Watchdog Report Vol.13 No.4 June 3, 2012 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot

>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center for International Media http://knight.miami.edu within the University of Miami’s School of Communication www.miami.edu to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no ads, pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> And they’re off, GOP fields Romney as Obama tries to nip momentum early, but economic numbers are starting to drag on reelection campaign

With the Tuesday primary elections around the nation including Texas concluding, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in the driver’s seat and is the official challenger of President Barack Obama and in 2008, his campaign was an irresistible Movement (that had one pregnant early voter, despite breaking her water, not leaving until she voted at the polling site at Miami City Hall back then), but 2012 is going to be dramatically different, and will be just a tight election. The Watchdog Report has spoken to many Republicans over the past months who took a leap of faith and voted for Obama back then, and they bought into his articulate vision of hope, change and politically working together in the Congress, but that was then, and this is now. And both parties are girding up for a election battle that will be unprecedented in the annals of elections since Super PACs have unlimited fund raising capabilities, the increase of the social network technology to get messages out, and a economy that is hanging on a thread with a 1.9 percent growth rate, along with disappointing employment numbers on Friday.

Both men love the idea of an orderly policy process, are not into chitchat and in many ways they have similar personalities, a certain coolness and analytical approach to challenges and while people might like Obama as a person. If the economy does not pick up Romney could get the nod on the belief that the president got his chance and did not do enough when it came to job creation, though that downplays the seriousness of the economic meltdown the nation faced and both candidates are fundraising at a considerable clip with the candidates reporting around raising $40 million each in the past quarter.

What about the global economy?

With Greece, teetering on not accepting the Euro Union bailout led by Germany and other countries sitting on the fiscal fence like Spain, Italy and Ireland. This slowing European economy is also affecting the two largest new global economies, India and China, further dragging down the United States recovery, and Republicans are pouncing on this lack luster American economy that has the majority of Americans pessimistic about the coming years most polls show. Obama is firing back reminding voters what he faced when he took office and that 8 million jobs had been lost at that point as the economy spun into a negative vortex that had banks short on cash and credit frozen in Sept. 2008 and the global economy was on the brink of the biggest fiscal crisis since the Great Depression.

>>> White House press release: Alan B. Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued the following statement today on the employment situation in May. You can view the statement HERE.

Problems in the job market were long in the making and will not be solved overnight. The economy lost jobs for 25 straight months beginning in February 2008, and over 8 million jobs were lost as a result of the Great Recession. We are still fighting back from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Today we learned that the economy has added private sector jobs for 27 straight months, for a total of 4.3 million payroll jobs over that period. The economy is growing but it is not growing fast enough. BLS’s establishment survey shows that private businesses added 82,000 jobs last month, and overall non-farm payroll employment rose by 69,000. The unemployment rate ticked up from 8.1% in April to 8.2% in May, according to BLS’s household survey. However, the labor force participation rate increased 0.2 percentage point to 63.8%, and employment rose by 422,000 according to the household survey.

There is much more work that remains to be done to repair the damage caused by the financial crisis and deep recession that began at the end of 2007. Just like last year at this time, our economy is facing serious headwinds, including the crisis in Europe and a spike in gas prices that hit American families’ finances over the past months. It is critical that we continue the President’s economic policies that are helping us dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession. In the American Jobs Act and in the State of the Union Address, the President put forward a number of proposals to create jobs and strengthen the economy, including proposals that would put teachers back in the classroom and cops on the beat, and put our nation’s construction workers back on the job rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. The President has also proposed a “To-Do List” of actions that Congress should take to create jobs and help restore middle-class security. This includes eliminating tax incentives to ship jobs overseas, cutting red tape so responsible homeowners can refinance, giving small businesses that increase employment or wages a 10 percent income tax credit, investing in affordable clean energy, and helping returning veterans find work. The President is in Minneapolis today to announce a new executive action that will establish private sector partnerships to help military service members acquire recognized occupational credentials—as welders, as machinists, and ultimately in a broader range of occupations. These partnerships will help service members find private sector jobs once they leave the military, and they will help firms in manufacturing and other industries that need workers to fill their vacant positions. Manufacturing employment continues to expand and manufacturers added 12,000 jobs in May. After losing millions of good manufacturing jobs in the years before and during the recession, the economy has added 495,000 manufacturing jobs since January 2010–the strongest growth for any 28-month period since April 1995. To continue the revival in manufacturing jobs and output, the President has proposed tax incentives for manufacturers, enhanced training for the workforce, and measures to create manufacturing hubs and encourage the growing trend of insourcing.

Other sectors with net job increases included education and health services (+46,000), transportation and warehousing (+35,600), wholesale trade (+15,900), and temporary help services (+9,200). Construction lost 28,000 jobs, accounting services lost 14,000 jobs, government lost 13,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality lost 9,000 jobs. State and local governments shed 8,000 jobs, mostly in education. As the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and unemployment figures can be volatile, and employment estimates can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report and it is helpful to consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming available.

>>> U.S. Sen. Nelson press release on federal judge ruling on Florida’s registration new laws: The Court’s preliminary injunction blocked enforcement of the following parts of the new law: The requirement that groups submit all completed voter registration applications to the state within 48 hours of collection.
The requirement that individuals who do not physically collect voter registration forms pre-register with the state before engaging in any voter registration activity, such as encouraging people to register to vote. The requirement that organizations give the state notice within 10 days when any volunteer or employee stops volunteering for the organization. The requirement that volunteers sign a form threatening them with criminal penalties before they may register voters. The judge also said that this form misstates Florida law. The requirement that organizations send a monthly report to the state listing the number of voter registration applications the organization distributed and received.

The preliminary injunction did not block enforcement of the following parts of the new law: The requirement that those who run voter registration drives pre-register with the state before engaging in voter registration activity. The requirement that voter registration organizations ensure that submitted voter registration forms are stamped with an identification number for the organization that collected them. The requirement that organizations provide information to the state in electronic format. The ability of the Secretary of State to refer violations of the law to the Attorney General for enforcement. The discretion of the Secretary of State to refuse to waive penalties for not complying with the law even when unexpected events make it impossible for organizations to comply with the law.

>>> Press release: Statement from Governor Rick Scott Regarding Voter Registration Process Integrity

Governor Rick Scott, satisfied with the ruling that strengthens the integrity of Florida’s voter registration process, will review options related to other provisions designed to protect newly registered voters.
“I am pleased that central parts of the voter registration law have been upheld by a federal judge. This is a vast improvement over the previous system that will help protect the integrity, accountability, and enforcement of the voter registration process. Our democracy relies on ensuring only valid, legal votes are counted, and that starts with having a voter registration process that safeguards the ballots of Florida citizens.”

