Watchdog Report Vol.24 No.21 July 2, 2023: EST: 05.05.00 – I go & watch when you cannot for 24-years, a community education resource
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No.21, July 2, 2023, Celebrating May 5th,2000: 24 -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.)
>> I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GIVING MY READERS THE SCOPE OF INFORMATION THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT MY HEALTH AND FINANCIALLY I AM IN A TOUGH POSITION. I WISH IT WERE OTHERWISE: AND IF YOU COULD HELP IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED IF YOU COULD PLEASE SEND A CHECK THANK YOU. >>>MADE OUT TO DANIEL RICKER 3109 GRAND AVE.#125, MIAMI, FLA.33133. NO MAIL OR SUPPORT LAST WEEK.
>>> MAY WE ALL HAVE A REFLECTIVE JULY 4TH AND REMEMBER THE FULL MEASURE GIVEN BY SO MANY FOR THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE TODAY.
>>>>I FIRST WENT TO CHINA IN 1977. A YEAR AFTER MAO DIED AND EVERYONE WAS WEARING A GREEN, BLUE, OR GREY MAO JACKETS. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE OF INDEPENCE DAY AND THE CONTRASTS IN GOVERNMENT AND CULTURE. I WAS ABLE TO PONDER. AND AMERICA SHOULD ALWAYS BE A BEACOM OF FREEEDOM TO THE WORLD.
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD SEEN ON THE STREET
>>>>>>Jackson health System (JHS) closing out June at “break even,” $10 million ahead, in end of year budget, negotiated 8% wage adjustment with unions, costs $122 million. Wednesday was a Great Day for Miami-Dade County residents, For JHS had “zero deficiencies re “ACA & CMS,” accreditation said CEO Carlos Migoya recently at the joint PHT meeting with the county commission, hospitals feeling cost pinch too. Baptist Health South Florida does $487.9 million in charity care JHS, gets half-cent sales tax help for its hundreds of millions in charity care with Dade County having roughly 30 percent of all the residents uninsured. One of the highest in the nation and financially hammers all hospital systems countywide.
>>> WHEN MIAMI VOTERS PASSED COMMISSION RAISES IN 2003, THERE WAS NO PROHABITION FOR OUTSIDE INCOME, WHICH THE WDR OPPOSED AT THE TIME,THIS MAY GIVE AN OUT TO MAYOR SUAREZ’S CONTROVERSIAL OUTSIDE GIGS, HE SAYS HE’S INNOCENT, SUBJECT OF “SMEAR CAMPAIGN,” FOR HISPANIC CANDIDATES: CONTROVERSY HIS OWN MAKING? NOW MORE ISSUES COMING TO LIGHT, MORE OUTSIDE INCOME DOESN’T EVEN DISCLOSE OR LIST $130,000 MAYORAL SALARY IN DISCLOSURES.
With multiple federal and state investigations of Mayor Suarez’s outside employment. Back in 2003 when Miami voters passed a commission and mayoral raise. The charter question did not prohibit outside income with the raise. The raise from $5,000 up was pushed by former commissioners Joe Sanchez, along with real estate developer Johnny Winton. Only commissioner Tomas Regalado opposed the measure. However, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz supported it along with city manager Joe Arriola.(The three men would later get busted by ethics commission for buying a house with Arriola buying the house in the south grove.
In Suarez’s case his releasing his taxes, now a presidential candidate will explain much as it did for disgraced Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne, later convicted of tax evasion and served a year in prison for the outside consulting job. The WDR back in 2000,hammered him on this issue and when I asked then Gov. Jeb Bush if he had any outside income? He looked at me asking “Dan where are we going with this, and no.” he said at the time into my microphone the right answer I thought for most political posts.
