetings because a  number of people are very uninformed about what the county for example is doing with the Care act funding as municipalities struggle with their budgets including Miami for inter government communication is critical during the pandemic and funding is tight, as well as with the public school district as the community tries to wrestle with this public health crisis. With calls for a health officer public institutions should consider Dr.Lilliana V. Rivera the Florida local health department director  and while retired she offered to come back during this public health crisis and she knows the community and could be a great resource. Understanding the neurological impacts of COVID-19, migraines, and chronic stress.  Here is more ang young people should get on board re masks for there are long term mental issues after a COVID-19 infection.

https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/en/cam/mni/3/covid-19s-neurological-impact-study-finds-link-to-strokes-rare-brain-inflammation/?utm_source=hg&channel=email&jobnumber=BHSF850009&serviceline=neuro&agency=hg  

 

   

 

A Gondola for the Miami Beach corridor is a creative and global draw versus Genting monorail to Beach. I am doing a longer story on this project and I have no interest in this project, just think interesting alternative. And here is more details and specs, on the solar powered gondola: 

https://www.cynthiafleischmann.com/miami-gondolahttps://www.cynthiafleischmann.com/miami-gondola   

 

I apologize to my supporters for the lack of WDR production as I try to clear this virus though on Tuesday I did get my senior flu shot and that may have aggravated my health and I can’t wait to get over this aggressive virus looking for a host and as Chris  Wallace of Fox, said “wear a d…m mask,” he said,  Thursday and suggested the wild debate has given him “PTSD,” and has not watched it since. Now what are you going to do since you did not run, your self will you at least vote!

 

A discussion on mental health and Jackson Health System revealed the system has a mobile mental crisis van that should be tied to the 311 switchboard since suicides and domestic violence is on the rise, said county commissioner Sally Heyman last week.

Will governor’s gamble opening Phase 3 no fines for not wearing masks cause COVID cases upturn, worries physicians?

 

What is Gov. Ron DeSanto’s thinking by stopping people being fined for not wearing a face mask that thank goodness works to slow the positivity rate but has become a political statement for many  and is seen at Trump events where many are without masks  But will this change increase positivity of COVID-19 cases and slow the reopening of the economy take even longer?

 

>>>> 20-years ago I started the WDR because in 2000 The 2000 Census was a disaster after it occurred after the young Cuban Boy Elian Gonzalez and fear of government resulted in a major undercount (that included curb counting). Which in 2010 cost the county some $20 billion in federal funding and in 2020 here are the municipalities numbers now that the census was terminated by a federal judge and the response rate is not impressive

 

>>> Commissioner Bovo press release: 

 

Last night, the U.S. Census Bureau announced all field and self-response data collection operations will conclude on October 15, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Over the past two years, I have worked with community partners, elected officials, and our County family to ensure Miami-Dade County gets counted. We must leave politics aside and work collaboratively to achieve a complete count. Miami-Dade County’s self-response rate is currently 62.4%. We are leaving millions, possibly billions, on the table. While today’s announcement is unfortunate, we have less than 48 hours to continue our efforts to ensure Miami-Dade County receives the funding and representation it deserve,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner and County Census Liaison Esteban “Steve” Bovo.

 

>>> Census undercount sad moment for South Florida for the next ten years will new congressional districts be created/ early voting starts Monday 32 early voting sites with mail in ballot secure drop boxes at these sites bring ID. Here is more on impact of under count etc. https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/08/27/politifact-could-an-undercounted-2020-census-afflict-a-range-of-federal-statistics/ 

 

>>> BCCC Bovo press release: Last night, the U.S. Census Bureau announced all field and self-response data collection operations will conclude on October 15, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Over the past two years, I have worked with community partners, elected officials, and our County family to ensure Miami-Dade County gets counted. We must leave politics aside and work collaboratively to achieve a complete count. Miami-Dade County’s self-response rate is currently 62.4%. We are leaving millions, possibly billions, on the table. While today’s announcement is unfortunate, we have less than 48 hours to continue our efforts to ensure Miami-Dade County receives the funding and representation it deserve,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner and County Census Liaison Esteban “Steve” Bovo.

 

Self-Reporting Response Rate by Municipality Miami-Dade County 

 

Rank Municipality Response Rate 09/25/2020 Response Rate 09/28/2020 Response Rate 09/30/2020 Response Rate 10/05/2020 Response Rate 10/07/2020 Response Rate 10/09/2020