>>> Ros-Lehtinen Votes For Reauthorization Of The National Flood Insurance Program & Says This Bill Gives Added Stability To Re-Emerging Housing Market

Press release: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, whose District includes high risk flood prone areas in the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County, voted for a 60 day reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The House approved the Senate version that includes an amendment that would remove subsidies granted to second homes as well as vacation homes. One in four Floridians is covered under the NFIP, collectively paying $900 million in premiums per year. The lack of a long-term reauthorization brings instability to a re-emerging housing market as home buyers whose home resides in a flood plain cannot close on their homes without flood insurance.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, “I am glad that the House and Senate were able to iron out their differences and produce this legislation. While it is far from a perfect bill, it is the best we were able to achieve and we could not afford a lapse in NFIP coverage. It is my hope that this re-authorization will invigorate the modest housing gains seen in South Florida and across the nation. A robust real estate market is the key to a healthier economy and passage of this bill is a positive step forward.”

>>> Unemployment Rises: Change We Can Believe In?

Press release: The May unemployment report was released this morning, and it has left much to be desired. Unemployment rose back up to 8.2 percent, and Hispanic unemployment jumped to 11.0 percent. Only 69,000 jobs were added this past month, marking that as the least amount added to the job market in over a year. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) issued the following statement on the unemployment report: “These dismal numbers are sadly no longer a surprise; they simply reiterate and remind us month after month of President Obama’s disastrous economic policies. After a failed stimulus of nearly a trillion dollars, the President has the audacity to ask for more spending, more borrowing, and more taxes. Unfortunately for the American people, this president’s policies have failed miserably.”

“Yes, President Obama may have brought us change, but it is not change we can believe it. It is change that has increased the national debt by $5 trillion dollars, change that has allowed GDP growth to creep along tantalizingly slow at 1.9 percent, and change that has marked May as the fortieth consecutive month with the unemployment rate above 8 percent.” “It’s time for President Obama to stop dividing the American people. It’s time for him to recognize that his policies have failed, and to finally start cooperating with Republicans on bipartisan solutions to get America working again.”

>>> All photos in the Watchdog Report are taken from public government sites, and the Report goes on line at www.watchdogreport.net on Monday sometime during the day usually. >>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for I am a low cost news service, yet I do have to live, thank you! Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times and was Best Citizen in the 2003 Best of Miami of The Miami New Times, profiled twice in The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel ran a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003, and UNC Chapel Hill named me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also numerous times over the past decade. Further, I am a frequent guest on WWW.WPBT2.ORG on Helen Ferre’s show Issues, and have also appeared on Eliott Rodriguez’s show News & Views on www.CBS4.com .

FLORIDA

>>> M-DC Clerk Ruvin gives thumbs down to office being interim county mayor, if top official recalled or incapacitated

Miami-Dade Clerk Harvey Ruvin at the Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force Wednesday morning said thanks, but no thanks, when it comes to the Clerk being an interim mayor in case the real mayor becomes incapacitated or some other state of emergency occurs that leaves a leadership void at the top county spot. This leadership vacuum occurred last year when former Mayor Carlos Alvarez was recalled in March 2011 and then assistant county Manager Alina Hudak filled the post until a new mayor was elected in June. Ruvin serving as Clerk for the last two decades said it was important for his office to maintain “neutrality” given some of the political aspects of the office such as approving citizen petitions and other disputes of a controversial nature that could come up between county officials, the administration, and versus perhaps citizens.

Ruvin said, “My feeling after 20 years as clerk is it is not a good idea, the DNA of the Clerk’s Office is a ministerial of neutrality.” He noted the office has all the documents for the courts and the county including “recalls and lawsuits” and he wanted to keep “this shield around it,” he said. And while his office along with the county mayor does approve who the county Finance Director is and the auditor because the office is the “custodian of county funds,” that relationship “evolved in the Charter” over the years and was a “Checks and balances” in the political process, he said. The attorney noted when he was a county commissioner prior to 1992. The position of vice mayor rotated every six months among the nine member county commission back then, and “at a time of a [mayoral] vacancy that person could assume that position,” he said. He closed his comments saying that while the “office is flattered” he thought overall, it “would tend to harm the office.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez also weighed in on the matter asking when it came to succession if someone was ill. “How long are they out in an incapacitated state” before something kicks in and if it is a lengthy illness what if “they cannot do this job?” he asked the task force members. He also said possible if the mayor was incapacitated, “the commission could name someone until the next general election” but he also thought the person chosen should have certain qualifications and there “should be some criteria” because this person “has to do certain things that only a mayor can do,” said Gimenez up for reelection in August. He also shot down the idea of the commission chair taking over as interim mayor because the person “could be a great legislator” but you “need a strong administrator” with a strong mayor form of government and while in “some cases they are okay, in other cases they may not be okay,” and in my case. “I may vote for someone else as interim mayor,” he said.

Ruvin

Gimenez

>>> This is the kind of discussions occurring at the Charter Review Task Force meetings that also include discussions on incorporation/annexation, the governance of the Public Health Trust, term limits and salary for commissioners. The Task Force needs to bring their recommendations to the commission by mid July if these are to appear on the ballot of the General Election Nov. 6.

>>> Is former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla shifting gears, could he drop out of Sen. 35 race to run in House Dist. 112?

Former State Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, a listed state Sen. Candidate running for District 35 may be having second thoughts on taking on veteran state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, the incumbent and the Senate’s first woman president. A number of sources are saying he instead will run for state representative in District 112, along with former state Rep. Gus Barreiro, R-Miami and Eric Padron and the Watchdog Report on Wednesday got a call from a pollster asking my impression of Diaz de la Portilla versus the other two major Republican challengers. A woman asked the questions in the early evening poll but it was clearly slanted towards getting my opinion of the former state senator termed out in the upper body in 2010. He was in the lower body before being elected to the state Senate first in a special election and he later bested state Rep. Carlos Lacasa, R-Miami in 2002 for a full four-year term. Further, two Democrats, Jose Javier Rodriguez and Alex Dominguez are also in the race and one of them will face the victorious Republican after the Aug.14 primary in a general election Nov. 6.

Margolis

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Whose next at MIA with aviation Dir. Abreu saying sayonara in Nov., will county mayoral election play into the position?

The clock is ticking when it comes to Jose Abreu saying sayonara in November and it will be a challenge to replace the long serving Director of Miami-Dade Aviation, thrown into the position back in 2005, when both the new North and South Terminals were hemorrhaging red ink, and experiencing years of delays until there completion over the last 18 months coming in at $6.4 billion. Abreu, the former head of Florida’s DOT came in after Angela Gittens was forced out and after about 18 months on the job at one county commission meeting where he was verbally being pounded. The Professional Engineer by training said, he “was out of gas,” in the job and the attendant criticism was overwhelming him and while commissioners wailed on him. The issues and problems he was facing were from the past administration he told the commissioners. However, with the new expansion very much completed, MIA and the aviation department is a plum job, but the real issue is the facilitates debt that currently is 332 days, which in the future will go to 365 days, at which time MIA will have to make $1 million in bond payments per day. And how this position is filled in politically charged Miami-Dade will be one of the first challenges whoever is elected county mayor that has incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commission Chair Joe Martinez the front-runners with a host of lesser candidates on the August ballot.