>>>Jackson health System closing out June at “break even,” $10 million ahead, in end of year budget, negotiated 8% wage adjustment with unions, costs $122 million. Wednesday was a Great Day for Miami-Dade County residents, For JHS had “zero deficiencies re “ACA & CMS,” accreditation said CEO Carlos Migoya Wednesday at the joint PHT meeting with the county commission, hospitals feeling cost pinch too, Baptist Health South Florida does $487.9 million in charity care JHS, gets half-cent sales tax help for its millions in charity care with Dade County having roughly 30 percent of all the residents uninsured. One of the highest in the nation and hammers all hospital systems countywide.
Also Dr. Jose Dotres Supt. The Nation’s second largest public district had his contract extended 3-years plus one with a special meeting later to discuss performance criteria, in a state with many leadership openings in districts.
However, Thursday was a terrible day for the WDR. I ended having to go to social security office(in the heavy rain) after a bogus e-mail, saying my bank payments account had been changed, and totally stressed me out since my finances were low, even though I know the administration only contacts you by mail, not email. People older become vulnerable to these and the stress almost clouds their good sense. But given the right circumstances one can fall for these traps and I just in case went to the administration.
>>>Further, I write about the public Jackson Health System, so much because of its importance along with the other robust health systems in the County to community health and options available. I was in Miami in the late 1970s, Miami working for Cordis Corp. having come back from living in Tokyo. I had to once withhold a pacemaker electrode for heart surgeon Richard Thurer,M.D., until I got a certified check from the institution, and it made me have a serious moral internal debate, since Jackson owed us so much at the time. However, now with its bond program improvements it is becoming a hospital for all “not just the poor,” or “where you go to die,” as years past was the refrain. Baptist Health South Florida, Mt. Sinai, Nicholas Children’s all fill out the array of healthcare options in South Dade and most communities would be envious with are medical resources in South Florida that has ageing residents in mass.
What’s the good news?
The nation’s fourth largest public schools district extended Supt. Dr. Jos Dotres’ contract & public hospital JHS had “zero deficiencies after OCS & CMS reviewed the health system, which is no longer just for “the poor,” said CEO Carlos Migoya at the joint PHT meeting at the county commission Wednesday. The previous banker noted the transplant program for lungs was state of the art after the heart transplant program was paused a few months ago.
>>> MAYOR SUAREZ JUMPS INTO GOP POOL FOR PRESIDENT,WILL HE GAIN NATIONAL TRACTION, WHILE HIS LIFE AND GROWING UP IN MIAMI GETS SCRUTINIZED, CLAIMS MEDIA OUT TO TEAR HISPANIC CANDIDATES DOWN AND HE IS “INNOCENCE”: RE FBI, STATE ATTORNEY,AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.
Mayor Francis Suarez’s net worth of $1.47 million 12/23, up from $170,000, in 2021 threw his hat into the GOP Race. He wants to bring unity and generational change to Washington. The young mayor loved locally a scion to his father Xavier, the first Cuban mayor, who he helped rehabilitate after numerous lost elections. The young man 45,has gained little traction on the national stage, but might get a political opportunity since he is termed out of office soon. Congressman Carlos Gimenez told the media Suarez is a ‘fake,’ since he does not actually run anything. Since it is a city manager form of government. The mayor has been hitting the media stations including FOX, and MSNBC where in responding to a question on a FBI investigation, after a developer is said to have paid him $170,000 in fees states www.miamiherald.com.
He claims he did nothing wrong and it’s a ”smear and quadruple whammy,” by a “local[ www.miamiherald.com paper,” he responded. He also has to tell voters what he stands, after being seen at the Trump formal accusation (perhaps watching the police presence or supporting the gathering) at the federal courthouse. His early life is going to scrutinized and what happened for him to leave prestige’s Belen Jesuit school, where his dad was also an alumnus. He ended up at La Salle academy in the north grove. The man a finance major at FIU, bought crypto stock and barrel and praised it whenever he could. And after FTX went bust he had little to say on the matter. I think his best chance is in a cabinet post. In a future administration. But Miami will see if the family man has what it takes on a national stage.