1 Palmetto Bay 80.3% 80.4% 80.6% 80.8% 80.8% 80.9%

2 Miami Shores 78.6% 78.8% 78.9% 79.1% 79.2% 79.2%

3 Pinecrest 77.3% 77.4% 77.5% 77.7% 77.8% 77.8%

4 Cutler Bay 75.7% 75.8% 76.1% 76.5% 76.6% 76.6%

5 Miami Springs 74.2% 74.3% 74.5% 74.8% 74.9% 74.9%

6 Miami Lakes 73.5% 73.5% 73.7% 73.9% 74.0% 74.0%

7 Virginia Gardens 72.1% 77.2% 72.3% 72.3% 72.4% 72.4%

8 Biscayne Park 71.2% 71.4% 71.7% 72.1% 72.1% 72.1%

9 Medley 68.2% 68.9% 68.9% 69.6% 69.6% 70.1%

10 Hialeah Gardens 69.0% 69.0% 69.2% 69.6% 69.7% 69.7%

11 UMSA 69.0% 69.1% 69.2% 69.5% 69.5% 69.6%

12 Coral Gables 68.9% 69.0% 69.1% 69.3% 69.4% 69.4%

13 Hialeah 67.4% 67.6% 67.7% 67.9% 68.0% 68.1%

14 Miami Gardens 67.3% 67.4% 67.6% 67.9% 67.9% 68.0%

15 South Miami 66.8% 67.0% 67.1% 67.4% 67.4% 67.4%

16 Sweetwater 66.7% 66.8% 66.9% 67.1% 67.3% 67.3%

17 El Portal 66.3% 66.4% 66.4% 66.6% 66.7% 66.7%

18 Golden Beach 64.4% 64.4% 64.4% 64.4% 64.4% 64.4%

19 Doral 61.9% 62.0% 62.2% 62.4% 62.4% 62.5%

020 North Miami 61.3% 61.4% 61.5% 61.8% 61.9% 61.9%

21 West Miami 61.0% 61.1% 61.2% 61.4% 61.4% 61.4%

22 North Miami Beach 59.3% 59.4% 59.5% 59.8% 59.9% 59.9%

23 Homestead 58.7% 58.8% 59.0% 59.2% 59.2% 59.3%

24 Opa-Locka 56.5% 56.6% 56.7% 57.0% 57.1% 57.1%

25 Florida City 56.2% 56.3% 56.3% 56.7% 56.7% 56.8%

26 Bay Harbor Islands 55.8% 56.0% 56.2% 56.5% 56.5% 56.5%

27 Key Biscayne 55.0% 55.1% 55.3% 55.7% 55.8% 55.8%

28 Miami 53.0% 53.1% 53.3% 53.5% 53.6% 53.6%

29 Aventura 50.9% 50.9% 51.1% 51.3% 51.3% 51.4%

30 North Bay village 49.0% 49.0% 49.1% 49.3% 49.3% 49.4%

31 Indian Creek 47.2% 47.2% 47.2% 47.2% 47.2% 47.2%

32 Surfside 44.3% 44.4% 44.5% 44.6% 44.6% 44.7%

33 Miami Beach 42.5% 42.6% 42.8% 43.0% 43.1% 43.1%

34 Sunny Isles Beach 33.1% 33.2% 33.3% 33.5% 33.5% 33.5%

35 Bal Harbour 29.1% 29.2% 29.2% 29.4% 29.4% 29.5%

Jackson Health System

 

Giant JHS pharmacy fills 300,000 prescriptions, saved $10 million in savings for indigent patients, has $125 million budget, 

 

The public health trust is a giant of a pharmacy filling some 300,000 prescriptions a year at a cost of $125 million and resulted in an indigent healthcare reduction of some $10 million in preventative care for the indigent, said Vanessa Goodnow at a recent all day committee meeting. The women “is passionate about Jackson,” as well as her team she said, and she is associate Vice President Chief Pharmacy Officer for JHS.

 

>>> I want to apologize to my readers and supporters, I am still dealing with an eye issue, I am taking drops, but it makes it hard to write. The physician is confident it will resolve and next week. I should be back in action and to my sponsors thank you for the continued support with all my heart in these tough times. 

 

Further, with President Donald J. Trump coming down with COVID-19 and being hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center and will be hopefully Ok. 

 

However, if my mild COVID case in February is any example. He may have fatigue, lack of concentration and I still have an eye issue, and occasionally chills as is the case now but no temperature, and possible brain fog. Your sleep is not as deep, and no dreaming seems to be the case and my lower back is tender and I am wondering if all my years in Asia in the 1970’s 1980s when I was in China and India extensively and came back a couple of times sick after these trips when the countries were not developed as they are now and I wonder if these past exposures make me more vulnerable to COVID symptoms and have stayed home and watched the virtual  meetings  of governments and elected leaders staff need to watch these meetings because a  number of people are very uninformed about what the county for example is doing with the Care act funding as municipalities struggle with their budgets including Miami for inter government communication is critical during the pandemic and funding is tight, as well as with the public school district as the community tries to wrestle with this public health crisis. With calls for a health officer public institutions should consider Dr.Lilliana V. Rivera the Florida local health department director  and while retired she offered to come back during this public health crisis and she knows the community and could be a great resource.

 

I apologize to my supporters for the lack of WDR production as I try to clear this virus though on Tuesday I did get my senior flu shot and that may have aggravated my health and I can’t wait to get over this aggressive virus looking for a host and as Chris  Wallace of Fox, said “wear a d…m mask,” he said,  Thursday and suggested the wild debate has given him “PTSD,” and has not watched it since. 

 

A discussion on mental health and Jackson Health System revealed the system has a mobile mental crisis van that should be tied to the 311 switchboard since suicides and domestic violence is on the rise, said county commissioner Sally Heyman last week.

 

Will Florida governor’s gamble opening Phase 3 no fines for not wearing masks cause COVID cases upturn, worries physicians

 

What is Gov. Ron DeSanto’s thinking by stopping people being fined for not wearing a face mask that thank goodness works to slow the positivity rate but has become a political statement for many  and is seen at Trump events where many are without masks  But will this change increase positivity of COVID-19 cases and slow the reopening of the economy take even longer?

 

>>>> Baptist has zoom meeting on Breast Cancer and free mammograms with top physician speakers’ part of community service the not-for-profit health system provides and has low cost CT scans for lung cancer. The Baptist Health Foundation is holding a zoom meeting with top physicians discussing Breast Cancer and for more info go to: https://baptisthealth.net/en/giving/pages/classesandeventsdetails.aspx?ceid=c20898fc-019c-424a-8da8- And to request a mammogram at Baptist go to www.BaptistHealth.net  /Breast Health. 

https://www.miamidadeig.org/inspector-general/home.page

 

The Watchdog Report hopes a number of my sponsors renew their support ( which they are saying they will and I thank them so much for that confidence) and I know everyone has many financial demands in the world of COVID-19 but the WDR is a  low budget very efficient monitor of our government in this unusual time and government in many ways is getting a pass in their legislative capacity. Here is how to support the WDR in this time of need where readers have been so supportive thank you

 

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/   Watchdog Report 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 There is a national story done on the WDR: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341 _1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american      

Thank God wearing masks and other measures are working, should have not become a political statement, but a good public health safeguard

 

Thank God wearing a mask and social distancing bringing down the number of new cases as some 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 as the stricter health guidelines continue to bring the infection rate down. However, these steps should have been taken at the very beginning but became a political issue and statement of one’s political leanings that has left the economy in shambles, and now we have the Bob Woodward book on President Donald J. Trump, called “Rage” hitting the bookshelves including hours of recorded conversations with the veteran White House reporter. 

 

Further for me this time pandemic could be the demise of the Watchdog Report since some sponsors have not reupped theirs support though I understand how tough times are for almost most families and businesses.

 

>>>Mayoral candidates should donate excess campaign funds to 2020 to get counted outreach groups since under count seems to be looming

 

With Miami-Dade County having a low 2020 Census response rate 59 percent compared to the rest of the nation at 62.1 percent on July 14, 2020. 

