Watchdog Report Vol. 23 No. 4 February 19, 2023 – Happy Presidents’ Day, may we all reflect on our nation’s history: A free community education resource since 05.05.00
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.23 No.4, February,19, Celebrating 23 -years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for almost 22-years & a trusted community education resource & news service, without the attitude.
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD SEEN ON THE STREET
>>> May we all reflect on this Presidents,’ Day on the challenges that exist today, to create a world where all men & women are equal and safe. I hope your family has a great safe, holiday.
>>> Sen. Fetterman’s addressing clinical depression after a stroke, very common, a godsend to public with similar symptoms, including me after my stroke in 2013.
Sen. John Fetterman’s stroke and being treated for clinical depression, is something I personally felt after my stroke in 2013.My neurologist Dr. Ajay Pande, M.D., at Baptist Health, suggested I seek treatment for the subsequent depression, at the time and I am glad I did, and his advice, has kept me writing the WDR to this day.
>>> Termed out county commissioner Sosa, starts cancer treatment soon, solid official, no hint of scandal, over decades in office former mayor, get better soon Rebeca.
County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa via twitter that she is starting cancer treatment, and I wish the former West Miami mayor the best for over the decades there was never a hint of scandal, and she was an advocate for good transparent government over the decades and was a teacher in the public schools district. She replaced removed replaced indicted commissioner Miriam Alonso, for a bogus slush fund.
>>> County’s use of herbicides on foliage reduction, variation of Round-up to control foliage run-off to Biscayne Bay, says county resiliency officer Murley, trying natural solutions, when possible, coastal storm surge walls out for now with corps new diagrams show.
Miami-Dade County with “366 miles of canals,” uses pesticide to keep foliage trees later leaches into Biscayne Bay. The county is trying to use natural efforts but herbicide like Roundup is frequently used and shows up in fish and peoples urine state Florida universities’ studies on the chemical impact of such foliage removal compounds. Further cars in canals have been a persistent problem. They are also trying to reestablish the Balsam Torchwood tree, long extinct.
The issue came-up Friday at the Biscayne Bay Watershed Advisory Board in the commission chambers and Chief Resilience Officer Jim Murley, in discussion with storm surge. The corps plan for surge walls along the water are being replaced with natural solutions if they fit the circumstances after the walls faced a huge public outcry and two charettes to discuss the plan are in the months ahead, with a final plan in 2027, anticipated. The cleanup of Biscayne Bay with state and federal governments, spending millions to clean up the bay.
Which is also should be using the scavenger vessel more with only one in operation and is a technological bargain at $1 million for a second such vessel, to help the bay and Round-up use should be reviewed in Miami-Dade County.
>>> Anniversary of life saving procedure when I was septic at South Miami, Baptist Health, hospital in 2009, and I thank you Dr. Jorge Rabaza for saving my life, back then.
The next few days is the anniversary of almost passing in 2009. I was septic and operated on at 2;00 p.m., “because I could not wait,” not something you want to hear from a surgeon, said Jorge Rabaza,M.D. at South Miami Hospital back then and he said, “I was a flip of the coin,” that I survived, he said and since then every day is a free day.
>>> “Friends &Family plan,” discussed at Miami Civil Service meeting Tuesday, after Lt reclassified in whistle blower hearing first time in public., nepotism, and friends has been persistent problem multiple administrations. The city of Miami for years has had a culture of friends and families getting city jobs or promotions, but it came up when chair Troy Sutton said those words while hearing the case as a lowly firefighter and he is excluded from such closed door closed discussions, he put on the record. The practice is endemic in the city, but first time said in public.