CHECKOUT A 2005 Miami Herald column story, I found still online regarding the school District new attorney. Check it out: https://media.snopes.com/2022/03/The_Miami_Herald_Mon__Oct_3__2005_.pdf
>>>Miami-Dade County: Knight Foundation donates millions to Miami Waterkeeper & Everglades Foundation, both great organizations Knight
>>> Today, I’m thrilled to share what you may have read in the Miami Herald yesterday, that Knight Foundation is investing a combined $8 million in two of Miami’s leading climate organizations — Miami Waterkeeper and The Everglades Foundation. Knight’s support will help both organizations expand their digital capacity to inform residents and accelerate community participation in the development of climate resilience solutions. Read more here.
By growing their digital capabilities, Miami Waterkeeper and The Everglades Foundation seek to meet residents where they are and create new ways for residents to define the solutions that create a resilient Miami. And for climate change interventions to be impactful and lasting, they must reflect the communities they are meant to support.
Raquel Regalado wants procurement reform, a frequent refrain over the years. Dir of the procurement department referenced “wining a county RFP,” is “almost as difficult as giving birth,” the mother of two tells the committee. Regalado has been pushing the commission on a number of issues, septic to sewer to the new constitutional offices, especially the new sheriff’s constitutional office beginning at the end of 2003.She is expected to run for county mayor.
>>>With the nation focused Tuesday with Trump’s 37 count formal accusation, at a federal courthouse, will Carollo co mingle his civil judgement, on Spanish media of the court’s bias in his verdict trial, loves ginning up the community’s emotions?
>>> Has Miami Commissioner’s Carollo’s $63 million civil judgement for owners of Ball & Chain in federal court, create a poison pill for mayor Suarez, insurance will not pay judgement after U.S. Supreme Court ruled, he was outside his gov. obligations ?
Does he veto any city funding for Carollo’s defense, being appealed, and if commission agrees, he must not if run for higher office in the cards and will outrage national taxpayers.
What about his boyhood friend Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and ethics questions?
Suarez’s longtime friend who he campaigned for at the precincts Vince Lago mayor of coral gables is facing questions re some real estate, relationship similar to his own questions in the press re a developer.
What is the story with Carollo?
>>> Carollo tells Republican luncheon in 2002, “ he stopped a 747 from crashing into Turkey Point,” through his friends at the CIA. One person said you know how Joe gets if I had heard and taped what I heard but is insight to the man whose mouth is his worst enemy and a vindictive nature that earned him the monitor “Crazy Joe, To Suarez’s father moniker mayor loco.
I started the WDR after mayors Xavier Suarez and Joe Carollo were in office because of what I was seeing and hearing from them. And when Carollo was running for reelection facing Manny Diaz. He told a republican gathering at the Rusty Pelican. That after 9/11 he had personally “stopped a 747 from crashing into Turkey Point.” He told the party faithful. With one person saying you know Joe at least he’s honest. But this civil trial that opened up the inner working of the city was eye dropping. Carollo is appealing the $63 million judgement and only has a net worth of $2.3 million all in his Grove house, so the judgement is symbolic I suspect, with the city only paying a negotiated legal settlement between the attorneys.
>>> Miami Mayor Suarez under the gun re outside income, net worth in 2014 $13,000, in 2023 estimated $5 million, year earlier $1.3 million, ethics & state attorney investigating young presidential hopeful.
When it comes to Miami Mayor Francis X Suarez. He believes since the trolleys run on time he can moonlight to his heart’s content and residents should not worry.
He also questions why the Miami herald is so obsessed with his outside employment claiming the recent stories about his outside income is a frivolous ‘smear,’ by the paper of record and is consistent with the paper of records history of trying, to “assassinate the character of Hispanic leaders, ‘he told the miamiherald.com.
What do we know about his finances?
The WDR report has his financials since 2014 after he was elected as a commissioner. The young man,43, scion to a prominent Cuban political family. He went through The Good Government Initiative run by former county commissioner Katy Sorenson. Yet doesn’t even list his salary on disclosure forms .
