Watchdog Report Vol.24 No.90 January 19, 2025: EST:05.05.00 – A free community education resource for soon 25-years
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No 90, January 19, 2025, Celebrating May 5th,2000: 24 -years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald featured, news reporter & 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 STREETS
With the nation’s debt at $36 trillion, President Donald J. Trump will have his hands full trying to bring this unstainable debt under control.
His inauguration Tuesday continues the trend of people voting for the other guy because of past performance, not incumbent, and may happen again if Trump fails to bring the country together, which I hope so.
>>> The wildfires in L.A., should put all elected leaders on notice that competence in administrative offices has to be paramount, not who you know in these jobs. Santa Ana winds can reach 100 degrees and are surprising powerful, having lived in Ca. in 1970s the winds surprised me of the intensity.
What about efficiencies at the Miami-Dade County?
The commission is considering hiring some consultants to study ways to save money, and any savings would pay the consultants. This is a good idea, but as Michael Lewis writes in Miami-Today www.miamitoday.com, it will run into political challenges rather than savings.
I bring this up because MIA expansion is being discussed and the county commission should again think of an authority like in 2002-2003, and numerous stories on connected venders if a new bond is wished for the airport construction cost and MIA termed as lifetime employment resulting in the high landing costs some of the highest in the nation, but they won’t and the overruns will continue. For years I gave the county the benefit of doubt but nothing in 24-years has changed except for the facilities directors.
STATE of FLORIDA
>>> Florida playing outsized role in Trump new administration so far with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-fla., nominated as Secretary Of State will his West Miami home sale become a problem in confirmation?
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Public defender Martinez, sworn in Friday, “half-truth, enemies,” of state attorney Fernandez Rundle both keeping societies barbarians at the gates, mused Martinez.
Friday the Miami-Dade County Public Defender Carlos Martinez, for the fifth-time was sworn in at the county’s commission chambers and he and the state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle are not “half-truth enemies” as many portray us but protectors of the “barbarians,” at our gates in society was his analogy, said Martinez, to a room filled with assistant public defenders, and the office was able to hire “39 new attorneys” a daunting task given the low salary, with student loans. The state assistant attorneys have the same issue as the defender’s office.
>>> Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust closed on La Quinta property, last week in Cutler Bay, being named “Hideaway by the Bay,” in future, needed beds for county after residents’ concerns addressed.
The county’s Homeless trust has closed on the La Quinta property last week and will now be called Hideaway by the Bay, texted long time chair Ron Book.
During the cold weather the Trust offered housing for over a 100 homeless, that wanted shelter said the chair.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>> Refinancing of bonds saves district $20 million CFO Steiger gets kudos for move, says Dr. Gallon, III, district wants to partner with History Miami too expand collaboration, teaching Miami’s rich history in a segregated south. Administration building elevators faulty, 8th floor has cafeteria chair wants fixing, administration trying says facility staff.
The county’s school board meeting was a calm affair and the district saved $20 million refinancing some bonds, but at a competitive interest rate, and the school has billions in bonds after all the new school construction that now may be a problem with school student enrollment dropping, and some charter schools drawing 86,000 students or 30 percent of total students in the district that has seen student reductions since Covid.
The board also wants to partner with History Miami to collaborate with the district to share Miami’s rich history over the centuries in a segregated Miami.
Former county public schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho is in the middle of the deadly fires in L.A. and so far, he has been the man for the jo but this disaster is unprecedented. Next week there will be more on this subject.
CITY OF MIAMI/Coconut Grove
>>> Modifying Miami tree ordinance deferred, until gotten right, if that is ever possible for many, other issue lax oversight by inspectors having Cafecito’s with builders very chummy and has everyone doing it with no repercussions, Gabela should focus on compliance of current laws, helps his community too, he’s well off also is not rich poor issue alone Allapattah has need for green & tree preservation
The Tuesday Sunshine commission meeting called by Commissioner Damian Pardo concerning a legislative tree change, proposed by Miguel Gabela, (net worth $3.6 million & owns six properties one worth $2.5 million) was a contentious meeting punctuated between lovers of trees and potential developers’ interests.
The packed commission chambers were electric in passion as a cross section of environmentalists all asking for mercy regarding Miami’s shrinking tree canopy. decimated after Hurricane Andrew and other storms and the city’s tree fund is being used for a variety of uses. The city has never been effective managing laws especially regarding developers and the environment. For more go too: https://coconutgrovespotlight.com/
Decades ago, Sylvester Stallone destroyed a large Mangrove cluster north of Mercy hospital and nothing happened. This lack of enforcement is seen when home construction on Saturday is widespread and when trees many times get cut without permits and inspectors are seen having a Cafecito at a roach truck with inspectors and its like meeting friends at a bar, given the comradeship.
Further you have expeditors attractive women (one driving a Porsche 911 convertible with plans in their hands flirting with staff at the county as well as Miami.
Why are so many Miami laws ignored because everyone is doing it Suarez only gift disclosure $8,750 in 4 Dolphins tickets from community council member Valenzuela?
Miami Commissioners are the most visible and when it comes to quarterly gift disclosures none of the commissioners filed any this last quarter. However, during Christmas a steady stream of gifts could be seen and only Mayor Francis Suarez filed one. He got four Miami Dolphins tickets valued at $8,750., from Anthony Valenzuela, a county community council member for District 11, and was a student reporter at MDC, and likely a friend.
The young mayor who recently gave his state of the city highlighting the revenue from the mega project Freedom Park he calls “the best deal ever,” yet is failing to pay the required $25 million, due to begin vertical construction. The mayor termed out feels he is being persecuted in the press unfairly, and does not disclose his clients.
COMMUNITY EVENTS: https://www.margulieswarehouse.com/
SPONSERS:
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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Sponsors
***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000
Mr. ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr (The first contributor to the WDR)
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2007)
ARTHUR HERTZ, deceased one of the first supporters
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
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JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST
BERCOW RADELL FERNANDEZ & LARKIN & Tapanes www.brzoninglaw.com
RON BOOK, Esq. https://rlbookpa.com/team/
BENEDICT P. KUEHNE, Esq. http://www.kuehnelaw.com/
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
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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/
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