WATCHDOG REPORT Vol.24 No.94 February 23, 2025: EST:05.05.00 – A community education resource for 24-years
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No 94, February 23, 2025, Celebrating May 5th,2000: 25 -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.)
After 25-years of trying to keep the public informed holistically I am hanging by the thread if I am to continue. I just lost my work even though saved but computer acting up so sorry. I had some great stories done and will try again next week.
IF you can please help inflation is killing me and so many others including residents going to Disney World, where prices have doubled for food and attractions at the park one recent man told me when he took his son recently. Four might need regarding some old audio gear or speakers. Further, as aan audiophile vintage audio gear is now quite valuable on the web and I would be happy to give an advice on an old gearoumightgiraudite still have. I apologize for the poor floormate and will try to correct next week thank you
>>> ARGUS REPORT: HEARD SEEN ON THE STREETS
STATE OF FLORIDA Legislature
FloridaLegislature : should increase the penalties, like points, for drivers using their cell phones while driving because it is not working and such drivers not only a ticket but pointes would be a better way to go as now this is going on with people on motorcycles, and mopeds are seen widely in South Florida.
Miami- Dade County
The county mayor DDaniella Levine Cava is trying to streamline the administration but delays of projects are still a big problem as Commissioner J.C. Bermudez noted Wednesday at the BCC. And he said “it took 20 years to install 2 elevators at Dadeland station.” The body is plagued by constant lobbyist and attorney challenges and contract disputes.
The mayor has fostered some of this by having a close relationship with her campaign manager lobbyist and she is not the only one. The lobbyist also doesn’t want to be giving campaign contributions many have told me over the years. Commissioners also dole out prestige’s appointments like the county’s Charter Review committee.
Recently Raquel Regalado (net worth in 2022 $158,019, but with real-estate it jumped to $422,000 in 2023)
She recently appointed Greenberg Traurig attorney Iris Escarra, to the charter review committee. Escarra is chair of the firm’s land use committee. Further, with some seven county commissioners arrested as well as a host of county employees. That fact had termed out commissioner Dennis Moss “asking many times what does some have to do to get fired, “kill someone he asked? When many employees go into the county Pipeline where many are just reassigned where they may not have the skills for the job.
What about lobbyist Eston “Dusty Melton, III, recently charged with tax evasion and pleaded quality?
Many prominent leaders in the community have joined Melton with two past PHT chairs having the same tax problem Daryl Sharpton, and Larry Handfield of the PHT board of trustees. In Melton’s case when I was first started the WDR he pointed a finger like a gun at me at Scotty’s Landing in Coconut Grove at a time Dave Barry, told me “I was going to end up in the bay, if I kept at it,” and at a time threats were coming often, but lobbying is not illegal but past MIA directors have said Miami is “lobbyist heaven,” and another after all the change orders at the facility told commissioners “I’m out of gas,” looking exhausted said Jose Abreau and Angela Gittens years ago. I bring this up as races in the county are million-dollar campaign races including the mayor’s excessive fundraising in 2024, against an obscure challenger, later added to the administration that is top heave with well paid staff and sets a terrible example to county employees. These employees thanked me for refusing take a first-class cruise ticket from Norwegian Cruise Lines I won at the 100thAnniversary celebration for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon in a drawing, and after I got it Norwegian was like Kryptonite and could hardly touch it and gave it back to the organization.
TING TIME CHANGE NOTICE FOR PHT BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONE-DAY COMMITTEE MEETINGS – The TIME previously scheduled for the PHT BOT One-Day Committee Meetings on Wednesday, February 26, at 10:30 a.m., has been changed. The PHT BOT One-Day Committee Meetings will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Public Health Trust Meetings, Agendas, Notices, and Structure
MEETING TIME CHANGE NOTICE FOR PHT BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONE-DAY COMMITTEE MEETINGS – The TIME previously scheduled for the PHT BOT One-Day Committee Meetings on Wednesday, February 26, at 10:30 a.m., has been changed. The PHT BOT One-Day Committee Meetings will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Public Health Trust Meetings, Agendas, Notices, and Structure
CITY OF MIAMI
With the Freedom Park project moving forward that includes a new Miami administration center and commissioners moving from Dinner Key city hall, it is likely the city will approve a large development at the waterfront site given the city is a crack addict for general fund money, given how poorly the city runs moving funds from one pot to another over the years. That even involved money in a Tree Trust. The city with multiple Trusts to protect their integrity has over the years failed with the Bayfront Park Trust being one of them.
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.
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 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
MARTIN MARGULIES margulieswarehouse.com
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, 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.
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/
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