Watchdog Report Vol.21 No.51 October 10, 2021 EST:05.05.00 – Celebrating 21-years of weekly publishing – I go when you cannot!
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, FL
Vol. 21. No. 51 October 10, 2021
Daniel A. Ricker, Publisher & Editor
www.watchdogreport.net & www.miamiherald.com/news/columnists/dan_ricker
Est. 05.05.00 I go when you cannot & a community education resource & news service
CONTENTS
Argus Report: heard Seen on the street:
PHT/ MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>> Peace in the valley, versus other times, as JHS, and SEIU union 1991, agree on new three-year union contract, costing $9.7 million, union nurse president Baker, grilled by commissioners Garcia, Martinez, on system requiring vaccinations, and any potential penalties, opening JHS up to national debate on vaccinations, despite hospital workers exhaustion given the onslaught of young patients, and thank God vaccines are working
CITY OF MIAMI: Suarez a prodigious fundraiser $6 million through July, says he is not selling out, but public may differ with such a large amount, not a profile in courage, discretion better part of valor, re police chief controversy, puts onus on manager, as he coasts to reelection, no real challenger, in pack – CORRECTION: Miami police Chief Art Acevedo was not fired Monday at a special commission meeting ( as I predicted last week), that was continued to this past Friday afternoon, when Joe Carollo came out verbally blazing with controversial accusations to the chief’s poor judgement in a salacious matter, which included photos, intoned Carollo. The man has also improved his acting skills as he pauses or plays with his reading glasses at the dais, stoking the tension up, until the next accusation against the chief. And his “henchman Javier Ortiz,” a controversial police officer who is also a favorite of the chief and that Ortiz is trying to ingratiate himself with the man by coming to his defense regarding a unreported potential damage to his leased city care, Mayor Francis Suárez not a profile in courage, decides discretion is the better part of valor, wants manager Noriega to sort out chief
Florida: With 2020 Census results, S. Florida, Orlando may pick up new congressional district map drawn-up by republican controlled legislature– Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman presiding over the litigation of the Champlin towers collapse is in the spotlight this week., jurist net worth for last year was $29 million, up from year before $28 million net state ethics commission documents and IRS 1040
Miami-Dade County: Independent Civilian Panel to hold first public meeting on Oct. 12 –New Fraud in South Florida, immigration attorney fraud, payment for non- services, threaten scammed with INS reporting, says county’s Hispanic affairs Bd. Chair. Is tenet advocate in the wings of county budget?
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> School Board Tuesday holds redistricting workshop, WDR was the only media at the public event not televised, draft maps drawn by Moreno and Ilcheva, from FIU – –
CITY Of MIAMI: Suarez a prodigious fundraiser $6 million through July, says he is not selling out, but public may differ with such a large amount, not a profile in courage, discretion better part of valor, re police chief controversy, puts onus on manager–
Miami Police Chief Acevedo, in hot seat Monday, not from Miami, but Houston, way to pick a fight with mayor Suarez, with Carollo leading the charge.–Civil service board upholds firing of whistle blower Nicholson, who claimed Miami Commissioner Alex de la Portilla “poked,” her and made her step back hurting her ankle, after dueling attorney’s Baldwin Vs. Menéndez battle it out suggesting camera video was tampered with, board votes to “exonerate everyone involved;” “upholding the termination of Nicholson,” by manager Noriega, says chair Sutton, complaint and accusations played out in media
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH: Voters will be asked if hotels, restaurants, should take part in the food & beverage tax, for funding county’s homeless trust & domestic violence agency, $5 million passed by county BCC for purchase of new residence building, for homeless trust, many, involve families not one to one, Ocean Beach hit with another murder of innocent tourist family father
Public Health Trust:
Community Events: THE Margulies Warehouse is open with new works https://www.margulieswarehouse.com & WLRN fundraiser, and Kristi House annual event
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
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Further, I have a touch of the Delta virus, sniffles, low grade fever, fatigue, and lack of taste and smell and getting vaccinated must be South Florida’s goal to end this terrible scourge that is hammering our healthcare systems. Further, young people who liken COVID-19 to getting the flu had better check out what long haulers go through may not resolve itself. I know because I am one of those people with long term impacts and it is not pleasant and while the vaccine mitigates the severity residents must get vaccinated if we are ever getting back to normal. Here are two links on the consequences of covid in the long run and it is not pleasant and more medical studies are ongoing.
