Watchdog Report Vol. 16 No.4, June 14, 2015 EST. 05.05.00 I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 years of weekly publishing

Three of the basics of building a real movement for all children:
• Nothing is more important than a caring and knowledgeable parent. (Know that 71 percent of American mothers with children between birth and age 5 work outside the home, meaning high-quality, brain-stimulating child care is a major necessity.)
• 85 percent of brain growth occurs by age 3.
• Early learning is a continuum between before birth and age 8. (“Families are the ultimate pre-pre-school,” wrote Clare Huntington in The New York Times last September, adding, “I don’t want to rain on the pre-K parade, but we can’t pretend that school preparation begins at age 4. Four is better than 5, but zero is better than 4.”)

All that brings to me to a Miami-Dade Public Schools initiative focused on the transition from child care to kindergarten. This week I spent time at the superb YMCA in Allapattah, a bit north of downtown Miami. I spoke with Drs. Maggie Abrahante and Marisel Elias-Miranda, two key people responsible for early childhood programs that the superintendent has made a priority in this nationally honored school system. They’ve put together an excellent handbook for parents of children headed for kindergarten, and also:
• Five retired school administrators with a special interest in early childhood already have met with 400 child care center directors to give them a sense of what school is all about and the expectations for children.
• Principals are meeting with center directors.
• Parents are offered superb neighborhood workshops, one of which I attended.
Wouldn’t that be smart to do in every school system?
Dave Lawrence
Chair
The Children’s Movement of Florida

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County has released its 2014 Annual Report and the Trust continues its mission of preparing all children to be ready to perform in school and live in a safe healthy environment and funds $90.240 million in budgeted programs and services countywide and 18 percent of this money is used to ensure “children are healthy physically and emotionally,’ state’s the report. Further 19 percent of the budget goes to programs directed towards making sure “Children are ready to succeed when entering school, and another 34 percent goes to developmental programs that “Children are successful in school and society,” And 9 percent is spent on Administration and another 3 percent goes to “non-operating expenses,” state’s the Annual report for that year.

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Three to Children’s Trust Governing Board of Miami-Dade County

Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced three appointments to the Children’s Trust Governing Board of Miami-Dade.

Tiombe Bisa Kendrick-Dunn, 41, of Miami, is a school psychologist for the Miami-Dade County School Board. She succeeds Roymi Membiela and is appointed for a term beginning June 12, 2015, and ending March 17, 2018.

Eveline Pierre, 44, of Miami, is the founder and executive director of the First Haitian Heritage Museum. She fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning June 12, 2015, and ending March 17, 2017.

Lileana de Moya, 58, of Coral Gables, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the De Moya Foundation. She is reappointed for a term beginning June 12, 2015, and ending March 17, 2018.

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Daniel Diaz Leyva to Miami Dade College District Board of Trustees

Press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Daniel Diaz Leyva to the Miami Dade College District Board of Trustees.

Leyva, 35, of Miami, has been an attorney with Foley & Lardner since 2014. He was an attorney with Infante Zumpano from 2009 to 2014. He has served on the board of advisors for the University of Miami Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies since 2011, the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Regional Council since 2012, and the Florida Health Choices Board of Directors since 2013. Leyva previously served on the CHARLEE Homes for Children from 2004 to 2013, and the Latin Builders Association Board of Directors from 2009 to 2011. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in 2001, and his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2004. He succeeds Jose Fuentes for a term beginning June 12, 2015, and ending May 31, 2018.The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

State of Florida:

Florida Legislature comes up with solution to LIP federal funding after legislative stalemate past few weeks will split $1 billion among the state’s charity care hospitals including Jackson where fiscal blow was softened by local legislators says PHT President  Migoya.