The administration of MIA, the county’s biggest economic job generator that also ferries tourists to the cruise ships in the tens of millions over the years has to function at the top of its game if tourism is to flourish, that also has American Airlines which controls about 70 percent of MIAs gates, trying to restructure its operations while in bankruptcy court. Abreu during his tenure has kept his eye on the prize of completing the massive capital improvement job begun in the early 1990s, but recently when it came to certain contracts being approved by the commission he has run into rough sailing. And in one tough exchange with one county commissioner, he afterwards said. “You would have thought I had kidnapped his child,” he told the Watchdog Report at the time after the tongue-lashing. However, while Mayor Gimenez suggested he thought he could keep Abreu on board for a longer time. The man used to designing roads and highways says otherwise and with the post opening in the future, people will be jockeying for the position and I asked Port Director Bill Johnson on Friday if he had any interest, and he said “no.” However, over the years Johnson has indicated an interest, and when someone at the table with him suggested having one person run both the port and Miami, that comment seemed to spike Johnson’s interest, but to be fair he did demure on the matter.

>>> Shelter for homeless sexual predators vexing problem for Homeless Trust, any new local program could be statewide magnet for these restricted people

A subcommittee of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is struggling with what to do with homeless people that are also registered sexual predators and are restricted from living 2,500 feet from schools and other places where children congregate and if they try to fund some program for the offenders. Will it become a magnet for all the people around Florida that have to live under these restrictions? The Trust is chartered to help the homeless and provide shelter, given the public funding involved, but out of the 100 contracts to providers let out. “None have involved placing homeless predators being put in shelters,” nor dealt with a housing component for these types of people, nor have any providers over the years offered such services, said Trust Director David Raymond.

“A non-profit heavily insured,” would be the only organization that could possible provide such a service and these people in encampments also have “serious substance abuse issues,” and “buy in from the state is tremendously important,” said one trustee during the discussion. But it was clear to Raymond “we still have some moral obligation” and it is not to “allow encampments which has never worked out,” like the one last year under the Juliet Tuttle Causeway that at its peaks had about 100 people living there, before it was closed down, and the bulk of the people relocated, even the people that were predators.

Further, Trust Chair Ron Book “has tried to get the state to pay” for services the Trust provides to these predators but that has failed. Further many of the people are not disabled which could allow them to stay in a place once it is found for them since there are disability payments. But without that financial help any “start up rental assistance” will be for naught because they will “run into obstacles such as no longer being capable to pay their rent, said one trustee. The Trust is continuing to seek a resolution to this vexing problem, but so far, it has been elusive to date. Readers should stay tuned.

>>> Cultural Affairs Dir. Spring says two museums in Bicentennial Park on track, won’t need more public funding in his estimation

Michael Spring, the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs director told the Watchdog Report that when it came to the private funding and donations for the Perez Art Museum and the Frost Science Museum going up on part of Bicentennial Park. He said it was on track, the new art museum is slated to open in early 2013 (that includes $100 million in public bond money) and while the Science Museum wants not just $30 million of GOB funding in the coming year, the other $35 million requested in that budget year is due to the organization anyway, just not on this timetable, he said.

The Watchdog Report has written about the two projects in the past and my only concern was while some $240 million in public dollars were flowing for the facilities construction, which is paying for most of the structures cost. I was concerned since these organizations board meetings were private that the public might be caught holding the bag if their philanthropic goals did not pan out or there were significant construction overruns. Spring said in that regard that both board chair’s Aaron Podhurst for the art museum and Dan Bell for the science museum were “both honorable men” and he suggested. I should not be worried about the matter, and these two buildings would come in on time and within budget.

>>> Some county commissioners need to fill CRB slots, for the good of the community

The Miami-Dade Community Relations Board (CRB) held a workshop last week and the organization formed in the early 1960s is charged with fostering “mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect among all economic, social, religious and ethnic groups in the County.” The CRB recently played a major role during the past Memorial Day Weekend on Miami Beach and their volunteer Ambassadors help work and direct tourists and party goers coming to the event, that in the past surpassed 250,000 people but had a lower turnout this past Memorial Day, and arrests were down considerable, though there was a heightened police presence that may have suppressed the crowds.

What about CRB membership?

The Miami-Dade Commissioners have some appointments to the CRB that have yet to be filled. Commissioners Jean Monestime, Lynda Bell, Estephan Bovo and Jose “Pepe” Diaz all have appointments to make for this critical community board that attempts to keep peace in a community that teaches English at the public schools in 19 languages and these leaders need to fill their appointments on the CRB.

Bovo

Monestime

Bell

Diaz

>>> Two M-DC IG reports: Final Report of our Audit of the Agreements Between Miami-Dade County and Basketball Properties, Ltd., et.al. to Operate the American Airlines Arena, IG11-34, May 31, 2012. Schedules. Appendices.

>>> Arrest and Plea of County Construction Contractor Relating to a Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department MCC Contract, IG11-12, May 30, 2012.

>>> Ethics Commission ruling: A manager for the Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation Department, who recently obtained permission to engage in private outside employment, asked if he may meet with County staff to obtain information on behalf of his private clients (RQO 12-10). Zafer Ahmed explained that a private client, who has been cited by the county with building code violations, has asked Ahmed to assist him with compliance issues. The Ethics Commission found that the County Ethics Code prohibits government employees from appearing before County staff on behalf of a third party seeking a benefit from the County. Noting that any interaction could give the appearance of cronyism or an unfair advantage, Ahmed was therefore advised that he may not meet with County staff regarding any matters involving his private clients.

>>> Press release: When you live in South Florida, hurricanes are a part of your life. The beautiful weather that we enjoy all year round can turn disastrous during hurricane season, which begins today June 1st, and ends on November 30th. While we don’t know where Mother Nature will head this year, we do know one thing for sure, everyone should be prepared. Below are tips from The Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service. Following them will help keep your loved ones safe this hurricane season. Learn about your community’s emergency plan, evacuation routes and locations of emergency shelters. Verify if you live in an evacuation zone by visiting www.miamidade.gov/oem. Develop and review a family evacuation plan. Ensure your family knows meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules. Conduct drills. Check and replenish hurricane supplies. Shop for a 3-7 day supply of water and non-perishable food. Store at least one gallon of drinking water per person, per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for preparation/sanitation). Post emergency phone numbers at every phone. Review insurance policies and make copies. Prepare a “Family Document Kit.” Take an itemized inventory of household goods. Take photos of your home inside and out. Video tape documentation of all valuables in home. Purchase or prepare a “First Aid Kit.” Trim trees early. Inspect shutters. Make plans for persons with special needs, and pets. For resources on food supply lists, water supplies and other disaster kits, visit Miami-Dade County’s Extension website at http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu or call 305-592-8044 ext. 106.

>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force is holding a meeting on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at 9:00 a.m., at the Stephen P. Clark Center, located at 111 NW 1st Street, 18th Floor, Conference Rooms 18-3 and 18-4. Proceedings of the Task Force will be conducted in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Law (FS 286.011) and the Citizens’ Bill of Rights of the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter.