COVID ‘Long Haulers’: Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 | Johns Hopkins Medicine:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects.html
Further, I am doing an investigative story on my time in a nursing home and later an assisted living facility, and what I observed during the month-long time I lived at these two institutions will be written about including medical staff qualifications, that varied in a variety of ways and I am just glad to have left them before anything negative happened to me while I was there. Both places were for profit and that was very apparent. Update: During my month at a nursing home in Kendall I noticed a number of things. One was a food receipt on the food tray but not the food, but probable still billed to Medicare. And at an assisted living facility in Broward. I was being treated by people with unknown medical credentials. Further, since February when I had a mild case of COVID, I have rarely gotten a deep sound sleep, which was rare for me.
>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner. 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
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.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>> Peace in the valley, versus other times, as JHS, and SEIU union 1991, agree on new three-year union contract, costing $9.7 million, union nurse president Baker, grilled by commissioners Garcia, Martinez, on requiring vaccinations, and any potential penalties, opening JHS up to national debate on vaccinations, despite hospital workers exhaustion given the onslaught of patients.
The county commission Tuesday approved a new professional 2020-2023, contract with SEIU 1991 and the Jackson Health System, which encompasses some 1,176 professional employees and will cost $9.7 million over a three-year period state public document. At the commission two commissioners Rene Garcia and Joe Martinez and had Garcia a healthcare maven when he was a state senator while moving the item objected to getting the document so late before the vote and said in the future, he will not support items coming so late to the body too review and approve.
Martinez took a different tac asking union president Martha Baker, R.N., what the facilities policy was regarding getting vaccinated and masks?
Martinez wanted to know if the staff “in his opinion was [under] some unfair treatment,” at JHS. Baker, responded that in dealing with the pandemic, “it was a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” She concluded and noted some “80 percent,” of staff was vaccinated and masks were required in the facility and she noted the ICU nurses were “exhausted,” as a new wave of patients 18 to 20-year old’s,” were being treated, she responded. She reiterated when asked if the requiring of vaccinations were a unreasonable mandate?
The nurse many times the public face of Jackson said she did “not understand,” that line of questioning and while the vaccine and masks where “controversial issues,” said chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz noting these are healthcare worker and long time Jackson supporter Rebeca Sosa moved the contracts approval and the contract passed with no objections. Which has not always been the case. And had Sosa “wanting to commend all at Jackson reaching a agreement with the administration, something not always the case decades ago and is another feather in CEO Carlos Migoya management hat. To read the contract go to:Approved Mayor (miamidade.gov) Approved Mayor (miamidade.gov) Approved Mayor (miamidade.gov) Approved Mayor (miamidade.gov) Approved Mayor (miamidade.gov)
CITY OF MIAMI CORRECTION: Miami police Chief Art Acevedo was not fired Monday at a special commission meeting ( as I predicted last week), that was continued to this past Friday afternoon, when Joe Carollo came out verbally blazing with controversial accusations to the chief’s poor judgement in a salacious matter, which included photos, intoned Carollo. The man has also improved his acting skills as he pauses or plays with his reading glasses at the dais, stoking the tension up, until the next accusation against the chief. And his “henchman Javier Ortiz,” a controversial police officer who is also a favorite of the chief and that Ortiz is trying to ingratiate himself with the man by coming to his defense regarding a unreported potential damage to his leased city car.
The former Miami mayor noted his experience with a past police chief Donald Warsaw back in 1999, who later went to jail, as his credentials to make these claims of hypocrisy and “do as I say not as I do.” He also said, that “Acevedo six times had asked him if he was CIA? “ The only other person who brings up CIA involvement in his life is county Commissioner Javier Souto. Carollo in 2002 at the Elephant Forum a republican issues luncheon where Carollo running for mayor again back then told the luncheon crowd. That after 9/11, he had personally “stopped an airliner crashing into Turkey Point, because of his contacts, with the CIA.”