The Florida legislature has reached a deal funding the federal Lower Income Pool (LIP) and the impact to Jackson Health System the most affected hospital given the  level of charity care it gives and local Channel 10 reports the impact will be about $10 million, a number the Trust could live with versus potentially some $200 million in reduced funding and  it is good news for JHS as it fiscally heals itself and now armed with a $830 million bond for upgrades and new IT called “Miracle,” and CEO Carlos Migoya has done a remarkable job turning around the health Trust since taking over in June 2010. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article20436915.html

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Mayor Carolos Gimenez is arguing he should be on MDX Authority since his office hears the complaints of residents on toll increases passed by citizen board approved by commissioners.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez is arguing that he should be on the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority since he is a strong mayor of Miami-Dade and his office gets the complaints from residents livid with some of the freeway toll increases levied by the independent transportation Authority, that Gimenez’s office says does not make information available easily and the issue came up when Michael Hernandez, the mayor’s media spokesman appeared on www.WLRN.org  Channel2/ Issues . H cites the isolation of MDX since there are no politicians on the board, just citizens that get confirmed by the County Commission. Further, Gimenez is said to not be looking for a tax millage increase given an expected county surplus. http://www.wpbt2.org/pressreleases/PR20140916IssuesReport.html

Gimenez is up for reelection in 2016 and the former Fire Fighter and Miami Manager has already raised some $1 million for his campaign war chest where he will likely face school Board Member Raquel Regalado for the strong mayor post he has held since 2011. And possible former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez who has yet to announced his intentions but snipes from the dais at Gimenez.

A County Commission Committee debated the merits of the county giving county employees an “incentive” to become “U.S. Citizens,” and that would involve some “96 Citizenship clinics,” but Commissioner Rebeca Sosa said she had a problem with this since it is a “federal responsibility.” And she did not want to go into the budget hearings adding such “a new cost,” that should be covered by the “federal government,” noting citizenship ceremonies are expensive and she also was concerned it made it “partisan,” since it was not going to be “done countywide,” she objected during the discussion called “Cities for Citizenship Resolution.” The long serving Commissioner also noted the County’s lobbyist in Washington should lobby to get the funding, but it should not come out of Miami-Dade, she insisted.

What happened at Parcel B at the AA Arena on Saturday?

A mystery has been discovered by Glenna MIlberg of Channel 10.www.local10.com and the mystery is who has put up a chain linked  locked fence ( Which was done by the Miami Heat after an agreement with the County, and was unlocked for the picnic on Saturday) http://www.local10.com/news/mystery-fence-closes-off-promised-public-park/33556110  Parcel B behind the Miami Arena and was promised to be a park but has been used for a host of other activities including recent electric race car races when black top was used to cover the grass and activists on Saturday were planning to have a big community event there and dedicate the Park to the father of the Miami-Dade County’s Home Rule Charter, and strong public advocate for Parks and First Amendment  Rights, Attorney Dan Paul, who passed in 2010.

Miami Officials at the Bayfront Park Trust say it was not them when MIlberg of Channel 10 visited a while ago. She said the fence was not up and it is unknown if it was done because of the upcoming event? http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article24007723.html

But there has been a strong undercurrent by Park activists pushed by Urban Environment Leagues (UEL) Parks representative Gregory Bush that will not let this parcel go to any other use and it creates a dilemma for Miami-Dade Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, whose District includes the Park. But was indicated to voters it would be a Park on the county ballot question but was never followed through with over the years, and has become a staging area for the County’s AA arena on the bay in front of the parcel. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article24002659.html since these activists have once again put a spotlight on the matter.

County’s health self-insurance program making the targeted savings anticipated says, budget guru Moon to BCC committee

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez during last year’s budget hearings proposed making the County’s health insurance program self-insured believing that some $40 million could be saved in the rising healthcare costs at the county. And County budget guru Jennifer Moon said the plan was on track and I contacted her after she made a presentation at a county commission committee meeting and she wrote back by email, “We are on target to achieve the savings we anticipated.  I tripped because the lady next to me put her foot out in front of me.  She didn’t know I was getting up.

What did Transportation Chair Estephan Bovo say to the members of the Citizens Independent Transit Trust last week? Bovo told the citizen Based board that he is working a number of ways the County might be able to have a connection going South but might also have a link to the MIC which is a major transit hub and people should not expect much in the way of federal funding for Washington doesn’t have money for this and expects communities to also have fiscal skin in the game that might include a tourist tax or making a transit area a CRA to help fund it and the community has two Congressmen well positioned on the Transportation Committee, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Miami and U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbello, R-Miami said Bovo but he noted the fiscal limitations the nation faces.

What about the County’s Library District?

Library District needs “innovation, to go from analog to digital,” says advocate and Knight Foundation

Lynn Summer’s a County Library Advocate noted the facilities need more “money” and libraries of “the future require innovation,” including dealing with “analog to digital,” and she noted while the District has all the old newspapers, these are on micro phish and not cataloged, she said.