 

This undercount is why I started the WDR back  in 2000 when people had their dog chase census enumerators and only saw people from the government not the commerce department after the extraction of the young Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez inflamed the community  and the undercount was significant and cost us millions in federal dollars versus over states that had a much higher count percentage than locally. This undercount stayed with us all decade as hospitals were overwhelmed with uninsured patients and Jackson Health System giving some $400,000 million in indigent care. 

 

The correct count Census undercount back in 2010 cost the city of Miami some $81 million and perhaps some congressional redistricting. Further the commerce department is reducing the time to count and we as a community must go into overdrive, despite COVID-19, the presidential election, and other issues.  the report is slightly dated

 

I am still having a medical issue with my eye which is why the report is slightly dated and to support the WDR go to I hope it will be cured in a couple of days.

 

>>>>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

 

>>>> The leadership On the PHT trust board has changed since Chairman Joe Arriola was termed out and he did not receive a waiver from the county commission. The new Chair is William J. Heffernan, and the Vice Chair is Dr. Walter T. Richardson. The other trustees on the seven-member trust board Treasurer. Nicholas X. Duran, Amadeo Lopez-Castro, III, and Tony Argiz., Laurie Nuell, Secretary, Carmen Sabater

 

>>> Candidates are rare at early voting sites; mayoral campaign money tops $12 million are candidates for sale? A lot of money will it be lobbyist heaven at county?

 

During this past week I have been going to county early voting sites and on Thursday at the Westchester Regional Library I saw many campaign supporters not wearing masks when they huddled together in a scrum. 

 

For that reason I spent Saturday going to the regional voting site again and now everyone was masked but social distancing went by the wayside and last week I was concerned these actions might become community spreader events and candidates should make sure there supporters follow good public health guidelines.

 

However, finding actual candidates is as rare as a Florida panther sighting and the only mayoral candidate at the regional facility was county commissioner Estephan “Steve” Bovo, Jr. with mask. However, the mayoral campaigns are getting ugly and a campaign flyer I got had Bovo and Xavier Suarez detailed as “two peas in a pod,” since both had faced calls of ballot fraud in past elections.

 

What is mind boggling is that $12 million has been raised by the candidate field and could portend more corruption and while Alex Penelas says he cleaned up the Port of Miami is was the corrupt Carmen Lunetta. Here is a link to remind you of the port corruption federal trial that I attended back then because commissioners were using it as a piggy bank for special projects and millions flowed to politicians back in 1999.

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/the-man-who-caught-carmen-6360609

 https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=miamidade&c=miamidade 

 

What about voter turnout?

 

Voting by mail is immensely popular and some 90 percent cast are by that method. In my case I cast my ballot by hand dropping it off at an early voting sites ballot box and voter enthusiasm is high given the many municipal elections including school board races. However, with the election Tuesday I think several incumbents and perennial candidates are going to lose some of these races and voters question the concept of political dynasties. Since voting I have had regrets since I learned some new things and is why so many people vote traditionally on election day. 

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/florida-vote-by-mail-ballots-dominate-early-voting/ar-BB17PRJ5

 

What about deputy mayor Jennifer Moon?

 

Municipal mayors are carping they are not receiving their due of federal Care Act funding some $474 million in federal relief funding and they are going after deputy mayor Jennifer moon one of the most competent county employees when it comes to county money and understands the 77 streams of county funding some $9 billion. She is sticking to her guns and not allowing this money to be used as a slush fund for municipalities. She recently said that in fact “she had not received information [required] from a handful of cities,” she told commissioners. Moon who balances her own checkbook monthly  is unfairly being attacked since any irregularities in how the money is being spent is the county’s liability and is why the budget department has set aside $35 million in reserves and with a Sept.30 timeline for the funds to be expanded that includes $108 million for basic needs $50 million for economic stimulus and $60 million for public health she told commissioners in a presentation Tuesday. Moon’s Management and Budget Office is one of the most complex and professional in the 27,000-employee county.

 

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo even took a shot Thursday at the county. He suggested the way some of these funds are being used for pollical reasons by county officials running for office. He notes if Miami commissioners had used “these public dollars in such a way,” there would be a “demand for investigations that would be non-stop.” He carped “its people’s money.” He suggests and he is “seeing more and more by the county and it is really shocking,” and the county ‘is trying to undermine Mayor Francis Suarez and the majority of us.” He said that includes “even attacking are families,” he charged. At the commission meeting 

 

What about all the virtual zoom meetings? 

 

The two-dimensional zoom meetings and decisions need to be reviewed after the pandemic is over some suggest in two years for the present system is ripe for corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse and individually the FBI just busted a fraud scheme

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/three-south-florida-residents-who-participated-24-million-covid-relief-fraud-scheme And here is another fraud scheme busted https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/florida-man-charged-miami-federal-court-submitting-fraudulent-claims-unemployment

 

Something back in 2,000 was not happening when Miami-Dade had almost 100,000 people without health insurance inundating hospitals. For the current state go to https://caringforsouthflorida.org/ for more go to:https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/commissioner-says-local-democrats-wont-stop-him-from-tweeting-about-hydroxychloroquine/ar-BB17VYKe?ocid=uxbndlbing >> https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/08/11/social-media-posts-by-miami-beach-commissioner-ricky-arriola-push-controversial-takes-on-covid-19/

 

What about Dr Lawrence Feldman?

 

https://floridianpress.com/2020/07/justin-koren-appears-to-move-in-with-grandma-to-run-for-office/

Dr. Lawrence Feldman is leaving the  school board but there is a question if he actually lives in the District 9, seat  and the man on Wednesday at the school board meeting made a big deal of “130 schools having no audit exceptions,” and is  a real feat he said. 

Feldman essentially told the media when it came to his residency that it was no one’s busines where he sleeps but blogger Elaine Del Valle did a great analysis of where Feldman lives. Here is that story: https://www.politicalcortadito.com/2020/07/15/shameless-nancy-lawther-lies-stays-mum-on-mentors-fake-residence/

And here is his bio:

http://district9.dadeschools.net/biography.html

 

>>> Press release: Miami-Dade County is partnering with United Way of Miami-Dade to provide short-term assistance for basic living expenses through The Miami-Dade Pandemic Assistance Program. 