And Carollo mocking the chief reminded the public of his “refrain,” in the media quoted the chief saying, “if you lie, you die,” was the chief’s mantra said Carollo. The chief seen on the second floor of city hall did not come down and refute any of the attacks and the young mayor Suarez,43, up for reelection in November is said to have presidential aspirations and may explain why he wanted a strong mayor form of government (so he could actually do something) since he does not manage the city, done by the manager he chooses and the commission confirms. Suarez, was invisible while his top cop faced a wood chipper of verbal accusations including he took out “the GPS in undercover police vehicles and a host of others,” which Carollo suggested was a bit odd for the “Great Reformer,” who has a host of other controversial issues if someone had just Goggled him that manager Art Noriega said “was not done,” in the beginning.
That fact opened up this can of worms that Carollo is driving a trailer truck through, and the chief is facing the Miami slow political twisting in the wind. Something, we are known to periodically do, and he will soon be gone, especially after the “Cuban Mafia,” remark, coined by Castro to describe the Cuban dissenters in Miami, and was found to be highly offensive to the older Cuban exile community, that he never apologized too on the radio but by a tweet considered disrespectful by commissioners. And for more on the media loving chief go to: Why Is Art Acevedo Leaving Houston? – Texas Monthly
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY Public Schools
>>> School Board Tuesday holds redistricting workshop, WDR was the only media at the public event not televised, draft maps drawn by Moreno and Ilcheva, from FIU
“Politics is local,” and that activity is never more so than redistricting after the 2020 Census. And on Tuesday the Miami-Dade County school board had a redistricting workshop in the school board chamber’s and was not televised and only I attended from the media at the board’s downtown location. The draft district maps were created by two redistricting consultants. Dario Moreno & Maria Ilcheva, both FIU redistricting consultants, and associate former county employee Guilermo Olmedillo, and the board’s attorney Walter Harvey, III, arranged for every decade required meeting after the census and is similar to how Miami-Dade County commissioners do their own much larger commission districts, under the guidance of their attorney’s office. Here is a link to the new nine district maps: http://redistricting.dadeschools.net/
Some board members had concerns and Dr. Marta Perez said she was unhappy with the Westchester area being split. Moreno noted it was split in the congressional map. Further the draft maps will be presented to the public for review in November and these meetings will be held in convenient locations. Over all the districts do not change that much when it comes to schools being located in the draft maps.
Anything odd happen to me?
I went into the board’s media room that is currently acting as a storage closet to work at the desk and a man followed me in and I explained who I was and he went to call Daisey Gonzalez the PIO for the district, but it would be nice to get the press room back, and the staffer was what I consider a standard issue public school employee with a dash of attitude.
Back in 2010, I attended the county’s redistricting meetings held in the 2nd floor commission conference room, and they had very spirited discussions, and Olmedillo also drew the maps back then for the 13 county commission districts that are much larger population than the school board districts.
Miami makes first move to criminalize being homeless with Carollo ordinance
Miami passed Thursday a first reading ordinance that will criminalize homeless that will not accept a shelter bed and blocks a pathway or an encampment. and if passed is of concern to homeless providers like the county’s homeless trust and its director Vickey Mallette has warned the commission that there is a potential it could impact the HUD funds, drawdown some $65 million granted by the federal agency that believes the trust is a national model with its commitment to a continuum of care. But has Carollo calling the homeless services a “business,” and given the amount of money spent $7 million. He said, “he was willing to buy a hotel or two,” saying the city has lots of land.
Miami staff also did a presentation on the city’s new homeless services and objectives which is to “provide a safe environment for these people in the shelters that usually have a boss in the population and is considered not safe. Carollo (net worth $1.7 million and owes Capital bank $292,565). Once told the media after his divorce in 2001 that “he was worth more dead than alive.” But like a phoenix he has financially bounced back that includes a house in Coconut Grove that has an estimated worth of $2.0 million. The man has also found a homeless ally in commissioner Manolo Reyes who also objects to these people sleeping on the street.