On March 8, 2012, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution R-253-12 creating a Charter Review Task Force. The Task Force is charged with reviewing the Home Rule Charter of Miami-Dade County; studying the final report of the 2008 Charter Review Task Force; reviewing amendments submitted to the voters since 2008; inviting knowledgeable members of the community to appear; conducting public hearings; hosting regional public meetings; and providing written recommendations to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their July 17, 2012 meeting. >>> The Task Force consists of 20 members, 13 of the members are appointed by each County Commissioner, one by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, four by each of the four largest cities in the County, and two by the Miami-Dade League of Cities. For more information about the Charter Review Task Force, visit http://www.miamidade.gov/charter/task-force-2012.asp. WHAT: Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force Meeting WHEN Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 9:00 a.m. Stephen P. Clark Center WHERE: 111 NW 1st Street 18th Floor
Conference Rooms 18-3 and 18-4 Miami, FL 33128.

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Variety of risks at nation’s 4th largest public district with $8 billion in property, “not for the feint of heart,” says CFO Hines

With Hurricane Season beginning Jun.1 the issue of the nation’s fourth largest public schools risk and hurricane damage exposure was the talk of a recent school board Audit & Budget Advisory Committee. And when it comes to issues like these at Miami-Dade public schools, “It is not for the feint of heart,” said Richard Hines, Ph.D., the district CFO. He said the district has about $8 billion in property, there is about $200 million in insurance coverage, that also includes a $100 million deductible, and while Hurricane Andrew in 1992 caused $96 million in damage that would be $800 million in 2012 dollars, he said. Further, a second hurricane of such magnitude said Hines would cost the district hundreds of millions more he said when you are dealing with a public schools system this size with hundreds of schools.

What about the self-insured health program for the District’s 60,000 lives?

The public schools district is the county’s largest employeer, its self-insured health insurance program comes in to the tune of almost $360 million on an onward basis, and that is the largest single cost next to salaries the district pays. Alberto Carvalho the district superintendent told the Audit and Budget Advisory Committee when the issue of the health insurance program was being discussed that it is why they are pushing for “more engagement” in the contribution of funds by employees. Because in the past there have been “no incentives” for people to try to lower there risks, like not smoking, and enrolling “in a smoking cessation program,” he said. Carvalho noted, “South Florida has the highest healthcare costs in the nation because of fraud and abuse,” and because the district is “the largest employeer and user of hospitals. The cost of indigent care is shifted over to us,” he said. He also noted “80 percent [of the 60,000 patient lives in the program] enjoy a free option” and the district’s healthcare is “one of the richest plans out there,” and few other health plans offer that “free option,” he said.

Because of these escalating healthcare costs the school district is working to pen a deal with the University of Miami Miller Medical School for a “District Clinic,” said Carvalho and it is based on the “concept that many people don’t have a medical home” that keeps healthcare costs down through preventative care and school employees will have access to “wellness services,” said the top administrator. He noted all of this was necessary cost savings were necessary because over $2 billion had been shaved from the district budget since 2008 when he took over in September back then. And there was only $4 million in district reserves and the decision to “self insure was done out of necessity,” and he noted there was now $40 million in the “healthcare reserve fund,” he closed.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> FRB approves $99.5 million UM AOA after tense debate, not administrative “blank check,” 60 days to fill in details, says Chair Lapciuc

After verbally blustery and tempest exchanges among the different parties at a none televised Financial Recovery Board (FRB) meeting Wednesday, the oversight board for Jackson Health System on Thursday passed unanimously a University of Miami Miller Medical School Annual Operateing Agreement starting June 1 for $99.5 million, and another $3.6 million in “transitional payment[s]” in the months ahead but it is not a “blank check” and UM and the JHS administration has 60 days to flesh out the details, said FRB Chair Marcos Lapciuc. He said while he was critical and “had misgivings” about the agreement the day before that UM insisted get passed before June. He said there “were certain advantages” to approving the document.” The international businessman and attorney said, “We wanted more control of our costs and services” which is in the agreement and when it came to their own strategic plan being hammered out internally. It is “On steroids” and their “is a sense of urgency” in transforming the relationship and once the document is finalized. It will “give us much more control of our defined matrix.” He also noted, “Research grants would stay with Jackson” and overall there “would be more accountability and oversight would be much faster.” He also said passing the agreement would help keep the “Super Star doctors” who make the health system what it is, and these “62 doctors” practice in a host of major medical specialties, and they “bring in $35 million in revenue” which the health trust badly needs and the future focus will be on fostering with UM these agreed upon “Service of Excellence Centers,” he said.

Lapciuc believes the evolving agreement will ultimately “make us masters of are own ship,” that includes some “650 to 700 slots in the Graduate Education Program, and 1,000 residents” who benefit in their medical education from the wide range of medical diseases that patients present with at JHS. However, Lapciuc noted there were areas that still had to be resolved and one was “the sovereign immunity issue” that UM now has with Jackson patients and the issue “of alleged patient poaching,” where patients are shifted to the UM owned hospital across the street the university bought back in 2007. The Miller Medical School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., has denied that is happening and in the past. He has said there would by “sanctions” on physicians that did that, but if a paying patient prefers to go somewhere else for their treatment; it is hard to stop them from leaving Jackson. For more on the story go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/31/2825683/irate-jackson-board-reconsiders.html

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Camillus House saying sayonara to old building location, would like to leave the site in July with a bang

Camillus House is ending its long time location downtown and executive Director Paul Ahr, Ph.D., is in the process of moving his office into the new Norwegian Cruise Camillus House facilities in the Hospital District next to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s main campus. The old facility will be torn down near the old Miami Arena location in July and Camillus staff is trying to see if the television show Burn Notice, shot in Miami, would have any interest in blowing up the old building for an upcoming show.

>>> Clock is ticking for Mayor Regalado to file trip to Peru gift disclosure since funded by LBA & GMCC
Ethics Commission release: A complaint filed against Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado for failing to report a trip to Peru as a gift was dismissed for lack of probable cause (C 12-26). The mayor’s travels in March were funded by the Latin Builders Association and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Under gift disclosure rules, the deadline for reporting a gift is at the end of the calendar quarter that follows receipt of the gift. In this case, the Mayor was found to have not violated the disclosure rule because the gift is not due to be reported until June 30th.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Commission spins Wheel of Fortune, which candidate will be tapped as interim manager?

Miami Beach Commissioners and Mayor Matti Herrera Bower will be interviewing the six shortlist of candidates selected to be the interim manager Monday to replace long serving manager Jorge Gonzalez, who leaves in early July and they will then discuss the candidates publicly at the June 6 commission meeting. The candidates tapped for consideration are Kathie Brooks, Jose Garcia-Pedrosa, HC Eads Jr., WD Higginbotham, Barton Goldberg, and Julio Magrisso. Brooks is a senior budget administrator with the city, and Garcia-Pedrosa is a past city manager and is an attorney. Over 80 people applied for the job http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/30/2824807/more-than-80-apply-to-be-miami.html and while the post is temporary, there are major union negotiations and next year’s budget in the coming months to be resolved and city watchdogs are watching to see how much commissioner involvement there will be in the running of the local government during this transition period.