FLORIDA: Gov. Ron De. Santos in course of term will appoint up to 4,000, appointees, state’s governor’s introductory manual. I read years ago, Reedy District, could be big impact, Gov. Santos will get blame for any controversies by appointees.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Commission committee unanimously votes to ban Tick Tok on county phones, follows national trend, to ban GPS capable tracking by Chinese owned company- County’s Famus IT system at county over paying, glitches expected, in new complex IT. System replacing 1970s technology, needs $8.6 million more to complete $66 million upgrade, CFO Marquez accepts lack of info to unions, and new constitutional offices in 2024, had to be included: >>> Will Home Rule Charter & Septic to Sewer? Be top legislative county lobbying issues in Tallahassee, Regalado asks.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Cardiac EKG screening should be required by state, number one killer of young athletes in schools, highlighted at school board Wednesday.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: Oct. JHS financial dashboard: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/b071ed27-6113-11ed-95a3-0050569183fa-6872cee3-98a7-4865-85f1-4b68344022ed-1669154377.pdf,receivables at $265 million& other not-for -profit-systems, under employee cost strains & state cuts to Medicaid matching funds of concern
CITY OF MIAMI: Candidate Zilber boasts role on JHS trust, he was just getting ticket punched, poor attendance, is trying to buy seat television commercials, not a hard worker, poor ethics, treats people poorly, loves attention, low on work ethic.
EDITORIAL: Carollo, wrong to limit public speakers to Miami residents, such diverse county all interrelated public should be able to speak.
Community Events:https://historymiami.org/ The ART Warehouse https://www.margulieswarehouse.com/
FLORIDA
>>> The Florida Ethics Commission has $799,569.in ethics fines unpaid and the list is a cross section of people on state boards and to see the list go to:
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>> County’s use of herbicides on foliage reduction, variation of Round-up to control foliage run-off to Biscayne Bay, says county resiliency officer Murley, trying natural solutions, when possible, coastal storm surge walls out for now with corps new diagrams show.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Charter schools have expanded to 155 schools and receive $797 million from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The schools do not have to follow the same procedures as public districts, and many are managed by private for-profit companies. The district does audits of these schools.
What about students’ threat assessment teams?
The board’s student advisor Ms. Cori Anna White with a unique perspective made some saliant comments recently when the schools code of conduct was being discussed. With all the mass shootings she noted “student safety was paramount regardless of zip codes. She inquired about the role of “threat assessment teams,” and “reporting lines,” and their role “in identifying patterns of behavior,’ of students.
Dr.Steven Gallon, III, a former principal overseeing 3,200 students said the goal was not “to suffer situations that take away opportunities to educate. He said, “parents send the best students they have, and the district policy was going to be applied with “firmness and equity.” Noting a large public school “is one of the most challenging education jobs there is said the veteran teacher
>>> 13 candidates vie, two caught my eye, disgraced county circuit court judge Martin Zilber and Eddy Leal mayor’s muse dodges the press. City clerk’s webpage difficult to find candidates.
The mayors muse Leal and he does many proclamations for the mayor. The attorney paid $90,000 is an advisor to Suarez in his national political ambitions that had the mayor on FOX last Thursday, carping about the federal response in helping Miami deal with all the refugees and homeless refugees and students in the city l taxing the system.
The WDR has been critical of Zilber,(net worth $13 million years ago raised $88,000, Torres has $28,0000 in war chest) and I know him from the Public Health Trust where one time I got up at 5:30 a.m. to do attendance at the trust and Zilber was chair of purchasing and he strolled in late, a persistent problem that had county commissioner Sally Heyman a family friend criticizing Zilber’s attendance record at the trust. Further, when you apply to the trust you sign a notarized application stating you must resign from being on any county boards. Zilber never did that and stayed on the Cultural Affair board. And friends have been covering for his subpar performance over the years culminating in resigning his circuit court judge position after a scathing investigation and abuse of employees for private matters and a scrapbook of his achievements by his judicial assistant. This says Zilber as a commissioner will love the benefits, but he has a different moral and ethical compass than I do, and I returned his support check years ago because I could see he was going to be a problem.
Further, His latest misuse of staff for personal items(including his bailiff going to the DMV is shocking). Zilber a republican and had a letter recommendation to the trust from past Gov. Jeb Bush where he told the nominating council “he had the 30-hours of time to commit being a trustee,” which turned out to be untrue.
>>> Past WDR: Cardiac EKG screening should be required by state, number one killer of young athletes in schools, highlighted at school board Wednesday, after Bills player cardiac arrest should ACDs? be included on the field?