>>> PHT introduces 21-22 $8.6 billion budget, negotiated new labor agreement with SEIU 1919 employee union, costing $32 million, “significant outflow of nurses respiratory therapist,” trust in black for 21. “conservative,” budget that has “wiggle room,” over the next two budget cycles and needed adjustments given a less intensive COVID-19 caseload, “births high volumes, normal births, “says CFO Knight.
The Public Health trust unveiled its 21-22 $1.8 billion budget and has concluded a union labor contract that is fair to the public organization’s 13,000 employees especially in the competitive market for nurses and respiratory therapist. The budget was passed at the 2nd county’s budget hearing in September.
The trust has seen a “significant outflow of nurses and respiratory therapist,” said CFO Mark Knight at Tuesday’s public meeting in the commission chambers at government center and was televised with no public speakers during the public comment period. And shows the depth of the trust’s management team under CEO Carlos Migoya at his 11th year rung overseeing the heath care institution after years in banking before. He has great hiring skills and has built a formable team. The proposed budget will be wrapped in the county’s first public budget meeting Sept.14. The public hospital has also benefitted from a $830 million bond that “ has $2.2 billion of that spent,” said Knight.
He noted nurses are getting $200.000 a hour in the competitive healthcare Environment, dealing with COVID-19 and its drain on all of healthcare systems. However, within the $8.6 billion is $500 million in sales tax revenues, from the half-cent sales tax passed years ago.
>>> Will Miami public meetings become COVID-19 super spreaders no masks, city staff very casual with public health protocols, Noriega must tighten up staff adherence to rules, still happening
Further, there is a widespread misperception that if one is vaccinated, they don’t have to wear masks not realizing the virus can be spread and I see this at many restaurants and actually left one because of the poor public health measures
>>> Will Miami meetings be super spreaders, no masks casual attitude?
City of Miami public meetings from Miami 21 task force to unsafe structures has chaos and confusion no masks worn in commission chambers. I went to two public meetings just because they were not up to standard. Here’s a national story on why I do this:
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190341-story.html
Will city of Miami public meetings become Covid super spreaders, staff few masks, others none in audience Bld. Director Rene Diaz, no mask and he acts like he is in his living room. Further at these public meetings there are no name cards on the dais, and you are unable to match a face with a board members name.
>>> With the senate passing a $1 trillion infrastructure bill waiting to be approve by the house a body with their own demands for funding.
PAST WDR 8.24.14: Congressman Mica tells Watchdog Report that nation has $1.5 trillion in national infrastructure needs, “”and we have a long way to go”
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Maitland gave the Watchdog Report an exclusive interview on the nation’s infrastructure needs over the next five-years and the number is not small. Mica, a Miami Edison High graduate is the ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee. He told me recently “we have serious infrastructure problems, and it isn’t just highways and bridges but also are ports, rail and almost every aspect of our infrastructure in the country is ageing and deteriorating,” he said. However, he believes “Florida has been fortunate because we have been a new growth state and don’t have some of the problems” the rest of the nation might have.
The congressional representative noted Congress had appropriated “about $284 billion for a five-year period” but that is well short of the “$1.5 trillion needed according to the Society of Civil Engineers and we have a long way to go,” he thought. He wants to introduce in the future a new “major effort in investment and infrastructure” when the current legislation expires in 2009. “You can’t get around communities, you can’t be successful without good infrastructure and that is one of government’s responsibilities, and that is what I am looking towards,” he closed.
>>> U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami gave the Watchdog Report an exclusive story years ago regarding his take on the war in Iraq, since the surge of troops began in the summer, and the reduction in violence. He said there are “still some cynics” that are trying to figure out ways “to claim that was not the case” but the one thing that is not deniable, whether you voted for or against the war. “It is undeniable those reinforcements worked” and the important thing when you look at how the numbers have dropped in both soldier and civilian deaths and wounded was “the population is coming forward and they are confronting Al Qaeda,” so “obliviously it has been a huge success but that does not mean there are not areas where we still need to do much better,” he said.