 

The program aims to provide hard-working individuals and families with assistance for necessities such as food, utilities, childcare, medical expenses, and rental assistance, among others. If you have experienced a significant loss of income, become unemployed, underemployed and/or experienced unexpected expenses as a result of COVID-19 and are a resident of Miami-Dade County, you can apply for assistance by visiting: https://apply.unitedwaymiami.org/submit. 

 

For further information and assistance, residents may call 305-646-7068.

 

Further, I was there when his father was briefly a mayor again until a judge nullified the election because of voter irregularities and Manny Yip voting even thought he had died. Suarez the senior was not charged but why would his son want to bring attention to his finances in the middle of a countywide race where voters hope his dad  is “stable” after he earned the moniker “mayor Loco,” for some of the outlandish things he did as mayor and it took years and his son to rehabilitate his political reputation and his son could have run as Xavier but ran as Francis he once told the watchdogreport. The issue of outside income can be a political minefield and has caught up many wayward politicians and the ethics commission should review these documents because some are so blatant in their omissions. 

 

What about Suarez campaign for mayor?

 

Xavier Suarez a former Miami mayor that got the moniker “mayor loco, “after he visited the home of a women who wrote him a critical letter. He also went through 10 possible managers including Frank Rollason back then that included a judge ruling a mayoral election was invalid after widespread voter fraud was found though Suarez was not implicated. He is running  as an independent, even though years ago he tried to become the Republican Party chairman but lost to Mary Ellen Miller, and while his son Francis the Miami mayor is trying to keep his distance believing a countywide race is no easy contest. Here is the list of mayoral candidates and the hefty fundraising numbers by the candidates which is a bit worrisome. Editor’s note: his campaign is not very visible and has the attitude he will win despite the polls.

>>> COVID infections rise could be predicted after lax enforcement during lockdown seen, In Miami-Dade that elected leaders ignored non-compliance,( now a $100.00 civil fine), and ordering masks be worn were not enforced hospitals losing patient capacity, we’re lucky we have health systems that can handle the staggering new cases causing exhaustion of healthcare workers. Finally, a civil fine a host of county departments personnel involved, should help flatten the curve, but was it too late as numbers continue to surge. 

 

With COVID admissions rising at an unprecedented rate. It is clear the lockdown was not long enough and during that time with no enforcement the virus spread like wild fire and it was obvious to all that the CDC guidelines were being ignored by a broad segment of south Florida residents seen hanging together with no masks and not social distancing and because of this past lack of enforcement we may need another shutdown as these numbers surge to a point of potentially no return. Here is an update what Baptist Health is facing under this new on slot of patients and the public JHS.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244122857.html

 

Also, the county police are now get involved and people can get a $100.00 civil fine if not wearing a mask. However people are still having COVID parties and more public personalities need to do public service ads that this is serious and is the only way the community as a whole can return to some amount of normalcy and will  assist in getting the schools open in a community that is testing at some 26.3 percent with the virus said 

 

What about the Penelas attempt to get a one-cent sales tax approved?

 

Further, People forget back in 1999 that Penelas supported a full cent sales tax but that was odd. Since it was on the ballot on an obscure late July ballot day when few people were in town and commissioners discussed how putting the item on such an obscure date. It had a better chance to pass. However, it failed 2/1 after Norman Brahman ran one ad against it pointing out how sneaky it was of the county to have it on such a date.

 

Further, people forget about the Miami Herald Series “The wheel of Fortune series,” detailing how friends of Penelas got favored contracts at MIA and many are contributing to the Penelas campaign. It was under Penelas that the county really exploded in the need for a lobbyist if a company wanted a county contract. Further, the series by the Herald had community leaders calling for a authority to run MIA, but that effort failed when outsider MIA director Angela Gittens signed a petition and a story appeared in the Herald about her signing and she told commissioners back then that MIA  was “lobbyist heaven,” and she was eventually fired as MIA director after drawing the wrath of commissioner Natasha Seijas on the dais.

 

Further Penelas  appointed Steve Shiver as manager after highly respected Merritt Stierheim retired after Penelas won re-election back in 2000 in a tight race against Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, bar owner Jay Love and the voters were divided along ethnic lines with Love getting some 18 percent of the Anglo vote. 

 

Shiver’s assistant manager Tom David’s wife suddenly got a job at JHS in the executive office and I would watch her doing her nails. It was not till later that I learned about the relationship for this cushy job at the health trust. 

 

200,000 Miami resident’s driver licenses are suspended

 

A commission subcommittee discussed the number of people with suspended licenses not for reckless driving but for not paying a fine on time. The county in the course of a year gives out 900,000 tickets and since the clerk’s office is partially funded by these tickets that have a “40 percent surcharge if goes to a collection agency, said judge Steve Leifman at a commission subcommittee on disparity in the community. These unpaid fines turn into felonies that follows a person the rest of their life the jurist noted and with COVID it is clogging up the courts said Leifman. Unfortunately, the only real solution has to be done by the state and legislature re the high fines used to create revenue for the clerk’s office but given Miami drivers many sometimes do not even know they have an outstanding tickets and notification should be required suggested the jurist known for his work on mental health reforms in the 11th  judicial circuit.

 

What about the bike trails at a TPO meeting Friday?

 

FDOT at a TPO meeting Friday did a presentation on the planned “197 miles of bike,” trails planned and only 3 percent of the lanes will be buffered.  

 

>>> Finally, Trump says wearing mask is OK precaution as COVID cases surge through the south, all government employees must ask people to wear a mask, because not working currently, even in front of Miami city hall Friday, could COVID sound trucks used with hurricanes  in neighborhoods increase mask wearing? 

 

Finally, President Trump suggests people wear masks as COVID numbers soar. Since coming out of the clampdown and young people are not getting the message and some are even holding coronavirus parties, helping to cause the spike along with e recent holidays. Editor’s Note: Maybe the county and municipalities should consider using sound trucks urging people to wear masks, it is the law, and you can be fined. Because the current system is not getting the compliance, we need to flatten the curve that has a life of its own.

