Watchdog Report Vol. 24 No.32 September 17, 2023: EST: 05.05.00 – A community education resource for 24 years free
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No.32, September 17, 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 free 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 : 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. If I get a little help, I will be able to carry on another year and I know many citizens have many demands asking for help. Overall, I am a very low-cost solo operation covering all your major public institutions like none’ve before me for 23 years free weekly. Thank you and please help if you can?
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD & SEEN ON The STREET
>>> New computer scam alerts your locked up call bogus number. Don’t it is a scam. I was hit Wednesday.
>>> The new Miami-Dade County clerk needs to change its web page for lobbyists. The system asks you to log in and search by name versus a complete list you can scroll through. It was updated Sept. 17, 2023, and is terrible. The city of Miami has a easy way to see the lobbyist names….
>>> Keys icon Buffett, 76, gave Keys new tourist life, as well as 1962 Baptist Health South Florida Fishermen’s Community Hospital crushed after Irma in 2017, newly reopened in July 2021, 38,000 patients treated since then only two hospitals in Monroe County.
Keys icon Buffett & gave lifestyle tourist dollars as well as new community hospital after Irma devastated old 1962 Fishermen’s Community Hospital, one of two in Keys.
With Jimmy Buffett,76, passing. He gave the Keys and Monroe County new visibility and a lifestyle. The other important institution in Monroe is the rebuilding of the 1962 Fishermen’s Community Hospital (Part of Baptist Health South Florida).After Hurricane Irma devastated it in 2017. The facility since reopening on July 21, 2021, has served some 38,000 patients and in a county with few medical facilities, actually only two in the tourist county. The updated facility was needed given the county’s demographics.
The roles of local health foundations in Miami-Dade County are important for all residents. The Baptist Health Foundation Youth Athletic Outreach program is one such community service with 94,000, student athletes impacting benefitting trainers on site, as well as EKG screenings preventing unrecognized heart conditions has partnered with the Miami Dolphins.
Jackson Health Foundation also plays a great community health role and why I report on it so much, for their importance to overall health and prevention, has allowed residents to continue their endeavors.
STATE OF FLORIDA:
>>> They’re he goes again DeSantos suspends, removes Miami commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, 8th Miami commissioner to be removed by past governors. He “claims [charges are a work of fiction to WPLG],” will more come as trials & investigations continue?
Gov. Ron DeSantos has a dilemma in the city of Miami after a republican commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla(DLP) was arrested Thursday after a commission meeting. He says he is innocent, and it is a witch hunt to the press after a Democrat state attorney in Broward brought the charges of money laundering, bribery public corruption after the local state attorney asked the governor to have the Broward office do the investigation since locally state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was conflicted.
The governor running for president risks alienating the republican Cuban voters if he removes DLP (which he did Friday) the longtime political fixture in Miami-Dade County. He has served as both a Florida state representative as well as senator and his younger brother Renier ran as a judge losing .Renier a former state representative and school board member slid into the seat after no one ran for the open seat. He lost the reelection. DLP says the arrest removal is political hit since he supports Trump in 2024. He further used a slang name to describe the governor in the press, defending himself.
The commissioner has two world class defense attorney’s Ben Kuehne, and the second defendant Willliam Riley. an attorney and lobbyist is represented by former U.S. Atty. Kendall Coffey, whose wife Joni was an assistant county attorney for years and later the Broward County Attorney. Editor’s NOTE: This why I started to go to all these meetings and had a card that read. Citizen Advocate for ethical government back in 1997 here because it was so blatant and in the open.
What do we know about Alex’s finances?
The former state legislator had a net worth of $31,643, back in 12/2009.Last year 2021, it jumped to $1.668 million mostly in real estate.
The commissioner Sunday tells WPLG that the indictments are a “work of fiction,” “same as Trump” he says to media. He also said he would be campaigning on Sunday, now out on bail. The race has challengers and are starting to get media attention. The commissioner has $76,603 in his campaign war chest. His brother Miguel, also a former senator, is a major Miami lobbyist including World Plaza 600 Brickell and the older brother pushed having a county IG back in 1994 along with Jimmy Morales and Katy Sorenson. Below is the governors order.