However, the family man a potential presidential candidate who told Fox he knocked on “15,000 doors,” when he ran for office. His election helped his controversial father Xavier overcome his moniker of mayor loco, after his time in office as the first Cuban mayor of Miami, later elected to the county commission. The son has also received numerous VIP events undeclared re value and who paid.
The Miami-Dade Ethics Commission and the state attorney’s office have opened an investigation into his outside income. He says he welcomes it to clear his name and he believes he always follows the law. Editor’s note: I am holding off on condemning this story until the investigation is over, but the Miami Herald has raised some serious concerns. The attorney growing up was treated like a prince in Miami’s Cuban community and used to spend time in his dad’s mayoral office growing up.
Here’s his financial rise.
Francis in 2014 had a net worth of $13,000 as he did in 2014 and it jumps to $100,163 in 2016 and in 2017. It jumps to $245,000. In Jan.2021 it increases to $1.338 million, with his home worth $1.4 million states his financial disclosure form for the year. He received $10,000 from Strike in income.
He owes Mr. Cooper, in Dallas $121,802.He also has a $1.4 million debt with City National Bank and another $422,000 debt to Centennial Bank. And the WDR continually asked him where he got the cash to put down on his tony home in the South Grove where a new McMansion is being built on the street that has a Miami police officer stationed there.
>>>Update: I believe total legal fees could end up being $5 million. With a Miami premier defense legal team costing $1.9 million through April the legal meter is at hyper speed given the civil court defense team for controversial Miami commissioner Joe Carollo, whose worst enemy is his mouth, and is in civil court after being personally sued by the owners of Ball & Chain claiming Carollo was targeting him since they supported another candidate in his commission race.
He is being sued in federal civil court by the owners of the Ball & Chain restaurant on 8th street in his district. They are claiming he targeted the business that did not have a sprinkler system. They have responded with a suit, that city attorney Victoria Menendez says is frivolous and Florida courts have ruled the city must pay for any defense legal fees.
The legal team of Benedict Kuehne & Davis includes former Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Tom Scott a former US attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a federal district court judge. Scott also represented the city in a SEC investigation of the bonds sold to finance the Marlin’s stadium new garage, under the Regalado administration.(Editor’s note: Kuehne is a listed supporter of the WDR.)
Sarnoff who is also representing the city in litigation for the Flagstone Islands project on Watson Island with a possible $20 million liability reduced from $120 million for a project since 2001 staled. Sarnoff an early Obama supporter who borrowed an antique fire truck taking voters to a voting site. He would later become a Governor Scott supporter and was appointed by the governor to the FIU trust board. He also embellished his family history telling voters he was the grandson of NBC founder David M. Sarnoff, which was disproved by the museum in Princeton, New Jersey by a relative.
HOW Could Carollo’s suit, Get ANY STRANGER?
Somehow an attorney brought in a camera into the federal courthouse, which is almost impossible given my experience when I had my mike and the marshals made me go back to my car, telling me “I should know better, firmly.” The federal Judge Rodney Smith is pondering how to punish the attorney involved said to be Jessie Stolow, an attorney in his 13th month practicing and part of the defense team. For more go to www.miamiherald.com. Smith will restart the trial at the end of May, reports Chuck Rabin, www.miamiherald.com Further, if Carollo loses city insurance might not pay and taxpayers could be on the hook for what I predict could be up to $5 million in attorney fees if all included, but we will see what the jury does in the federal civil trial.
WHAT ABOUT THE PHT & Jackson Health System?
HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM UPDATE:
FROM AGENDA MINUTES:
Unedited: JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE REPORT Dr. Chris Ghaemmaghami, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive and Chief Clinical Officer provided remarks on quality and becoming higher liable organization. To translate Jackson slogan “Miracles Made Daily” is delivery of best care, compassion, accountability, respect and expertise. Jackson is aspiring to do this great level of care not only in instance of a miracle, but daily to everyone that choose care at Jackson. HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM UPDATE Jackson is working diligently on refresh and fresh look at the heart transplant program. Working with team on reviewing processes and building team. There are several buckets of works in that Jackson is working on for substantial progress (1) Leadership Oversight, transplant director and vice president has been engaged in all programs. (2) Looking on how to continue to refresh and adapt process improvement tools and mechanism to ensure executing without defect. (3) Significant areas of focus and action plans are clinical communication between providers, orientation and documentation. (4) Solidify two recruitment processes for leadership, surgical lead surgeon and medical. Interim leaders in place and engage in working through process. Will continue to communicate through the summer.