 

One sees many people in a group sans mask and all government workers need to gently remind people it is a new countywide ordinance and noncompliance only allows COVID (currently 20%) to take a greater hold through community spread. Further many elected leaders wear the mask wrong by not covering their nose which was the case when mayoral candidate Xavier Suarez, giving blood did a television interview and Suarez has a nasal issue since he sniffs a  lot when speaking into a microphone. 

 

>> Mayor’s July 1, financial disclosure lists no income as of counsel at law firm, talks about transparency, yet many secrets, may be a one term mayor, father’s county mayoral race may impact his future, 

 

His son Francis the mayor of Miami is also working the media circuit talking  about how he was criticized for taking strong measures trying to tamp down the spread of COVID, that needs to be bumped up to the highest level given the rise in positive tests and keeping the community in lockdown will not  allow the economy open up. As the community’s financial resources are being stretched to the breaking point and includes the feeding of seniors which will continue but through different organizations, like Catholic Charities.

 

One example was on Friday at Miami city hall on dinner  key that I stop by at almost every day to monitor what is going on and at 2:00 p.m. a group of six young people one with July Fourth bunting on a sash gathered and talked all without masks and a city worker walking by said nothing and  it is time to activate every compliance capability we have for today was another increase and when it comes to the public’s medical jewel Jackson Health System. The trust had a “$16 million loss,” in reduction of half-cent-sales taxes collected, CEO Carlos Migoya recently said on WPLG 10 and has 318 COVID patients. He noted many new patients are younger and sicker, and from “lower income areas,” the former banker said, and his team has made JHS one of the finest public hospital systems in the nation undergoing a $830 million bond infrastructure upgrade. For more go to: https://jacksonhealth.org/library/procurement/GOB-Brochure_web.pdf

 

A “virus looking for a host,” is how many physicians describe COVID-19 and with community spread cases  becoming a political issue and is seen nationally where many in leadership are sans masks and the local numbers are staggering and finally some consequences can be applied to unmasked people in public because clearly community spread is causing these new spikes. After the past lockdown. Wear a mask is a must if the community is not to shut down again and ‘we can only end it together,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci recently.

 

What about the Miami-Dade County hospital systems coalition?

 

Miami-Dade is lucky to have the array of healthcare facilities and the Miami-Dade County Healthcare Preparedness  Coalition shows the breadth of healthcare in the county and these health systems  working together in the pandemic are Baptist Health, Nickolas Children’s Hospital Health System, public Jackson Health System that has an affiliation with the University of Miami and U Health and all are working on treatments and research on a possible vaccine. The fact these institutions are working together to overcome this scourge that is also stressing these health facilities staff and finances is encouraging for all of us in this stressful time and everyone’s mental health is put to a test.

 

Here are the new COVID numbers for Sunday: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243854907.html?utm_medium=push_alert&utm_source=pushly&intcid=%7B%7D

 

And check out this national story on me that ran in all the Tribune papers back in 2003.

: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american          

 

What about the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust?

 

The trust’s board meeting recently revealed that the organization is dealing with a $1.7 million gap,” after “$7.2 million,” in cuts on its $25.5 million operational budget and since revenues are down since no food and beverage tax collections after the lockdown and the trust has 28 households at the Chapman Homeless Center and another 31 households t another site. As COVID roams freely among the homeless population. Editor’s note: With government budget meetings  coming up virtually finance people need to make sure the spreadsheets are easy to read because at the trust it was almost impossible to read the numbers and a larger font size would help.

 

>>> Mayor Suarez finally orders people to wear masks or be fined should have occurred much sooner given the visible lack of compliance by residents that was readable seen  

 

Recently, Suarez partied in a packed Swan restaurant on Wynwood shaking hands at the bar and no social distancing as he tells the media and public his decisions are based on science and public health data. Suarez, who speaks on the city’s cable station about the need he believes residents to obey the guidelines set by the CDC but when you are in the public eye. Actions speak louder than words…. And a photo of him with others not wearing masks has gone viral and could end any political future for him because hypocrites after COVID will be seen just as an empty suit by many and is a sad example for the public.

 

And with his father running for county mayor this is not good and suggests the two only want power not realizing that some one’s actions are important. This kind of behavior does not foster public faith in the man who has been nurtured by his father and the Cuban community, being the son of the first Cuban Mayor Xavier Suarez and. Also, he was interviewed today at 2:00 on MBC and he said a “crackdown of enforcement,” is being contemplated after the bar restaurant he was at was later shut down by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. 

 

>>> The road of death Krome Ave. getting $260 million widening and truck bypass funded by FDOT 18 vehicular homicides in 2018

 

An 86-mile strip of road in west Dade Krome Ave., that has had dozens of people die in car crashes has been undergoing a $260 million transformation. FDOT on Thursday told the county’s Transportation Planning Board the project is moving quickly and includes a truck bypass, bike, pedestrian lanes, and audible vibration slowing ridges. The project was first pushed back in 2014 and is desperately needed as the number of grieving mothers has only increased and in 2018. There were “18” vehicular deaths and commissioner Dennis Moss praised FDOT for the good job they’re doing on the project noting that commissioners in the past had cared about FDOTs slowness see eighth street construction in Miami that is taking forever. Here is just one of the tragedieshttps://miami.cbslocal.com/video/2926964-three-people-dead-in-fiery-crash-on-krome-avenue/

 

Moss termed out has qualified as a candidate for school board District 09 seeking to be a board member. Moss was honored for his pushing the South Dade Cultural Arts Center being built and is extremely popular with the residents in the south Dade.

 

>>> U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Ballart, R-Miami, was reelected unopposed recently after the deadline passed. The man is a policy and transportation maven in the congress and along with the rest of the south Florida congressional delegation all support passing some DACA legislation after the recent supreme court ruling blocking a presidential executive order as wrong.

 

Diaz- Balart first went to congress after the 2000 census created a new house district and the former state legislator has a sprawling district.