Press: Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-184 (Executive Order of Suspension), suspending Alejandro Diaz de la Portilla from his position as City of Miami Commissioner, District 1.
On September 14, 2023, Alejandro Diaz de la Portilla was arrested on one count of Money Laundering, a first-degree felony under section 896.101, Florida Statutes; three counts of Unlawful Compensation or Reward for Official Behavior, a second-degree felony under section 838.016, Florida Statutes; one count of Bribery / Misuse of Public Office, a second-degree felony under section 838.015, Florida Statutes; one count of Criminal Conspiracy, a third-degree felony under section 777.04, Florida Statutes; four counts of Official Misconduct, a third-degree felony under section 838.022, Florida Statutes; one count of Campaign Contribution in Excess of Legal Limits for Political Committees, a third-degree felony under section 106.08(1)(a)(3), Florida Statutes; and two counts of Failure to Report a Gift, a second-degree misdemeanor under Miami-Dade County Code Sec. 2-11.1(e) and section 125.69, Florida Statutes.
To read the full executive order, click here or read below:
Eight commissioners removed since 1997,one twice, will many more follow this clean-up of Miami politics?
Here is a list of all the Miami Commission removed or suspended from office since 1997.They are Miller Dawkins, Humberto Hernandez(twice), Art Teele, Angel Gonzalez, Johnny Winton, Michelle Spence Jones (later reinstated),Alex Diaz de la Portilla, most recently. The public is wondering if others will be charged as well since Miami has the so called “friends and family plan” often referred to at city boards where people get a break at the boards on their fines or punishment. Forced out police chief Art Acevedo mentioned the interference and use of government against political enemies by commissioners and interfering with police operations like code enforcement.
The authorities from the Broward state attorney’s office to Miami-Dade County state attorney working together have apparently delved deep into the city and some wonder if years of corruption will finally be weeded out in this minority majority community. All the candidates running against DLP say they will fight the corruption at City Hall, where cozy relations with lobbyist is the rule of the day, with many sayings what’s the problem everyone is doing it, which is so true and blatant.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
CITY OF MIAMI
>>>
EDITORIAL
COMMUNITY EVENTS
SPONSORS
>>> The Jackson Health System has seen a small bump, “maybe 10 systemwide “of new Covid patients, wrote a reliable source last week.
>>> M-D COUNTY IG 25 years old, has helped save taxpayers, millions
>>> With surging homeless populations around country, local county trust getting more attention re permanent housing “four new vertical permanent sites” coming online, from Cutler Bay to Doral in next 30-days, says Trust chair Book to Miami commissioners.
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust is acquiring “four new vertical sites for permanent housing,” said long time serving Chairman Ronald L. Book at last Fridays city of Miami first budget meeting. The attorney told commissioners that a facility in North Miami is housing 120 seniors where “80 percent came off the streets of Miami,” he said. He noted the facility was at capacity and the trust was opening other housing facilities in Cutler bay and around 190 single units off of Krome in South Dade. He said the trust is a national model as all cities in America are dealing with dramatic increases in homeless on the streets from NYC to L.A., and Book has been contacted by former Miami school district Supervisor Alberto Carvalho, about creating such a program in LA. The city has some 79,000 unsheltered in the city and is looking for solutions as well. The new facilities will have homeless case workers helping with any clinical diagnosis and getting their required medication.
Further on the 2024 ballot there will be a question asking voters to approve a food & beverage tax on Miami Beach and other beach communities, which were originally exempted from the tax. This extra income is critical to the trust in eliminating homelessness in the county, with the extra fiscal boost. Editor’s Note: Book has been a long-time sponsor of WDR. He has also kept the county commissioners from raiding the trusts funds over the years.