What about the GOB bond for JHS?
Unedited from April 26 Agenda REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF JACKSON MIRACLE-BUILDING BOND PROJECTS QUARTERLY REPORT:
Isa M. Nunez, Vice President, Facility Construction and Design presented a slide presentation of the Miracle-Building Bond Projects during for the months of January to March 2022. The quarterly report highlighted images of the key projects ongoing construction for the year and design projects for the year at Jackson Memorial Hospital Medical Center Campus. Included in the report was a detailed overview and images of the work in progress (UHealth Jackson Critical Care Pavilion: Fourth Floor Buildout, DTC Market Place, Jackson Memorial Medical Campus: Interventional Radiology CT Scanner, Coral Gables Free Standing Emergency Department and Multi-Specialty Physician Office Building, and Jackson West Medical Center: Medical Office Buildout); and overview and images of completed projects: Jackson Memorial Medical Campus: West Wing 8 ICU Floor Modernization. As part of the quarterly update was a look at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center dedication on March 25, 2022, and images of the completed Jackson Miracle-Building Bond Program construction projects. As part of the Jackson Health System marketing campaign, members of the committee viewed a TV commercial highlighting the construction projects and expenditures. The TV commercial will also be featured on social medial channels. The purpose of the 30-second TV commercial, print ads and digital ads is to show accountability and thank Miami-Dade voters for their support. The campaign will run from February to May 2022. An updated bond brochure highlights large construction projects and expenditures. Members of the committee suggested that the community be informed how promises were kept with the use of bond funding; for the next meeting present an economic impact report with actual numbers not estimated costs; and suggested that a joint meeting be held between the Board of Trustees and Board of County Commissioners to present the final report along with an overview of the success of the Bond Program including the Small Business Enterprise Contractors final report.
To see the full agendas, go to: PHT BOT Meetings (jhsmiami.org)
May 24th agenda minutes unedited: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT Carlos A. Migoya, Chief Executive Officer, Jackson Health Systems reported that Jackson Health System (JHS) is in the window of triennial Joint Commission Survey which evaluates the entire health system processes related to care delivery, quality and safety. Surveyors are experts in their fields and will spend time talking with employees and asking questions about practices and their role in supporting safe patient care. The JHS team is also prepared and in constant state of readiness; always focusing on maintaining a safe healthcare environment through every step of a patient’s journey. Quality and safety are JHS North Star every second of the day, and the dedication to patients and their families are JHS commitment to uphold the highest standards and quality of patient’s services. Jackson’s regulatory affairs department focuses on these types of accreditation visits and helps JHS lay the foundation for every survey to be successful. This survey is important because in order for a hospital to be considered a Medicare Provider, it must be Joint Commission accredit. JHS conducted Mock Surveys with an outside team to ensure preparation and recognize needs for improvement. Mr. Migoya provided an update on the decision to place the Jackson Heart Transplant Program on temporary inactive status in order to conduct an in-depth review of care following an anonymous complaint. Multiple regulatory agencies came to Jackson in the past few weeks to assist the program and provide Jackson with recommendations so that JHS can reinstate the program safely as soon as possible. Mr. Migoya made special recognition to the Jackson Health Foundation Team for a successful Golden Angels Gala. More than 800 community leaders who share a passion for Jackson attended the sold-out event. The event raised $3.4 Million dollars that will help support JHS areas of greatest need. Focus of the evening was Celebration of Ryder Trauma Center 30th Anniversary. For full agenda go to:https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/5edba412-ee6f-11ed-95dd-0050569183fa-49530377-5c32-4348-ba68-db8f71d913df-1684425889.pdfhttps://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/5edba412-ee6f-11ed-95dd-0050569183fa-49530377-5c32-4348-ba68-db8f71d913df-1684425889.pdf
>>> Dade residents get numerous medical choices, from FIU & Baptist affiliation, to public JHS, preventative care main mission, reduces uncompensated care costs countywide.