She said one of the ways to get more money for libraries was to get more in “collections,” which is currently now around $3 million, but supporters want to get to “$5 million” in the upcoming budget year. Summer also noted the Libraries are also losing some “400 librarians,” in the future and these people are necessary in the coming years to make these changes. She said “The John S. and James L., Knight  Foundation,” had a recent symposium on libraries and “future libraries require innovation from analog to digital,” she said and asked :”Where are the letters of Iraq veterans going to be archived,?” she asked. And while last year’s budget  battle was bruising proponents are still putting pressure on County Hall where the South Dade Library, a “3,1000 sq.,” facility needs a new air conditioner but “costs $1 million,” that the District does not have since “some $40 million in District’s” reserves were raided by the commission last budget year to fill a shortfall with the County’s Fire Rescue Department that was facing layoffs but were averted with this new money but has let the large Library District in a lurch. When it came to maintenance of the facilities that is ranked seventh around the nation in similar systems, said Summers. It was also noted that four municipalities were excluded in the Library taxing (including Miami) District so that reduces the revenue coming in versus some other counties around the nation. And had Juan C. Zapata asking how these reserves “could be put in a lock box?” keeping commissioners hands off it in the future but that is difficult challenge for the 13 member commission, and while Summer’s  noted “While We have begun the turnaround,”  more needs to be done. And Commissioner Javier Souto during the discussion said again why are not local companies stepping up? “and these are huge companies” that “make so much money,” like the “Cruise lines and the airlines,” he said. Souto a former state senator and Representative said he pushed in the 1980’s for the state to fund more library funding in the Capital and he mused “What happened to philanthropy?” he questioned and this is not the first time Souto has looked to the private sector to help fill some budget gaps in county government “where the money is limited,” Souto closed when it came to the Library funding request of the administration in the future budget. However business leaders note they are taxed and should not be responsible for County Commission decisions and shortfalls on how they spend the community’s public tax dollars.

State Law allowing more public comments is working to make government more transparent and easier for public input

A law passed by the Florida Legislature to allow “a reasonable opportunity to speak,” is resulting in the public to speaking more often on a host of issues allowing more public input into municipal, counties and the school board discussions is working very well and public comments are bringing many issues be cut off and while elected leaders hate the new state law. It is having a positive affect when it comes to public discourse. And has made for a more open discussion with residents who are asking for their time and no longer have to wait for hours until their item is called sometimes almost all day, and while local lawmaker’s are not wild about this, it is working nicely and the public thanks the Florida Legislature for this new law.

TOP STORY: RECORD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR JANUARY – APRIL 2015

GMCVB press release: During the months of January – April 2015, domestic passenger arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 6.2% compared to 2014. International passenger arrivals increased by 3.8% while total passenger arrivals increased 5.0% compared to the same time last year.

Record MIA Passenger Arrivals
International Arrivals
Jan. – April 2015 Jan. – April 2014 % Change vs. 2014
3,776,757 3,555,471 +6.2%
Domestic Arrivals
Jan. – April 2015 Jan. – April 2014 % Change vs. 2014
3,579,411 3,448,829 +3.8%
Total Arrivals
Jan. – April  2015 Jan. – April 2014 % Change vs. 2014
7,356,168 7,004,300 +5.0%

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

JHS system dodges LIP bullet as Legislature comes up with compromise splitting some $2 billion in low income charity care pool but federal program ending.

Jackson Health System was the big winner when the Florida Legislature compromised last week and committed $2 billion in state and federal funding for charity care hospitals around the state that receive Lower Income (LIP) Pool federal monies http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article23914081.html   Though CEO Carlos Migoya notes this is only a one time fix (since the federal government is ending the program next year) though Migoya thanked local legislators for pulling together and avoiding the public health Trust with getting a bigger hit in the funding that could have really crippled Jackson’s ability to stay running in the black, given the massive charity care being given around some $ 500 million and only receiving some $350 million in public funds that has not kept up with the charity care number.

What about Migoya at the BCC?