“The elected government in Iraq is not moving as fast as we would like them is obviously an issue of concern, but we have to remember with a Democracy, things happen to go slow, and nothing is slower than the United States government, but it is still frustrating because we need to continue to push them.” However, he believes the situation in Iraq is “stabilizing” and it is clear “that we are fighting very aggressive elements of Al Qaeda in Iraq.” He also was critical of the uncertain funding for the troops after a bitter budget battle in Congress last year in Democratic Party control and he was not in Congress when the war was voted on.
However, now that he is. Diaz-Balart wants to be “sure our troops and commanders in the field have everything they need, and frankly for me it was rather sad that for political purposes. Congress almost was not funding our troops while in harms way and that is unacceptable,” he closed. >>> Next week, see what the congressional representative says about any possible challengers he or his brother might face in 2008.
>>>New Fraud in South Florida immigration attorney fraud, scam payment for non- services, threaten scammed with INS reporting, says county’s Hispanic affairs Bd. Chair
Miami-Dade has a new immigration fraud that is causing fear in the undocumented community, was discussed at the county’s Hispanic advisory bord meeting and given the confusion in what a attorney’s name means in different South American countries. The residents trying to change their INS status are going to these bogus non- U.S. attorneys and when they pay, and nothing is accomplished. They are threatened to then be turned into the INS and apparently, it’s much more widespread, than the community realizes, said the committee chair.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>> Independent Civilian Panel to hold first public meeting on Oct. 12
Press release: – The Miami-Dade County Independent Civilian Panel (ICP), previously known as the Independent Review Panel, is the impartial entity created to conduct independent investigations and review and hold public hearings concerning complaints or grievances made against sworn officers of the Miami-Dade Police Department. The ICP will hold its first meeting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the auditorium of the Miami-Dade County Public Library, Main Branch, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130.
This meeting will utilize communications media technology made permissible pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders. After obtaining physical quorum, the meeting will also be held via Zoom at https://miamidade.live/ICP. From the U.S., you may dial toll-free number 1-877-853-5247 or 1-888-788-0099 with Meeting ID 85224252007#. We will also broadcast the meeting via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/AdvocacyMDC.
The ICP was established in 2020 by County ordinance 20-80. There are 13 members, all volunteers appointed by the County Commissioners. Below is the list of the ICP members appointed so far and the appointing Commissioner.
- Loreal Arscott, Esq. – Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert
- Josaphat Celestin, Former North Miami Mayor – Commissioner Jean Monestime
- Ruben Paillere, Esq. – Commissioner Keon Hardeman
- Pam Perry, Esq. – Commissioner Sally A. Heyman
- Eduardo Dominguez – Commissioner Eileen Higgins
- Jeannette Slesnick, Former Coral Gables Commissioner – Commissioner Rebeca Sosa
- Pedro Mora – Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado
- Oscar J. Braynon, II, Former State Senator – Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins
- Joshua Jones, Esq. – Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee
- Raymond Melcon – Commissioner Joe A. Martinez
- Luis Martinez – Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz
- Clemente Vera – Commissioner Rene Garcia
Miami-Dade County ICP meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend and learn more about the work of the ICP. For more information, please email Griselle Marino, or call 305-375-1585.
WHO: Miami-Dade County Independent Civilian Panel
WHAT: First Public Meeting
WHEN: From 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct.12
WHERE: Miami-Dade County Public Library, Main Branch Auditorium, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130, and via Zoom at https://miamidade.live/ICP.
The Office of Community Advocacy, under the Board of County Commissioners, oversees 10 advisory boards and the Miami-Dade County Goodwill Ambassadors Program. The Office is charged with making Miami-Dade County “One Community” that embraces our diverse and unique population. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @AdvocacyMDC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
City of Miami
>>> what about Suarez a prodigious fundraiser $6 million through July, says he is not selling out, but public may differ with such a large amount, not a profile in courage, discretion better part of valor, re police chief controversy, puts onus on manager
Mayor Francis Suarez who uses the tag line on campaign pieces paid by the PAC Miami Good government Initiative similar to a good government program for newly elected officials and the mayor,43 went through the program years ago that was run by former county commissioner Katy Sorensen.