Miami-Dade County will be benefitting from the relationship with Baptist Health South Florida and FIU’s Wertheim College of Medicine, a school dedicated to preventative community-based medicine after its first dean Dr. Joe “Pedro” Greer instilled preventative medicine to the school’s students and has many FIU trained physicians are doing a good examination of the patient, given my own personal experience.
This along with public JHS and UM affiliation will give residents top notch medical care, and keep more physicians in the community they train in.
Further, it helps South Florida be a medical destination, offering specialized healthcare here. Jackson Health System is also benefitting from the approved county wide $830 million bond program that in the end financed almost $2 billion in capital projects drawing a host of new patients with a past campus that was frozen in time. For more go to:https://news.fiu.edu/2023/baptist-health-and-florida-international-university-to-begin-exclusive-negotiations-on-comprehensive-alliance :FIU medical school launches partnership with Baptist Health | Miami Herald
What changed at the PHT secretary Cobb retires after 27-years never missed a trust meeting?
After 27 years Ivenette Cobb is retiring as the trust secretary and never missed a trust meeting over the years. Her minutes were accurate and will be missed and the WDR gives her a tip of the hat for a job well done through multiple administrations over the years. She would grill trustees because. They would miss a meeting, before being excused.
>>> The Miami Herald won its 24th Pulitzer for the editorial series ‘Broken Promises’ involving government making bogus promises across decades of public promised projects never materializing and is one of the reasons for the WDR.
>>>County homeless trust seeing “increased traffic to hotline,” with ending of Title 42.says trust Chair Book, immigration and homeless help, “one in the same,” says Book.
With Title 42 being dropped I asked county Homeless Trust chair Ron Book have we seen a surge? He responded by text that there is “increased phone traffic.’ He noted that “immigration and homeless help are one and the same.”
>>> Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia, office is one that notifies municipalities re overdue 40-year re certifications of buildings.
With the recent evacuation of unsafe condos recently. The City of Miami Unsafe Structure board sees a volume, property appraiser’s office notifies municipalities re overdue 40-year certification, says Miami housing ast. director, Friday.
Does Garcia need more resources for notifications earlier?
Editor’s Note: I mention this to check if Miami has the right answer re the property appraiser given the large number condominiums ageing in the county.
The county mayor should review the situation given the tight housing market.
>>> New, Florida state budget has $20 million for Biscayne Bay & septic to sewer, 9,000 septic systems failing, says county DERM, after flooding rain bay shows hot levels of bacteria in bay, says www.waterkeeper.org Rachel Silverstein. Miami only cleans drains once a year. Miami instructed to hire 3 more staff after Brickell Sea flooding, will it lower real-estate values? And what of insurance costs?
The Biscayne Bay septic to Sewar program is slated to be $20.million in the state house and senate budget, said county assist attorney Jess McClarty, at the Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory board Friday. The members discussed the recent rain event that had all of the Waterkeeper test sites showing levels of bacteria in the bay.
The county has 120,000 septic tanks and 9,000 are failing, said DERM staff at the meeting. The good news is some 9,000 properties are close to existing infrastructure, said WASA Dir. Lourdes Gomez. The cost to convert varies but is not cheap for homeowners.
>>> WLRN celebrating 60-years on the air, is a vital resource in diverse south Florida from Palm Beach to Key West, needed now more than ever, helped create the WDR, in 2000
WLRN.org is celebrating its 60th year on the air and it needs the community’s help in delivering unbiased news. I was fortunate in 2000 through 2006 to be a regular radio guest on Joe Cooper’s Tropical Currents, and that helped me expand my readership and impact. I also was the only person contradicting that Al Gore won Florida versus other commentators who believed otherwise. For more on the station or to donate go to:
WLRN Homepage | WLRN, HTTPS://WLRNRADIO.PLEDGECART.ORG/WEB/HOME
Hopefully a normal WDR will return next week.