>>> County Homeless count up slightly versus many other metropolitan cities, trust, and CBOs key driver to success, permanent housing solution not more shelters in the future.
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust annual count on August 18th is out. The city of Miami had 640 homeless in 2022, and 534 this year. For last year the number of homeless unsheltered homeless countywide was 3,566. This year it was 3,729 and trust should be a national model for other cities facing a homeless population crisis.
The Miami-Dade County Inspecter General celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The agency fights waste, fraud, and abuse. Since the first I.G. Christopher Mazzella, the office has not been used for retribution that was first feared thanks to his leadership. Here’s one report on MIA elevator mechanics 2023-08-31-elevator-mechanics-dispo-ig-21-0008-i.pdf (miamidadeig.org)
Summary of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust
Meeting Held on September 15, 2023
Prelease: (September 15, 2023) The Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust held a public meeting on September 15, 2023. The following actions took place:
Formal Opinion Issued Regarding Prohibition on Transacting Business with the County.RQO 2023-01: The Ethics Commission issued a formal opinion to a Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department employee. The formal opinion, requested by the County employee, advised her that she may not contract or otherwise do business with her employing County department to participate in a program administered by that department given that the Miami-Dade Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance generally prohibits County employees from contracting with or otherwise doing business with their employing County department.
Commission Provided with Report on Amendments to County Ethics Code.The commission agreed with the Executive Director’s proposal regarding a renewed request of the County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners to amend the County Ethics Code to allow County employees, in certain circumstances, to contract with their departments and secure human services, if otherwise eligible.
Complaint Filed Against City of Miami Mayor Found Not Legally Sufficient 23-32-07: A complaint filed against City of Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complaint alleged that Mayor Suarez improperly accepted gifts from entities that have business before the City of Miami Commission.
Complaint Filed Against City of Miami Commissioner Found Not Legally Sufficient
C 23-27-06: A complaint filed against City of Miami Commissioner, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complainant, Miguel Gabela, a candidate for the City of Miami Commission alleged that Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla violated the Miami-Dade County Ethics Code when he (incumbent Diaz de la Portilla) took actions to remove the complainant’s home from his current district map so that he could not run against the respondent in an upcoming election.
Complaint Filed Against Doral City Manager Found Not Legally Sufficient C 23-29-07: A complaint filed against Barbara Hernandez, City of Doral City Manager, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complainant, Digna Cabral, Councilwoman for the City of Doral, alleged that Ms. Hernandez made an unlawful request for the complainant to pay for records requested in her capacity as an elected official.
Former City of Miami Community Liaison Stipulates to Probable Cause Finding C 23-06-02: Helena Jaimes Espinosa, a City of Miami Community Liaison in the Office of City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Prohibition on Outside Employment section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. A COE investigation revealed that Ms. Jaimes Espinoza failed to file, under oath, an annual report indicating the source of her outside employment, the nature of the work being done, and any amounts or type of money or other consideration received as required by the Ethics Code. Specifically, Ms. Jaimes Espinoza failed to report that, in 2020 and 2021, she engaged in paid outside employment by working for two political action committees and for the 2020 Reinier Diaz de la Portilla Campaign for Miami-Dade County Commissioner.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. Jaimes Espinosa will be issued a Letter of Instruction and will be required to pay a fine in the amount of $500.
Complaint Filed Against City of Miami Springs Mayor Found Not Legally Sufficient
C 23-31-07: A complaint filed against Maria Puente Mitchell, Mayor of the City of Miami Springs, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. The complaint alleged that Mayor Puente Mitchell violated the Miami-Dade County Citizens’ Bill of Rights Truth in Government provision when she failed to answer the complainant’s question at a Town Hall Meeting and then subsequently saying the question had been answered at another Town Hall Meeting.
Motion Denied in Case Involving North Bay Village Mayor and former North Bay Village City Attorney
C 22-60-10: A motion filed by former North Bay Village City Attorney, Norman Powell, against current North Bay Village Mayor, Brent Latham was denied. The motion sought to dismiss Mayor Latham’s active claim of a frivolous ethics complaint filed by Mr. Powell.