The attorney, also a showman and super salesman of Miami has raked in $6 million through July 31 for his campaign and the large amounts from the tech industry and other industries donated to his campaign has people wondering if the mayor even understands how this windfall of cash looks. Since as a small child in Miami where his father Xavier was the first Cuban mayor and his son a young prince who skated through a number of issues including why he left Belen Academy and transferred to La Salle. All of this is more important if he plans to seek higher office and even on a national level for, he has been sheltered and given a break all his life.
Further, when it comes to a profile in courage he has taken a pass telling the media discretion is the better part of valor, and wants the manager, Art Noriega to sort out the future of his hand selected high profile chief Art Acevedo under withering criticism and has caught the ire of commissioner Joe Carollo who has made wild accusations against the chief and he fired back with a public 8-page memo accusing the commission of trying to interfere with police activities contrary to the city’s charter.
>>> Miami Police Chief Acevedo, in hot seat Monday, WDR predicts he will be fired, not from Miami, but Houston, way to pick a fight with mayor Suarez, with Carollo leading the charge.
Here we go again, the Miami commission tomorrow meets to discuss whether to keep police chief Art Acevedo, after he referred to Miami as being run by the ‘Cuban mafia,’ a term Fidel Castro coined to reference the local Cuban dissenters in Miami. Commissioner Joe Carollo is leading the charge and continues his pattern of going after any police chief.
However, his attacks drew a response from the chief in a memo to city manager Art Noriega, who hired the chief claiming the attacks by commissioners is beyond their powers and likens these actions similar to Cuba, he suggests in the memo and will likely set off fireworks in the chambers and his staying could be in doubt. Something that will continue the long scrutiny of the police by the U.S. justice department that only recently was lifted. Further, given the past discussions. I believe Acevedo will be fired by Noriega, if not the manager will be next. And will throw Miami government into a political minefield for mayor Francis Suarez running for reelection and could be a black eye for the young mayor with higher aspirations. Yet won’t disclose his outside income from a law firm and has established that having outside employment is no conflict with your city job., especially with commissioners and both the mayor and commission make a decent salary not the $5,000. From the 1990s and later changed by voters.
>>> Civil service board upholds firing of whistle blower Nicholson, who claimed Miami Commissioner Alex De La Portilla “poked,” her and made her step back hurting her ankle, after dueling attorney’s battle it out suggesting camera video was tampered with, board votes to “exonerate everyone involved,” upholding the termination of Nicholson, by manager Noriega, says chair Sutton
A whistle blowers case filed by Suzzanne Nicholson was heard Tuesday at the Miami civil service board and the hearing was dueling attorneys, with attorney Mathew Baldwin, a former state attorney and city of Miami attorney Victoria Menendez, who called the aggressive attorney “rude” during a number of sharp exchanges between the two. The plaintiff is a city code enforcement officer for many years.
However, one night checking a bar after the curfew she ran into Miami Commissioner Alex De La Portilla who identified himself to her. She claims he then “poked,” her and it resulted in her hurting her ankle. The commissioner says he did no such thing, and the women is looking for disability judgement he believes.
However, Nicholsan has fought the issue in the press, never filed a complaint and she did not show-up for a meeting with the city’s hr. department that resulted in the manager Art Noriega firing her. She did pass two lie detector tests said her attorney, Baldwin. The board’s chair Troy Sutton said he has heard enough and made the motion that “everyone involved with this issue should be exonerated,” said Sutton.
City of Miami Beach
>>> Voters will be asked if hotels, restaurants, should take part in the food & beverage tax, funding homeless trust & domestic violence agency, $5 million passed by county BCC for purchase of new residence building, for homeless, many more involve families not one to one
Beach Commissioners recently decided that the body would put on the Nov. Ballot whether the city should request the Florida legislature to remove the exception of the city to the food and beverage tax paid by tourists and funds the homeless trust and domestic violence facilities for the county.