 

>>>> Baptist Health South Florida is teaming up with Goodwill industries to create hospital care-kits to prevent COVID-19 and the to see a show on the subject go to:

https://wsvn.com/news/local/baptist-health-teams-up-with-goodwill-to-create-hospital-care-kits-to-prevent-covid-19/   https://www.goodwill.org/    

 

>>> Here is a candidate list of people running for office and their fundraising numbers 

https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=miamidade&c=miamidade

 

>>>>Miami-Dade County supplied the elderly with 2.4 million meals after community centers closed because of COVID-19, shows how dependent are seniors are as the pandemic continues and is costing millions to keep most vulnerable alive. However can this level of funding be sustained as food lines continue and could the $20 million slated for the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse be diverted to feed the needy, yes its bond money but feeding people in this emergency climate  would only result in a SEC fine also Joe Adler’s death adds to the issue. Further, people forget a poison pill was added to the state contract that the theater had to be operating by 2021 or it would revert to the state and become “surplus property.”

 

>>> The Watchdog Report must raise money and I will return next week and to my supporters thank you for your past support. Further Zoom meetings are showing what a two-dimension binary political life looks like and there is little nuance on many hot button issues facing governments from the halls of the senate to the county commission. 

 

>>> Jackson has first monthly $32 million loss in April as elective surgery is banned

 

The Jackson Health System for the first time in months in April after elective surgeries were stopped the public health system lost $32 million and has 52 days cash on hand and since the ban on elective surgery is lifted the health trust should begin bouncing back that includes a line of credit with the county 

 

>>>>Since 2002 2,700 synchronized traffic lights technology on pause, new $152 million contract to Siemens saves $160 million top county lobbyist’s battle it out passes 4/8, eight lobbyist involved in process, Bovo calls it a “food fight,” one of the problems with county procurement

 

Since 2002 the public has been promised synchronized traffic lights contract some 3,000 of them was finally achieved Tuesday. When county commissioners voted 8 to 4 to go with the Siemens $152 million Bid versus Horsepower a politically connected company in Hialeah where a $160 million saving variance existed. and had  two of the top county lobbyist facing off former commission chair and state senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla representing Siemens and his foe was former state representative Miguel De Grandy who once lost an election by one vote and was instrumental in creating the county’s Domestic Violence Board in the state capita and both are Republicans. 

 

Commissioner Estephan “Steve ”Bovo, Jr, who calls these bid disputes  a commission “food fight,” and is running for county mayor in November along with commissioner Xavier Suarez a former Miami mayor in the political wastelands  for years and tried once to be chair of the Miami-Dade Republican Party and during this discussion. Suarez suggested that because of COVID “people are using cars less and suggested we “could go to free public transit,” he considered. That comment had Bovo ask when “Suarez had become Bernie Sanders.” Suarez also suggested the county just “do sealed bids open in the public like was done years ago in Miami, he suggested and would eliminate the need for “special masters.” 

 

However, the argument was a hearing examiner comments that the awarding was “capricious and arbitrary,” which mayor Carlos Gimenez “disagreed with,” the findings and wanted the savings of the lower bid that has no “change orders, and the contract was approved 5/4 finally.

 

>>> People are not wearing masks and government needs to do verbal warnings if the re-opening is to be successful or possible a small fine for, I am seeing little compliance  

 

At a Miami-Dade County commission meeting recently commissioner Estephan “Steve” Bovo, Jr. and head’s up the 2020 Census task force told his peers some of the response rates among the county’s 34 municipalities and Aventura is doing terrible re the census count coming in at some “41 percent” response rate and Miami Beach is tracking at 33 percent response rate said Bovo one of the county mayoral candidates. He said Florida is tracking at a 54.3 percent response rate and the county is tracking at 50.9 percent now that the count is going off pause. Palmetto Bay is doing very well coming in at 69.3 percent said Bovo.

 

Further, in the 1950s having fuzzy dice hanging on your rearview mirror was common but in today’s world it is a surgical mask and whether to wear one or not has become a political statement and the issue of enforcement is looming if we are to tamp down this relentless virus.

 

>>> The Miami Commission held a special commission meeting Thursday to review how the Miami. Dade county Homeless Trust utilizes its some $67 million budget and how it is dealing with the COVID-19 homeless on the streets. 

 

Miami 25-years ago had some 10,000 homeless in Miami and even had a mayor before the trust was created. Currently there are some 1,000 homeless on the street. However this meeting and participants were able to explain about the lack of accurate information out in the community and Commissioner Manalo Reyes in particular was not well informed and for many homeless there is “housing resistance,” even when there are rooms available and is a daunting problem.

 

Why are there so many trust’s in Miami? Trusts from the Public Health Trust or Miami Bayfront Park Trust?

 

The many trusts were created usually After a scandal and was a way to lesson public officials’ interference which back in 2000. Commissioners at the county transferred some $70 million in county expenses for medical care in the jails into the trust at a time it was hemorrhaging money because of the millions in charity care.

 

Further, while in this new normal my reports will be shorter since I am still weak and occasionally achy.

 

>>>> Celebrating 20-years of weekly publishing and I thank all my past supporters 

this Platinum Anniversary

. 

Twenty years ago this Tuesday I started the Watchdog Report as  a weekly report every Sunday, unless I had technical computer issue or was sick since I had two significant health issues during those years and while we are facing a new challenge COVID-19. My goal was to get these major public institutions to know what they were doing since they were like ships at sea and not communicating with each other and wasting money with a ground swell of corruption and scandal thrown in. 

 

However, given the circumstances the saving of precious tax dollars is even more imperative, and some elected leaders are not handling the crisis well. Further, Miamians are not following social distancing and are rarely wearing masks and becomes  a new aspiration, “like stopping at a stop sign or paying all your taxes,” said U.S. District Judge  Patricia Seitz   when she was sentencing the de Cespedes brothers for Medicare fraud and  years ago ears I attended the Miami-Dade County Commissioner’s James Burke corruption trial and so much more especially when one uses their own money. I would arrive early and stay late and knew where there was free food at public meetings, and I wrote a story on eating my way through government.