Miami Beach has a strong manager form of government and it is the most powerful position on the Beach but some commissioners have chaffed under this Charter yoke and that was one of the beefs they had with Gonzalez. Now while a national search is done for a permanent replacement of the almost dozen-year manager, one of these candidates will take the helm of administrative leadership and whether a consensus can be reached on the dais is the question. And Beach residents will get to see the political metal of their leaders during this delicate period and lets us hope they make the right choice. For a selection misfire will only make the new permanent manager’s job that much more difficult in a city where everything tends to be political.

What about background checks?

The Watchdog Report suggests that a Class II FBI background check, that includes fingerprinting, be done on the candidates and it is a quick and less than $80.00 process to do. The Watchdog Report has gone through this type of background check twice, most recently in November of last year since I cover the school board and these candidates should not have a problem with having this done. For The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade, for example requires it for its volunteers during summer camp and other programs and Miami Beach Commissioners should require it too in this high profile case.

>>> Ethics Commission statement: The former director of the Office of Capital Improvement Projects in Miami Beach sought advice on post-employment restrictions related to his serving as a private subcontractor on a city project (RQO 12-09). Charles O. Carreňo, who left his city post on December 31, 2010, is prohibited from actions involving lobbying and related activities in Miami Beach for two years following his city employment. In general, Carreňo is prohibited from attempting to influence any official decisions made by city officials and staff, but he may respond to technical questions posed by city officials and participate in routine administrative matters involving staff.

>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
Meeting Time: 8:30 AM Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach

The dean of South Florida newscasters, Channel 10’s political reporter Michael Putney, will be this week’s guest speaker at the June 5th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. For almost 30 years, Michael Putney has been the most trusted name in local television news. Starting as a reporter / columnist for the Miami Herald in 1969 he quickly became their senior political reporter and eventually became the political / moderator for WPLG TV – Channel 10 ABC Miami, where he continues to be a featured reporter and commentator. Miami New Times voted Michael Putney Miami’s best TV reporter. >>> There is no charge for attending and everyone is welcome. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club. Visit our web site at www.MBTMBC.com (Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club).

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>> It’s a go, June 6th residents get to plead their case to Gables commission for keeping or modifying truck ban ordinance

It’s a go; the Coral Gables Commission is to hear resident’s comments on modifying the local truck ban ordinance, in moratorium the last few years on Jun. 6 starting at 9:00 a.m., in the city’s commission chambers. The issue has been percolating for years and supporters on both sides are very passionate about the matter and if it will cause houses to drop in value if such vehicles are allowed to dot the city landscape. Former Mayor Donald Slesnick, II has fought opening up the legislation and notes the city has spent considerable costs to fight the ordinance in the courts and he is totally against any loosening of the law. However, Commissioner Maria Anderson, elected in 2001 with Slesnick sees it in another way and believes some changes can be made that will not affect the City Beautiful overall character and life style.

>>> PAST APRIL WDR: Loosening truck law passes local P&Z board 4-1, goes to commission next, Anderson hopes “civility prevails” in debate

The City Beautiful no trucks allowed ordinance in a grace period in Coral Gables got a go ahead to tweak the legislation at a city Planning and Zoning Board meeting Tuesday, and it is now headed to the commission in May. The city has spent around $200,000 defending the law prohibiting trucks from parking outside of houses and critics fear opening up the law would reduce property values of homeowners and the scenic beauty of the Gables. Former Mayor Donald Slesnick, II has supported the current no truck law and has been a vocal opponent of keeping the law. However, others say trucks have changed substantially over the decades and are not trades people utility vans, like long ago and commercial trucks will still be banned along with a few other restrictions if the law is made more lenient. The issue has been a hot topic issue for years after a resident challenged the law in the courts but it appears to be concluding. Last week I contacted Mayor Jim Cason, and Commissioners about the recent passage of the modified truck law and Commissioner Maria Anderson responded.

“As I’ve said in the past, this law was always to prohibit commercial type trucks…and that would not change. This would allow trucks used by families as a lifestyle choice. I love my hometown of 52 years and think thoughtful changes would not affect the cache of Coral Gables. We have not enforced this law for seven years, and yet property values continue to be among the steadiest in Miami-Dade County. We’ll see what happens, but bring your jammies to the Commission meeting, as this will be a long day with lots of emotion on both sides. May civility prevail! Stay tuned,” wrote the veteran commissioner in her last term since being elected in the spring of 2001. >>> Here is more on the subject: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/25/2766034_p2/coral-gables-zoning-board-pickups.html

CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI

>>> Newly elected City Commissioner Welsh faces ethics charges, local commissioners becoming work program for ethics commission over the years

Ethics commission statement: The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) today found probable cause existed that a newly elected South Miami City Commissioner violated the County Ethics Code (C 12-25). The case, filed by South Miami City Manager Hector Mirabile, alleged that Commissioner Robert Welsh spoke with two bidders about a pending city contract. A procurement rule prohibits elected officials from engaging in oral communications with bidders prior to the City Manager’s formal recommendation to the City Commission of the highest ranked bidder. In this case, Welsh is alleged to have met face-to-face with bidders in early April, weeks before the City Commission meeting of April 17th, when a formal recommendation regarding the project was made. Having found probable cause, the Ethics Commission will schedule the case for a public hearing at an upcoming meeting.

CITY OF HOMESTEAD

>>> Councilman Shelley cleared of any ethics conflict with landlord’s companies after contract vote

The Ethics Commission found no probable cause existed that Homestead City Councilman Stephen Shelley violated the County Ethics Code when he voted to award a city contract to businesses that are owned by the property owners from whom he rents office space (C 12-15). A landlord-tenant relationship is not specifically cited as a potential conflict in the ordinance, and an investigation did not find any evidence that Shelley received any benefit as a result of voting to award the contract. In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety in the future, however, the Ethics Commissioners suggested that elected officials may wish to consider refraining from voting in similar circumstances.

CITY OF DORAL

>>> After years of negotiation with the County, Doral gets its fair share of the PTP surtax

Press release: Spearheaded by Mayor of Doral J.C. Bermudez, the City of Doral received its much-awaited share of the half penny transportation surtax. After the inter-local agreement with Miami-Dade County signed by the Doral Council in February, the City received a total of back taxes in the amount of $2,725,173.00 on May 23, 2012. The purpose of the PTP Surtax most commonly known as the half-penny tax -approved by Miami-Dade voters back in November, 2002- was to implement the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP). However, some areas in Miami-Dade County were incorporated after the vote, including the City of Doral. The City needed to be eligible to receive its 20% share as a Municipality. The agreement allows the City to start receiving the transportation surtax plus a two-year retroactive payment.