>>> Fake it till you make it when it comes to GOP debate stage for Mayor Francis Suarez, who considers himself a “unicorn candidate,” says “option” should be to bomb Cuba, not registering in national polls, people wonder if Miami all sizzle, given long colorful history around the nation. He is expected to dropout and home no longer has many cars as he licks his political wounds that the commissioners will now pounce on in his weakened termed out position.
The man claims to have made the GOP debate requirements, not confirmed by the party. He has an extensive record of lack of leadership, especially the commission which gives candidates opposition research a trove of negative examples of the turmoil of Miami politics. He says he is a generational figure, and believes attacking Cuba “ should be an option,” citing past presidents actions Panama and other countries. He also believes what people do in off hours is there business. He told me this as a commissioner years ago at a restaurant in Coconut Grove having drinks but with a Miami police officer, why I remember this. However, the numerous investigations into him will emerge in the national press if his candidacy catches fire but for now it is just embers. The man is considered a cheer leader of the city and cryptocurrency now in decline and he has a spoiled kid perception being the scion of the city’s first Cuban mayor growing up and revered by many exiles. Editor’s note I write about the man since I have known him since he first tried to get a slate for the local GOP executive committee back in 2004.He wanted to get his dad elected as the county’s party chair after the father lost a county commission race, back then and backed Coral Gables mayor Vince Lago years ago.
Two losers Florida education Commissioner Diaz & Dr. Dotres, both failed to show-up at townhall in Miami Garden’s, discuss recent dept. Education decisions: African American studies wording inflaming the community, demonstrations at school board meeting, will impact De Santos presidential campaign?
Florida education commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., skipped a packed community townhall last week in Miami Gardens. The past state legislator never showed and neither did district Supt. Dr. Jose Dotres. Diaz a strong supporter of charter and works at for profit Doral College ( had a net worth in 2022 of $668,521.in 2012 his net was – $11,346 and 2023 is not online yet) The man along with Antares Flores, R- Hialeah helped the school get accredited and has Diaz’s wife working there. Diaz pushed De Santis’s Woke agenda in the legislature last year. The governor doesn’t realize this posture will hurt him as a presidential campaign taking major hits in the national polls.
May we all pray for the Americans on Maui Hawaii where fire destroyed and took over 100 people in the past paradise island in the South Pacific. May aid come soon to the island and residents. Further, another horrific mass shooting in Jacksonville, when will this end?
>>>> Miami-Dade County renters are in for a shock as landlords are getting hit with their new property taxes after a 12 percent rise in property values now becoming on land value. The county is proposing a 1 percent tax increase but is far outweighed by the land value, and I suspect in September renters losing their homes will rise at a rapid rate. Through rent increases to cover the large, combined taxing entities from the school board to the library system, plus the cost of insurance coverage, one Mc Mansion spikes all homes
STATE OF FLORIDA: Now we learn that taxpayers are paying $9.6 million for De Santos security while campaigning & probable pertains to Miami Mayor Suarez as well?
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Government internal hibernation till budget hearings in Sept now holding budget townhall meetings around the county to read budget click here: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/management/budget/home.page
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: District should consider having AED on playing fields & school nurses have Narcan for fentanyl overdoses, one life saved worth it
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST:
CITY OF MIAMI: Taxpayers racking up major legal fees, what is cost of mayor’s presidential campaign security, who paying?
City of Miami Beach: Michael Greico running for mayor again gutsy given all past investigations, has no shame, maintains beach’s troubled political history? Voters should look at alternatives for essential figurehead position since the manager runs city.
EDITORIAL: Biden gaffs in Maui, kitchen fire no comparison to devastation, after “no comment,” answer on beach. Age becoming major concern, won only because he ran against Trump.
>>> 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.
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
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
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BENEDICT P. KUEHNE http://www.kuehnelaw.com/
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
Rbb www.rbbcommmunications.com
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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