 

Further, had the little Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez not arrived I would not be doing this for a turning point was seeing a photo in The Miami Herald with homestead residents with confederate flags and African Americans shouting F…k the Cubans,” and we as a community had crossed a line that included the 1994 English in government only ordinance passed and rescinded  later in the decade but it split the different ethnic groups like never before and reporter Vanessa Garcia wrote a great piece on how the media covered the story.

https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/the-story-of-elian-gonzalez-20-years-later-11625579 

 

MY dad Arthur J. Ricker, M.D. used to say, “You are either a physician or you’re not,”

and was not something you could say which is legal in Florida until you do

something clinical but in Miami I have heard people say they were when chatting up a

woman generally

 

The good news is social distancing is working, something that the nation did not know with new cases down but deaths for the vulnerable Americans are slowing but have taken a great human toll. The term thinning out the boomers is a new  catch phrase ( being promoted by people who want to open the nation before testing is more prevalent) and makes me wonder why so many millennials still gather in groups many times on bicycles and why their generation’s death rate is lower.

here are needs during this pandemic 

 

Opening the nation early? 

 

May you and your family have a safe and reflective Thanksgiving  Day, while the globe tries to work through this new normal that has killed some 100,000 people around the planet. I currently have a mild case of Covid -19, (no fever but a wet cough and a little tired along with pink eye) and that could help you diagnose if you also have contracted it.  As well as the CDC at www.cdc.gov  with the symptoms . Further, I had the symptoms over a month ago but still have fatigue, GI issues, aches, and pains and in general feel off. 

 

Further, local government are having meetings virtually and while not perfect given the circumstances elected leaders appear more somber given the dramatic financial reductions of revenues and while Miami-Dade  has 34 municipalities, it is the county that is the big challenge with some 22 billion in bond debt (an estimate) and some $1million a day in debt payments for the MIA bonds (now a ghost town) after the forever $6.2 billion MIA expansion started in the mid-1990s and almost killed MIA director Jose Abreu, who once said “I am out of gas,” after county commissioners pounded him verbally and he was trying to clear up past mistakes, that were overruns in the millions.

 

Further, the nation is seeing the important work of first responders, nurses, and physicians and when this health disaster is over many of these hard-working people will need some PTSD treatments given these professionals unable to wind down after their shift. However, the lack of PPE is unacceptable and clearly the national emergency stockpile of protective gear was inadequate and needs to be beefed up. “Social distancing is the new watchword,” and “shelter in place,” fist conceived in the 1950’s during the cold war on Civil Defense and included the jingle when you see the flash duck and cover. But with an aggressive virus keep your distance and face covered is the new fashion trend. While the county’s Homeless Trust is dipping into it reserves The trust chirr Ron Book is trying to get tests to the Chapman homeless Assistance Center that a few weeks ago had no one testing positive yet at the facility said the organization’s CEO but that may have changed since.

 

Also with collapse of the American economy the printed media is under the gun and The Miami Herald  is fighting to continue and while many people complain about the paper The loss of this tremendous and important institution would be  devastating to Miami and South Florida as a whole and needs are support as reporters are exposed to perhaps asymptomatic people or using a ten-foot boom pole microphone as was the case recently with Miami Commissioner Ken Russell. 

 

Baptist Health South Florida is offering tele-medicine and corona virus information online https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/covid-19-testing  

For more info go to: https://baptisthealthcareondemand.net/landing.htm?utm_source=baptist&utm_medium=external%20comms&utm_campaign=covid_19_comms&%243p=a_custom_669592118389657940&~campaign=covid_19_comms&~secondary_publisher_name=external&_branch_match_id=760863008129786993

 

Here are the histories of past pandemics and both my father Arthur J. Ricker, M.D. and my grandfather, Otto Lee Ricker, M.D. dealt with past pandemics including the one from 1957 -1958 and my dad used to talk  to me about the quarantine process and why is was necessary and if you violated it I believe back then someone from the county’s health department might intervene and included diseases like small pox or the dreaded polio virus. Here are links to those past epidemics.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1957-1958-pandemic.html  

 

here is one from 2009:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-h1n1-pandemic.html  and here is the timeline for that more recent one

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-pandemic-timeline.html 

 

>>> Today is the Watchdog Report’ 20th issues this year and when I started back in 05.05.00, having a 20-year platinum anniversary. I never imagined I would be doing this weekly publication for 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. Further, the Esserman family gave $2.5 million to help The Miami Herald do investigative journalism and is asking for not-for-profit news organizations to apply to the Miami Foundation for possible grants, and these investigators should look at all the public institutions simultaneously for after 20-years many are all related and reporters need to know the many players and lobbyists to help understand the story and the WDR would be happy to help in any way I can in explaining the lay of the political landscape.

 

>>>> Further, the antics at the City of Miami by commissioner Joe Carollo, and Xavier Suarez is why I started the WDR back in May 05, 2000 and a recall effort is gaining steam with former manager joe Arriola kicking in $100,000  to help get the signatures needed to call for a recall of the Dist. 3 commissioner who has commission meetings a must watch affair, unfortunately since Miami needs stability given are diverse  and poor sections of the city. 

 

Super Bowl Host chair Rodney Barreto gave Miami-Dade commissioners a update on the Super Bowl and the reviews for MIA and port of Miami suggest Miami could get another Super Bowl by “either 2025 or 2026,” he told commissioners and the Human trafficking initiative rescued “22 women,” he said.

Check out the Knight Foundation’s forum for engaged communities and news sources a great read.:https://knightfoundation.org/articles/knight-media-forum-how-to-strengthen local-news-serve-communities-and-support-democracy    

 

What about the Underline and alcohol for county special events at transit nodes?

 

For a special event the county is allowing kiosks BE set up along the underline and some could be near schools and churches given the county’s definition of what a special event is and did not involve a permanent  structures and would not be near residential homes said a underline Lobbyist. 

 

What about the scooters that terrorize pedestrians and race around the streets and cause some thousands of head injuries in ER’s?

 

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. Thank you, Dan

 

>>> Further in May. I had a surgery and the attendant bills have depleted my funds so if you feel the WDR is an asset to the community I need your help to continue with this fac 

Thank you Unfortunately, last week that did not happen, though some may be the mail even though I just must hang in there to March when new funding becomes available. But surviving to that month. I have not dealt with since 2004, after using some $300,000 of my own money, 

 

In this 20-year journey and all my historical knowledge. Especially since in Miami Commissioner joe Carollo has reverted back to his crazy self and is  determined to destroy the Miami commission where he has a new ally Alex Diaz de la Portilla ( who is getting a private bathroom in his commission office) and Carollo is not the calm commissioner Miami hoped for but is just another proxy on the dais for Carollo. On Thursday a whole new political dynamic has emerged with Carollo, 62 and DLP, 54 the new lions on the Miami plains and Mayor Francis Suarez is the gazelle and while Carollo keeps mentioning he has two degrees  from FIU one in international relations there is no mention of these on his biographies that I have searched twice. Further, Carollo suggested there was a concerted effort to embarrass him as a commissioner citing tweets between assistant city managers. Including not being invited to a United Way check presentation event and believes Suarez is orchestrating this disrespect to the body.