The approximate breakdown per year is as follows. FY 2010 $1,009,000 – FY 2011 $1,082,000 – From October 2011 to March 2012 $633,000.00. Any surtax proceeds received can be used for transportation use such as circulator buses, bus shelters, bus pullout bays or other transit-related infrastructure. Back in 2002, Miami-Dade voters also approved, as part of the ballot question, the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (the “CITT” or “Trust”) to oversee the proceeds of the surtax and the implementation of the People’s Transportation Plan. For more information on the agreement, visit www.cityofdoral.com. >>> For information on the People’s Transportation Plan please visit the County’s Transportation website at www.miamidade.gov/citt/home.asp

PALMETTO BAY VILLAGE

>>> Complaint against Council Woman Lindsay dismissed by state and county ethics commissions
A Palmetto Bay Village Councilwoman was accused of violating the Ethics Code when she voted to deny a rezoning request by Palmer Trinity School (C 11-32). The complaint alleged that because Councilwoman Joan Lindsay was actively involved in barring the school’s expansion prior to her election in July 2011, she should not have voted on the matter. The complaint also cited the close proximity of the Councilwoman’s home to the school and her being named as a party to a lawsuit against the school. The County Ethics Commission had delayed action on the matter pending the resolution of an identical complaint filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics. Earlier this month, the Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed the case for lack of probable cause. Since the legal provisions in the state and county ethics codes are substantially the same, the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission also dismissed the complaint, reasoning that the public interest would not be served by proceeding further.

TOWN OF MIAMI LAKES

>>> Repeat Violator Sentenced for Speeding in Manatee Zone in Violation of Endangered Species Act

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Andrew Aloise, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, announced today’s sentencing of defendant Aristides Lorenzo Rodriguez, 43, of Miami Lakes, for violating the speed limits on a manatee zone. Rodriguez is an eight-time repeat manatee zone violator. At today’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman sentenced Rodriguez for speeding in a power boat and creating an excessive wake in a posted Slow Speed Minimum Wake Manatee Zone at Norris Cut, in Biscayne Bay, in misdemeanor violation of the Endangered Species Act. Rodriguez was sentenced to serve one year of probation, with special conditions requiring that he: (1) complete 100 hours of community service with a public or private entity or organization engaged in protecting the manatee; (2) complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Safe Boating Course; and (3) will not engage in boating activities in federal, state and local waters within the Southern District of Florida, other than related to his commercial business activity of repairing motorized water vessels, from Sunday through Thursday, during business hours. Rodriguez was also ordered to pay a criminal fine of $7,500, for deposit into the Lacey Act Reward Fund, which furthers wildlife conservation activities.

According to documents filed in Court, since 1997, Rodriguez has been cited and found guilty of eight separate manatee zone violations, including the offense for which he was sentenced. According to court records and statements made in Court, on October 9, 2011, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officers cited Rodriguez for speeding through the manatee zone at Norris Cut, just 20 minutes after he had been cited by other Fish and Wildlife Service Officers for speeding through the manatee zone at Bear Cut, also in Biscayne Bay. Norris Cut and Bear Cut lie adjacent to the northeastern and southeastern sides of Virginia Key and near the year round “no entry” zone on the western side of Virginia Key. The western side of Virginia Key is a well-marked and strictly enforced protected area for manatees and other wildlife. U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Southern Florida is home to many unique habitats, environments and wildlife. Our job is to help protect and promote the health of our unique eco-systems by enforcing the laws meant to keep these safe.” “Mr. Rodriguez is a habitual zone violator who knew about the restrictions but chose to ignore them,” said Andrew Aloise, Resident Agent in Charge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Groveland, Florida Office. “As this case shows, we vigorously pursue and prosecute those who do not slow down after being warned or cited.” >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Bonau. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> OTHER STORIES AROUND FLORIDA

BROWARD COUNTY

>>> South Florida Woman Convicted Of Tax Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced To 51 Months In Prison ` Purchased Home in Georgia with Proceeds of Fraud

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced that Nasheba Necia Hunte was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and for filing false tax returns. Hunte was also ordered to pay $229,305 in restitution to the IRS. On March 16, 2012, Hunte and another individual, Elmo Antonio George, were convicted by a jury sitting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for a conspiracy to defraud the IRS that spanned from as early as January 2003 through at least April 2007. Hunte and George were also each convicted of two counts of filing false 2005 and 2006 individual income tax returns, on which they claimed false tax refunds for themselves. George is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29, 2012.

“People who cheat on their taxes are cheating their friends and neighbors and all other law-abiding taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “They are committing a crime and, as the sentence today shows, risking serious jail time. And, in the end, they will still owe the taxes, together with interest and possible civil penalties.” “The use of shell companies, false claims and aliases to perpetuate a fraudulent tax scheme isn’t tax planning, its criminal activity,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “There is no secret formula that can eliminate a person’s tax obligations. Today’s sentence reinforces our commitment to every American taxpayer that we will identify and prosecute those who evade the payment of taxes.”

The indictment alleged that in February 2005, George incorporated Winco Holdings Inc. (Winco) in Florida. George and Hunte were the only officers of Winco and despite having no employees and paying no wages, the defendants filed employment tax returns on behalf of Winco for quarters in 2005, 2006 and 2007, that falsely claimed substantial quarterly employment tax withholdings for Winco employees. None of the withholding amounts were paid over to the IRS. In February 2007, a fraudulent check for $1,676,991.16 was written from Winco’s bank account to the U.S. Treasury for Winco’s employment tax obligations. The check was signed “contact maker for authority to pay.” The indictment also alleged that the defendants filed corporate tax returns for Winco for tax years 2005 and 2006 that reported fictitious partnership losses. These fictitious losses then “passed through” to the defendants’ individual income tax returns along with the false Winco wage and withholding amounts. These withholding amounts generated false refunds for both defendants for tax years 2005 and 2006.

The evidence at trial established that the IRS remitted refunds to George and Hunte totaling approximately $241,807 for tax year 2005. George’s refund was deposited into a joint bank account of another entity, Dikingdom Inc. With the false refund, the defendants bought a home for $145,500 for cash in Villa Rica, Ga. To conceal the purchase of this property and the proceeds of the fraud, George deeded the property to an alias named the Overseer of Dikingdom. George also falsely claimed that a church owned the property. According to evidence presented in court, the total intended tax loss was over $1 million. The evidence also established that less than one week after IRS-Criminal Investigation tried to contact the defendants, Hunte changed her home address in her employment contact documents from Villa Rica, Ga. to a non-existent address. When IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agents attempted contact with Hunte, she affirmatively denied who she was to the Agents. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, which investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Rebecca Perlmutter and Chad Edgar, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE

>>> Eight Charged in Connection with a $39 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Steve Linick, Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, and Al Lamberti, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, announced the unsealing of a federal Indictment against eight defendants in connection with fraudulently obtaining mortgages for the purchase of condominium units at Marina Oaks Condominiums in Fort Lauderdale.