The added revenue if the Beach hotels participated would be considerable and both the homeless trust and the DVB need extra money and the homeless trust recently got $5million for a permanent shelter for the organization from the county weeks agio and the trust needs another $1.3 million or more to refurbish the facility and with buildings being condemned a new influx of families are coming to the maxed out homeless trust.
>>> Could undersea internet cables become a new strategic threat to nation’s security? China laying them throughout the world, says Cyber Command Dr. Gen. Paul Nakasone, at congressional hearing Monday.
With all the cyber-attacks hitting abroad swath of industries and public infrastructure the U.S. is beefing up its capabilities, but at a congressional hearing Monday the Dir. Gen. Paul Nakasone said the command regarding IT relies on contractors and the federal government must compete for this talent with private industry and the house committee hearing even suggested is their n need for a new service academy focused on IT?
Nakasone said, “Cyber Command,” has “6,000, linguists,” and languages include “Chinese, Russian, and Arabic,’ he testified.
However, a new challenge facing the nation is undersea internet cables that could be used by an adversary for the internet if the Chinese potentially disabled the nations satellites. For more go to: https://jsis.washington.edu/eacenter/2017/02/06/cybersecurity-implications-chinese-undersea-cable-investment/
>>>PAST WDR: ID theft trajectory off the charts, community exports some of these frauds around the nation, says U.S. Atty. Ferrer, in the past
U.S. Atty Wilfredo Ferrer and his agents have busted again a large identity theft network stealing people’s social security numbers and it is a booming fraud industry in South Florida and people even have Tupper wear recruitment like parties where people from doctors’ offices and other health care providers pay the people up to $1,000. For each patient file and these thieves once they get this information are stealing at average from 193 people or 1000,000 residents state’s The Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article10909865.html and here is another story on the widespread scam http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article17932964.html that has other U.S.
U.S. ATTY’s from around the nation contacting Ferrer’s office after people from Miami pop up around the United States and we actually “export this fraud,” around the nation,: and the issue has been extensively reported in past Watchdog Reports since around 2003 and over those years only Medicare Fraud has eclipsed most of the other scams that included mortgage fraud, another high volume local fraud and Miami persistently ranks number one around the nation in these destructive scams that morph so quickly that federal authorities can barely keep up with the scams and is why South Florida has such a high number of the nation’s FBI Special Agents and two details of the federal agents are assigned to the Medicaid Fraud Task Force that was started back in 2003.
FLORIDA
>>> With 2020 Census results, S. Florida picks up new congressional district map drawn-up by republican controlled legislature
With the 25020 census numbers released Thursday south Florida will not pick up one congressional seat likely in Orlando. That seats district will be drawn by the Florida legislature dominated by republicans.
>>> Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman presiding over the litigation of the Champlain towers collapse is in the spotlight this week., jurist net worth for last year was $29 million, up from year before $28 million net state ethics commission documents and IRS 1040
What do we know about his finances?
Hanzman’s disclosures were benign, and he includes his IRS 1040 which is the gold standard re transparency, and he wants to give those affected by the Champlain Tower disaster what the property owners and deceased deserve financially since the property has some $150 million in value but there are conflicting opinions on what should be on the site. Hanzman is also a University of Florida law graduate. And has worked at various law firms before his election to the bench.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> JHS CEO Migoya at a PHT board meeting Tuesday notes there are still “500,000,” residents still unvaccinated in Miami-Dade, Doral West new hospital is “one year away from completion,” “he tells board and completes the Making Miracles bond projects under budget.
The county is still reeling from the uptick in Delta COVID -19 patients and has JHS CEO Carlos Migoya at Tuesday’s PHT board meeting that the virus patient population is “quadruple.’ though they are seeing a slowdown and increase the last few days, Migoya told the board. He also noted with COVID some “500,000,” people are still unvaccinated he said. JHS is also not seeing the “500 patient level yet.” He also continues to ask the public and health trust employees to get vaccinated since they have, the same challenges before with exhausted staff.
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