Student Athletes dying from sudden cardiac death, was highlighted at Wednesday’s school board meeting. Sudden death is common with athletes and the need for a EKG screening is important. And advocates say screening should be mandatory. And Florida has nine districts that have this screening requirement before entering school. Further, some parents are hesitant to screen, and just have to be notified, said advocates including a girl with an implantable defibrillator. For more go to: https://nzdsos.com/2022/09/09/unexplained-coincidental-collateral-damage/
FLORIDA
>>> The Florida Ethics Commission has $799,569.in ethics fines unpaid and the list is a cross section of people on state boards and to see the list go to:
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Will Home Rule Charter & Septic to Sewer? Be top legislative county lobbying issues in Tallahassee, Regalado asks.
The county’s legislative agenda was the talk of the commission body with commissioner Raquel Regalado leading the challenge on using ballots to determine what they will be. Protecting Home Rule Charter, she recommended should be number one, along with septic to sewer given the 120,000 septic systems polluting Biscayne Bay.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
New school & county board members picked by DeSantis, changing board, culture, at county as well, as governor takes big November victory for a spin. Will it backfire in presidential run?
Charter schools have expanded to 155 schools and receive $797 million from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The schools do not have to follow the same procedures as public districts, and many are managed by private for-profit companies. The district does audits of these schools.
What about students’ threat assessment teams?
The board’s student advisor Ms. Cori Anna White with a unique perspective made some saliant comments recently when the schools code of conduct was being discussed. With all the mass shootings she noted “student safety was paramount regardless of zip codes. She inquired about the role of “threat assessment teams,” and “reporting lines,” and their role “in identifying patterns of behavior,’ of students.
Dr.Steven Gallon, III, a former principal overseeing 3,200 students said the goal was not “to suffer situations that take away opportunities to educate. He said, “parents send the best students they have, and the district policy was going to be applied with “firmness and equity.” Noting a large public school “is one of the most challenging education jobs there is said the veteran teacher
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Oct financial dashboard: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/b071ed27-6113-11ed-95a3-0050569183fa-6872cee3-98a7-4865-85f1-4b68344022ed-1669154377.pdf
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Candidate Zilber boasts role on JHS trust, was just getting ticket punched, poor attendance, is trying to buy seat television commercials, not a hard worker, poor ethics, treats people poorly, loves attention, low on work ethic.
With mailboxes clogged with campaign brochures in the Miami Dist. 2 race with 13 candidates, and disgraced judge Martin Zilber, using outside people to knock and leave pamphlets and television the man who took 51 days off without notifying the county clerk’s office and only resigned to avoid further disciplinary action. Many are surprised he would run at all given the negative baggage. A Republican in a bipartisan race he was just getting his ticket punched when he was on the Public Health Trust, with poor attendance except social events for the trust. People are also shocked that he seems to have no shame. The man trying to buy the race is using his mother Linda Zilber to campaign for him and his wife Cindy, and dog in photos. He is a do as I say, not what, I do, kind of man, and is poorly suited for this public position, where he has raised substantial funds $89,000 dwarfing the other candidates from special interests and developers.
Editorial
>>> Carollo, wrong to limit public speakers to Miami residents, such diverse county all interrelated should be able to speak.
City of Miami limiting public time to non-city residents, is a bad policy being pushed by commissioner Joe Carollo and despite his insistence of democracy in the chamber. He is off mark, and all citizens given how interconnected Miami-Dade is should have the right to speak about issues and not just limited to Miami residents, because they vote, is a slap in the face to the public and should be repudiated by the commission. But likely will not.
SPONSORS:
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport
Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan.
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents to public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.
Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors
Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2023, Daniel A. Ricker
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel national article on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190341-story.html
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190341-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen” award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.
Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)
CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS
Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)
MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport
Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan.
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents to public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.
Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors
Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2023, Daniel A. Ricker
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190341-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen” award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible: Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.
Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)
CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS
Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)
MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
Sponsors
***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000
Mr. ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor)
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2007)
ARTHUR HERTZ
WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)
ALFRED NOVAK
LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)
JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org
THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
RONALD Hall
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year
BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com
BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com
JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST
BERCOW RADELL FERNANDEZ & LARKIN & Tapanes www.brzoninglaw.com
RON BOOK
BENEDICT P. KUEHNE http://www.kuehnelaw.com/
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
Rbb www.rbbcommmunications.com
SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com
WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/
>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com
GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com
HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/
MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/
MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/
THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org
THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
To contribute to the WDR send and make it payable to Daniel A. Ricker
Daniel A. Ricker
3109 Grand Ave.#125
Miami, Fla 33133