More specifically, the indictment charges defendants Juan Carlos Sanchez, age 39 of New York, NY, Quelyory Rigal, a/k/a “Kelly,” age 36, of Homestead, FL, Sandra P. Campo, age 34, of Colombia, South America, Osbelia Lazardi, age 54, of Southwest Ranches, FL, Dayanara Montero, age 37, of Miramar, FL, Edward R. Mena, age 36, of Miami, FL, Celeste Mota, age 29, of Fort Myers, FL, and David Arboleda, age 27, of Doral, FL. All but one defendant made their initial appearances in court. Defendant Sandra Campo remains at large. The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud (Count 1), and substantive counts of wire fraud (Counts 2-11) and mail fraud (Counts 12-16). If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible statutory sentence of up to 20 years on each count. According to the indictment, from January 2007 through November 2008, the defendants conspired to recruit individuals who would be willing to purchase condominium units at Marina Oaks Condominiums. These buyers were promised a “buyers’ incentive,” which payment was not disclosed to the lenders or reflected on any of the closing documents. The conspirators would then prepare materially false mortgage applications for the buyers on HUD Uniform Loan Application Form 1003. These forms contained false information as to material facts regarding the borrowers’ credit worthiness in order to qualify the borrowers for mortgages to purchase the Marina Oaks Condominiums.

The conspirators would allegedly also create false documents to support the mortgage applications. Once the loans closed, the conspirators would divert portions of the mortgage proceeds for their personal use and benefit. The indictment alleges that the conspirators obtained $39,000,000 in fraudulent mortgage loans. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General and the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Lanigan. >>> An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. >>> A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

CITY OF HOLLYWOOD

>>> Ex Mgr. Hewitt skips public service 101, inappropriate actions of public employees reflects on all people in a city

Apparently, resigned city manager Douglas Hewitt was asleep in class when they were teaching public service 101 after getting a DUI on April 8 and then leaving out a few details in his explanation to Hollywood Commissioners and Mayor Peter Bober about what happened, that he was drinking at an adult club and he left the club around 3:00 a.m. before the incident. Hewitt resigned Friday and he will get $66,000 and 12 months of health insurance and the city will not speak ill will of his time of service www.miamiherald.com , just three months on the job. But his public service career is over and this is just another South Flroida moment.
People in public service, especially in the leadership ranks should know better that every act they do is seen in this prism of working on the public dime, and any inappropriate behavior by them is not only a reflection on the municipality they work for, but also on the mayor and commission that hires him and the public, he is supposed to serve. Further, in 2012 everyone in the public has a video camera in their phones and it these public servants don’t want to face public humiliation and other transgressions. They should accept their behavior is on the line and being watched 24/7, and they should act accordingly.

PEMBROKE PARK

>>> Identity Thief Sentenced on Tax Fraud and Firearms Charges

Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, and Al Lamberti, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), announced yesterday’s sentencing of defendant Michael A. Shillingford, 30, of Pembroke Park, Florida, in connection with a tax refund scheme in which he used stolen personal identifying information, including names, dates of birth, and social security information, to file fraudulent tax refund claims with the IRS. Shillingford was charged and sentenced on charges of identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(a)(7), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

At yesterday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley sentenced defendant Michael A. Shillingford to 84 months in prison (7 years), to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Hurley also ordered the defendant to pay $138,845.24 in restitution to the United States. According to the indictment, in-court statements, and documents in the court record, on September 8, 2011, Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives were patrolling District 1, which includes West Park/Pembroke Park. While on patrol, the detectives entered a residence on S.W. 52nd Avenue in connection with possible narcotics activity. While searching that residence, detectives found defendant Michael A. Shillingford hiding in a closet next to a semi-automatic short barreled AR-15 .223 caliber assault rifle with an attached high capacity drum magazine loaded with 30 rounds of .223 cal ammo. A further search of the residence revealed numerous papers on Shillingford’s desk and floor, including approximately 1,200 different names, dates of birth, and social security numbers written on various pieces of paper and within numerous notebooks, 11 Green Dot prepaid debit cards, and 6 envelopes containing Green Dot prepaid debit card information (including account numbers) in various names other than Shillingford’s. Further investigation revealed that these cards were all loaded with income tax refunds that had been obtained fraudulently from the U.S. Treasury, and totaled $138,845.24. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Marc Anton. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.

SARASOTA COUNTY

>>> Press release: Gov. Scott taps Donald H. Mason, of Punta Gorda, to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court.

Mason, 59, served as a police officer for 30 years, during which time he obtained a bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University and a law degree from the New England School of Law. After graduating from law school, Mason maintained a civil legal practice while also serving as a police officer on nights and weekends. He practiced with Furman, Cannon & Ross, P.C. from 1993-1996, as a sole practitioner from 1996-1999, and as a partner with Mason and Broderick from 1999-2003. Mason served as a prosecutor with the 16th Circuit State Attorney from 2003-2004, and with the 20th Circuit from 2004 to present. He is currently the head of the Charlotte County State Attorney’s office for the 20th Circuit.

“Don’s long career in law enforcement, as both a police officer and prosecutor, combined with his years of private practice, make him uniquely prepared to serve on the bench,” Governor Scott said. “Throughout Don’s career, he has demonstrated his intelligence, fairness, and dedication, and I have every confidence that he will bring these qualities to his new position.” Mason will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge James H. Seals.

BAY COUNTY

>>> Gov. Scott announced the appointment of Mayor Gayle Oberst to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council.

Oberst, 68, of Panama City Beach, is the mayor of the City of Panama City Beach. She succeeds Greg Chelius and is appointed for a term beginning May 29, 2012, and ending January 23, 2013.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: Start your campaign on the right track >> Before the qualifying period opens for several municipal elections, candidates, campaign treasurers and volunteers should learn the rules for running a clean race. They can do that by attending the next Campaign Skills Seminar sponsored by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. The two-hour seminar takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, in the Palmetto Bay Village Hall. Speakers — including representatives from the Ethics Commission and the Elections Department — will provide essential information on fundraising and record keeping to candidates, campaign treasurers, volunteers and anyone else who wants to understand the legal and ethical obligations of seeking public office. The event is free and open to the public. Attorneys can earn Continuing Legal Education credits from the Florida Bar. Campaign Skills Seminar Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 6:30 p.m., Palmetto Bay Village Hall 9705 East Hibiscus Street*
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 For more information or to reserve a seat, call Robert Thompson at 305-350-0630 or e-mail robthom@miamidade.gov. >>>The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of four years each. Through a program of education and outreach, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust. >> *just east of U.S. 1 at approximately S.W. 177 St.