FLORIDA: State Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, says $114.8 billion budget a “very clean budget,” in legislature, though opposes many passed bills, state with $15 billion in reserves, what will Gov. De Santos, ax in budget?
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: County’s Famus IT system at county overpaying, 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.
City of MIAMI
>>> The city of Miami for years has had a culture of friends and families getting city jobs or promotions, but it came up when civil service 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.
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. Further, the Fla. Leg.is proposing expanding vouchers, which could cut funding over 20 percent, adding to the charter school hit.— Cardiac EKG screening should be required by state, number one killer of young athletes in schools, highlighted at school board Wednesday.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST: April PHT agenda, complete committees included: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/jacksonhealth/7b879699-d930-11ed-95dd-0050569183fa-49530377-5c32-4348-ba68-db8f71d913df-1682008166.pdf
CITY OF MIAMI:
EDITORIAL>>You may not take an interest but that does not mean politics may not take an interest in you.
Community Events: https://historymiami.org/ The ART Warehouse https://www.margulieswarehouse.com/
ARGUS REPORT: heard seen on the street.
>>> Dade residents get numerous medical choices, from FIU & Baptist affiliation, to public JHS, preventative care main mission, reduces uncompensated care costs countywide.
Miami-Dade County will be benefitting from the relationship with Baptist Health and FIU’s Wertheim College of Medicine, a school dedicated to preventative community-based medicine after its first dean Dr. Joe “Pedro” Greer instilled preventative medicine to the school’s students and has many FIU trained physicians doing a good examination of the patient, given my own personal experience.
This along with public JHS and UM affiliation will give residents top notch medical care, and keep more physicians in the community they train in. Further, it helps south Florida be a medical destination, offering specialized healthcare here. Jackson Health System is also benefitting from the approved county wide $830 million bond program that in the end financed almost $2 billion in capital projects drawing a host of new patients with a past campus that was frozen in time. For more go to:https://news.fiu.edu/2023/baptist-health-and-florida-international-university-to-begin-exclusive-negotiations-on-comprehensive-alliance :FIU medical school launches partnership with Baptist Health | Miami Herald
What changed at the PHT secretary Cobb retires after 32-years never missed a trust meeting?
After 32 years Ivenette Cobb is retiring as the trust secretary and has never missed a trust meeting over the years. Her minutes were accurate and will be missed and the WDR gives her a tip of the hat for a job well done through multiple administrations over the years. She would grill trustees why they would miss a meeting, before excused.
>>> The Miami Herald wins its 24th Pulitzer for the editorial series ‘Broken Promises’ involving government making bogus promises across decades of public promised projects never materializing and is one of the reasons for the WDR.
>>>County homeless trust seeing “increased traffic to hotline,” with ending of Title 42.says trust Chair Book, immigration and homeless help, “one in the same,” says Book.
With Title 42 being dropped I asked county Homeless Trust chair Ron Book have we seen a surge? He responded by text that there is “increased phone traffic.’ He noted that “immigration and homeless help are one and the same.”
>>Redo important: Miami-Dade County Alert: The county’s election department should mandate voter workers wear their county I.D. Since, the current Miami special election is a prime example of this problem. That I witnessed Saturday at 3:45 P.M. at the Miami city hall early voting site.
Men were loading Ryder trucks with one man wearing his ID, but many others had none as they brought out the voting machines and black trash containers. County employees not complying. to reduce the public perception people might be tampering with the equipment. County employees not wearing identification has been a persistent problem around the county for years, except at JHS, since a hospital.