 

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 

 

>>> GMCVB press release: GMCVB Partners with Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce to Expand Reach of Miami Eats Program with Local TV Campaign

What about the rise of Domestic Violence and the number of homicides 44 in 2018 representing 14 to 15 percent of all homicides countywide?

 

On Wednesday, the county’s Domestic Oversite board met, and the body gets a percentage of the county’s food and beverage tax that also helps fund the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Ron Book the chair of the homeless trust is on the 15-member board and the DVOB members want a better understanding of programs that can be used by the organization. 

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

What about “big brother” privacy, with new 5G technology?

 

with the new 5G network infrastructure that includes a platform for license plate readers, video and other sensors and the information will be stored in the Miami police department but understands it could “wig,” people out personal freedom said Chief Jorge Colina. In the future these could include facial recognition used widely in China.

 

This technology allowed the police to identify a shooter in 30 minutes after a shooting at Kush in Wynwood and that is impressive, said Colina.

 

Gimenez will have  to dispel the perception he is aligned with ethics issues since his son J.C. is a major lobbyist and has represented a host of companies and the man’s taking some Super Bowl tickets after an ethics commission ruling I still being seen by the public as a problem and will haunt him in this congressional race.

 

M-DC: Special trustee meeting trustees give qualifications for search committee for a new president 

 

https://news.mdc.edu/where-the-oceans-meet-at-moad-named-among-top-20-exhibitions/ 

 

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

 

After 20-years I need community help to keep at this and know you have many demands on your finances but if you can please keep me going when you cannot. 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. radio 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, for some reason August 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: The WDR report will return next week. I need a break thank you for your support over the past 20-years. 

>>> 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

>>> Homeless dying on streets in Miami-Dade drops to 188 versus a high of over 200 souls last year

 

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust met and there was some good and bad news. Last year over 200people died on the streets many by opioids and fentanyl and the hard life on the street. For the past year that number dropped to 188 people passing and getting people a job and housing is the goal and the Chapman Partnership placed 158 people in jobs and an apprentice program pilot is being tested with FIU learning construction skills. 

 

>>> The public safety committee at the county passed a MOU with Pinellas County that has one of the, largest facial recognition data bases in Florida

 

A woman with Miami-Dade County police Department said the technology was a useful tool. Though county commissioner Daniella Levine Cava was concerned about “false positives,” many times happening “to people of color,” she said. For more on the technology go to:https://www.terabitweb.com/2019/11/08/florida-police-want-access-to-faces/ https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/florida-police-want-access-to-faces/ and here is the mayor’s memo on the matter.

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2019/192442.pdf 

 

Voter apathy high at municipal elections, corrosive to the republic

 

The low turnout of the municipal elections last week shows voter apathy is a continued problem in Miami races only 14.96 percent of eligible voters voted and while there are some runoffs this lack of turnout is corrosive to  our republic and local government has more impact on ones lives and family and while it could cost more too schedule these elections with the governor races or other high turnout elections and while the off year election theory is television ads would be cheaper. Which is valid but local government has a history of trying to slip an issue on a low turnout date like  at Miami-Dade county in 1989 when the county tried to get a one-cent transportation sales tax passed with the election in late July that year and it failed by 2 to one back then.

 

The City of Miami employees and lobbyist went through ethics training on Monday in the commission chambers and these classes should be broadcast on the city’s station. Robert Thompson teaches the course as the outreach coordinator. He gives hypothetical situations and asks the group of some 30 people if they know the answer, some of which are trick questions. 

 

However, a segment should apply to city attorney’s to intervene when board members during a recess might be discussing an earlier case after commissioner Joe Carollo testified a in front the civil service board members during a recess had an extensive conversation on the dais and the city attorney should discourage this sort of off the record communication that they attend in their city capacity and includes county attorney’s given the some 90 boards the county has where designated attorney’s attend.

 

Sunshine violations need to be investigated happening all over the municipalities some examples need to be found 

 

Here’s an introduction to the ethics commission’s new executive director Jose Arrojo, who came from the state’s attorney’s office.: http://miamidade.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=53238d78-7bf5-11e9-a084-0050569183fa 

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article238460178.html  

 

>>> Miami Loomis Park “hot zone,” for HEP A transmission, city employees being asked to get vaccinated  

 

Further the medical crisis of Hep A is still being dealt with the Florida Department of Health and is impacting Miami employees and Loomis Park is a “hot zone,” and employees are being asked to get voluntarily vaccinated by health professionals of this contagious virus  that is transmitted by human waste and rather than having public restrooms.  The trust says the solution is “permanent housing,” via the trust’s rent connect program. Further, cleaning of sidewalks making, and the cities are paying for the clean-up and sanitizing 

 

Miami has become a premier cancer care destination, UM & Baptist  $400 million Proton therapy celebrates 500 proton treated patients, 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.  

 

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 who no longer must go to north Florida to get this less damaging treatment than chemotherapy and is more precise for more go to: The institute just celebrated its 500th  Proton  treatment  recently and the technology was highlighted on PBS Friday night and is used for a variety of cancers something I did not know and leave nearby tissue alone versus radiation : https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/treatments-and-services/radiation-therapies/proton-therapy—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 https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/adultpatients/cancer-types/breastcancer/about

 

And when it comes to medical care early detection is key and as I age, I am becoming more cognizant of that fact.

 

Miami with two separate FBI Medicare fraud task forces and is “the graduate school of fraud,” and where new fraud beta sites are proven past U. S. attorneys have asserted over the years.

 

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 Village go to https://lotushouse.org/contact-us/   https://lotushouse.org/childrenfirst/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1J22jC2bBY  

 

>>>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.