>>> Urban Environment League’s ORCHIDS & ONIONS AWARDS Wednesday • June 20 • 6:00 p.m. Legal Art Gallery • 1035 North Miami Avenue (NW 10 St) • Parking Available KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MAYOR CARLOS GIMENEZ

Orchid Awards: Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Leadership to Hold the UDB Line; Laura Reynolds, Excellence in Advocacy for the Environment; Brad Knoefler & Mark Lesniak, Creative Approach to Public Space; Susan Markley, Persistence and Commitment to Manatee Protection; Mayor Cindy Lerner, Civic Leadership in Promoting A Green Miami-Dade County; Carolyn Lewis, Promoting Environmental Literacy & Civic Engagement with Our Youth, Mayor Shirley Gibson; A Legacy of Leadership; Ken Llewellyn (Posthumous), Outstanding Environmental Volunteer; Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper, Tropical Audubon Society, Sierra Club & Dan Kipnis Advocacy to Protect & Preserve Biscayne Bay. >>> Onion Award Presentations 2012: Governor Rick Scott
Consistently Undermining both Environmental Protection and Good Planning -The Genting Group and their Gaggle of Lobbyists for Insulting and Underestimating Miami Dade County. >>> Hors d’oeuvres & Wine – $15 at the Door More information and to RSVP: at uelinfo@bellsouth.net

>>> Kristi House press release: Please mark your calendars! We hope you will join us for the 13th Annual Touch A Heart Dinner on Friday, November 2, 2012 at
the Four Seasons Hotel 7:00 p.m. Reception 8:00 p.m. Dinner For more information, please visit www.kristihouse.org or call: Bianca Fernandez – 305-547-6802 Mary Faraldo – 786-218-9748

>>> Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami-Dade County’s European-inspired estate on Biscayne Bay, has announced the launch of audio tours in additional languages for visitors who speak Portuguese, French and Haitian Creole. First introduced a year ago in English and Spanish, the Discover Vizcaya Audio Tour in multiple languages is sure to delight Vizcaya visitors from around town and around the globe. With the largest population of Haitian-Americans in the country living in South Florida, it was natural for the Museum to select Creole as the third audio tour language. “The launch of the Discover Vizcaya Audio Tour in three additional languages, including Haitian Creole, highlights Miami-Dade County’s commitment to celebrating the cultural diversity of our community,” said County Commissioner Jean Monestime, District 2. Commissioner Monestime is the first Haitian American elected to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. “Haitian Americans have long enjoyed the many historical venues of Miami-Dade County,” Commissioner Monestime said. “The expansion of Vizcaya’s audio tour program will ensure that one of Miami-Dade County’s signature historical landmarks remains accessible to one of the fastest-growing minority groups in South Florida.”

“The Creole version appears to be the first comprehensive, professionally produced audio tour in this language at a U. S. museum,” said Vizcaya Executive Director Joel Hoffman. Audio tours in Portuguese and French also reflect the ever-increasing international visitors to Miami-Dade County’s most popular visual arts museum. The Discover Vizcaya Audio Tour features 90 minutes of content and guides visitors through the main spaces and primary ideas associated with Vizcaya at their own pace. In this way, visitors will gain an in-depth understanding of individual objects while exploring themes such as cultural exchange, design and patronage, and work and leisure. For more information, visit www.vizcayamuseum.org or call 305-250-9133.

>>> Press release: Registration Now Open for Miami-Dade Parks’ Summer Camps! Exciting Summer Camps are being offered by the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, June 11-August 17, 2012, at its parks around the County.

>>> Press release: Adrienne Arsht Center AileyCamp Miami 2012 AileyCamp Miami is a summer day camp where middle school students are “turned on” to dance and come to respect the discipline of dance as a physical activity that requires athletic ability comparable to skills demanded by any sport.

EDITORIALS

>>> Political patronage still flourishes in South Florida, can these people at least do their jobs

Political patronage and nepotism within public institutions is a topic rarely discussed anymore around the community but it is rampant as ever and these people must at least have the competency to hold the job. For it forces the competent public servants to work harder since they have to pick up the slack. The Watchdog Report spends a lot of time in government lobbies watching people come and go doing their jobs, or not, and if we could just get a small percentage of these wayward people to do more or be better qualified, it would be a significant boost to the bottom line.
Further, there seems to be no shame with some people in how they act in public and while some argue, public servants are allowed to blow off steam in a bar for example, like anyone else in the public. When they are on the taxpayer dime it becomes a public matter, and in the case of the blessed employees who are connected. Remember you especially are under a microscope with your peers and your performance when an elected leader is involved in your getting your job if your dedication is not up to snuff. It will become an albatross around the official and if you keep it up you ultimately will be likely jettisoned from the administration before it impacts on the official. For the one thing a politician understands is how to protect his back and having an underperforming or problem close confidant is the last thing they need. If they want to have a continued political future, and the community’s taxpayers only want to get their precious dollars worth of service from their public employees.

LETTERS

>>> The Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority is being used as a scam to allow the Miami Commissioners to use city owned waterfront land including city owned park land for non water related purposes, circumventing the Carollo Ordinance which is to protect our waterfront. Earlier Mayors, namely Mayor David Kennedy, Commissioners and voters gave us waterfront land and parks and recent Commissions have taken it away! It is sickening! Mayor Joe Carollo passed the ordinance just before he left office, now named after him to prevent encroachments on our waterfront, unless there is a vote of the people.

Because of MESA, we now have two museums and related parking and roadways covering a third of Bicentennial Park, making it too small for major events and quiet green space. Give the Commissioners an inch and they will cover Watson Island. They have tried already to cover Virginia Key with baseball facilities, which belong in neighborhoods in the City not dangling in the middle of the bay, which would serve visitors more than residents. The Carrolo Ordinance should be respected and even strengthened to forever protect our waterfront strictly for water dependent uses, not for facilities, which should be
built elsewhere. Readers be warned! All of Miami parks need protections. If Mayor Regalado and the Commissioners cared about our limited parks, waterfront or otherwise, they would be adjusting Miami 21 to protect them because as it stands. They are free building zones for any pet project that any Mayor of Commission wants to place in them.

With no debate 25% of any park can be covered with a building and unlimited amount of park area can be covered with parking and play courts and fields. Instead, our leaders debate how to junk up our waterfront with more buildings and noise and our parks with LED billboards! Who wants the added helicopter noise sprewing across our waterfront on top of the truck noise the new tunnel will spread across the water as they strain in low gears to move westward with their heavy loads. Can we have some sanity at City Hall. The Commission should not waste the voters time on this helicopter issue. Put a helicopter pad at the airport and direct tourists to take Metrorail!

Steve Hagen
Miami

>>> Thanks for doing this. We appreciate your work!

Dewey & Lee
Redland

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S
HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr.
THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)
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
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com
RONALD HALL
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 a year

AKERMAN SENTERFITT www.akerman.com
RON BOOK
LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.
WILLIAM PALMER
SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org
CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.cph.org
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
GREATOR 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 www.miamidade.gov
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov/ethics
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org
THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com
THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org
THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you. The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 600 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events. The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.

LETTER POLICY

I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report. Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

Daniel A. Ricker
Publisher & Editor
Watchdog Report www.watchdogreport.net
Est. 05.05.00
Copyright © of original material, 2012, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> The Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.

>>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> >>> To read the full section large two page front page story, but without the photos and smart box graphics, go to: `I Go When You Cannot’ – Sun Sentinel 20 Jan 2003 … Sometimes Dan Ricker lives in the dark so others may live in the light. … to his weekly Watchdog Report have finally mailed their checks. … http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american >>>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/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html

From the spring of 2003: U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources

Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride. Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance –ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.

General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice.
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