With all the voter conspiracy rumors going on the county’s Christine White the supervisor, should jump on this for the Miami Dist. 2 commission race has only some 4,000 votes so far and will likely be a close race that hopefully doesn’t elect disgraced judge Martin Zilber and his massive war chest for the race versus the challengers, and support from two commissioners Joe Carollo and Alex Diaz de la Portilla, big Zilber fans and is seen as an ally for them.
Former mayor Miami commissioner Carollo once again suggests that any non-Miami resident should not be heard.
>>> Sen. Fetterman’s, D-Pa. addressing clinical depression after a stroke, very common, a godsend to public with similar symptoms, including me after my own 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. ,
>>> 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 “30066 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 my 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.,
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
The Miami-Dade County Children’s Trust is celebrating its 20th anniversary and during its time. There have been no scandals except some trust tee shirts being sold in little Havana decades ago. They trust the brainchild of former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence, Jr. and mayor Alex Penelas and Will Bleckman,M.D. For more on the trust go to: https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/
View a comprehensive list of all the previous project updates at https://miamidadearts.org/coconut-grove-playhouse-updates.
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. Further, the Fla. Leg.is proposing expanding vouchers, which could cut funding by over 20 percent, adding to the charter school hit.
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 school’s 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
>>> 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/
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC 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 school’s 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
>>> JHS goes 11-years of clean audits, states KPMG audit, firm used by many public institutions, including the school district in the past.
March 28 agenda unedited: KPMG Audit Results for the Year Ending September 30, 2022, Monica Flaviani, Managing Director, KPMG introduced Andrew Wetzel, Audit Manager, KPMG. Mr. Wetzel and Ms. Flaviani are the managers in charge of the audit. Ms. Flaviani presented the audit results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. The audit centered around KPMG’s commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience for Jackson Health System (JHS) by focusing on quality, experience, productivity, and insights. An overview of the results of the yearend audit began with a summary of the audit results required communications and other matters, overview of significant accounting policies and practices, review of significant accounting estimates, and summary of uncorrected audit misstatements. With there being no significant audit findings identified to report, Ms. Flaviani stated that the KPMG audit team appreciate the opportunity to work with JHS management and accounting team. Mr. Lopez-Castro, III recognized Mark T. Knight, Chief Financial Officer, and the accounting team for all of their hard work and working together with the KPMG managers in charge to timely and successfully complete the fiscal year end audit. Mr. Lopez-Castro, III requested a motion to accept KPMG Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Results with a favorable recommendation to the Fiscal Committee. Antonio L. Argiz moved to accept KPMG Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Results; seconded by Matthew J. Allen and carried without dissent. See the full agenda here:
EDITORIAL
>>> You may not take an interest but that does not mean politics may not take an interest in you.
The nation is facing two—days of wondering if former president Donald J. Trump will be arrested (or is this like when Trump said Mikhail Gorbachev would come to Trump Tower, and did not), after his message on Truth Social Saturday. The announcement unconfirmed, states he will “be arrested”, and the nation is bracing for what might occur. After the Jan 6,insurrection.He wants his supporters to protest, “and take back our nation,” he wrote, and republican leaders are hedging their bets.
Editor’s note: having gone to G.W.U. in Washington and given how divided we are as a nation. I have great reverence for the Constitution. And actually, carry a mini version in my reporter’s notebook. I also listened to many congressional debates on Vietnam. Plus, all the years living in Asia and first going to China, in 1976 with a medical delegation and it was like stepping back to 1890, and children froze when they saw me. That’s why on Saturday morning the news broke. I Had trouble thinking of local issues still important, but this is a historical event if it occurs, and will further, muddy the political waters, hopefully be peaceful. The issue is a hush fund payment to an adult star Stormy Daniels seven years ago. Trump supporters think these may be bogus political charges, especially so long ago, and the future is unknown. Next week I will be back to normal and want to thank the John.S. and James L. Knight Foundation for all the support since 2000 and too this day.For more on:www.knightfoundation.org
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>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report published 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 of 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.
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To contribute to the WDR send and make it payable to Daniel A. Ricker
Daniel A. Ricker
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