PHT President Carlos Migoya gave a County Commission Committee an update on the Health Trust’s plans last week to open new clinics throughout Miami-Dade that currently includes the Doral area and one in Country Walk and on the upper Biscayne Blvd. And would include others throughout the County he said. Commissioner Rebecca Sosa inquired when one would be put her in her District and she noted some money for such a facility was put “in the 2002 $1.9 billion general obligation bond,” passed by voters. But Migoya noted he was aware of her desire and JHS is trying to target areas of need with also residents qualified for some sort of health insurance to make them financially viable, as other hospital system’s pop up with their own Clinics throughout the County.

CITY OF MIAMI

When Campaign signs can go up is causing debate could be Aug.3, but Miami Elections Dept. maven Dania checking with Dir. Of Code Compliance Office before final ruling

There has been some confusion when candidates can put out campaign signs if they are running for the commission and the Watchdog report contacted Dwight Dania in the Miami Clerk’s office and he runs Miami Elections and in an email last week. He wrote,” Good question….Miami 21 says: Miami 21 – Article 10.3.1 c.   Class A (political election Signs) No sign permit shall be required for political election Signs displayed on private property. Such political election Signs shall be permitted no earlier than three (3) months prior to the date of the election and removed within fifteen (15) days after the election. In Elections, we always count backwards from the Election Day.  When the increment of time is in days or hours, it’s pretty easy. When the increment is weeks and months, it gets a little tricky. My guess would be that a month before Nov. 3 would be Aug. 3.But… I’ll have to ask the Director of Code Enforcement the answer to this question.  I wouldn’t want to give any candidate a 2-day head start on putting up signs,” wrote the Miami Elections department maven, last week.

Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is taking to a higher profile now that he is an investor and board member of the local Company known as Eastern Airlines that has arisen from the companies” ashes said Edward J. Wegel, The President and CEO of Eastern Airlines Group, Inc. The featured speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on Wednesday at Jungle Island.

Diaz who has been a Cambridge Don http://www.iop.harvard.edu/manny-diaz  teaching public policy the last few years, and he set up the development boom downtown with just over 90 condominiums being built under his watch with insufficient traffic infrastructure that is currently being experienced today.

Diaz after two terms in office was once considered a Democratic Party Florida gubernatorial candidate challenging GOP Gov. Rick Scott but that failed to Materialize for the attorney who first gained prominence in 2000 for being part of the team defending the young Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy Whose mother died on the passage from the Diaz an early Communist Nation and divided the community along ethnic lines back in 2,000.

Diaz was an early supporter of President Barack Obama along with Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who cooled his support for Obama in 2012. But Diaz did a campaign ad for Obama in Spanish that ran back then and he was seen as effective for the incumbent president getting the Hispanic vote out important to winning South Florida. And checkout Diaz’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FormerMiamiMayorMannyDiaz   And there was talk of Diaz going to Washington in Jan. 2008 in a new Obama administration but that failed to materialize given the man’s many business connections and past controversy including buying a house in the Grove with Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton and Miami Manager Jo Arriola who put up the money for the loan gotten in a very short time. But Diaz got a significant letter of “reprimand,” from the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission a few years ago for this activity and is part of his legacy,” while in office.

District 2 candidate Sarnoff says “I love to drive,” and will not use commission sergeant-of arms like her husband does.

“I love to drive,” said Teresa Sarnoff when I asked her if she was going to use the sergeant-of-arms like her husband does to take her around Miami very often and is a perk some commissioners over use since they do get a $11,00 car allowance in that position and it involves a sworn Miami police officer providing them protection. And first started back in the early 2000s when now deceased Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr. pushed the commission having these type of officials. After then Mayor Joe Carollo hired an Israeli security guard for himself, and Teele thought commissioner’s deserved the same protection staff. This is important because Commissioners use it sometimes like Uber to get around including going to a restaurant like Versailles which occurred a few month back when one commissioner was thinking about running for mayor and huddled with his advisors at the iconic Cuban Restaurant, but that story in the Watchdog Report back then did have the Miami Police Chief send out a revised SOP for the sergeants to follow and these officers use must now have some city business to be covered.

Public’s “reasonable opportunity to speak,” at public meetings is having results, and should be emphasized

Miami Commissioners and Chair Willy Gort needs to ask more often if there is anyone from the public that would like to speak to the commission because at Miami-Dade Public Schools Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman asks all through their meetings if there is anyone from the public that wants to speak on any topic since the new state law requires more public input at from the “public that wants to speak? She asks and she is in stark contrast to the Miami commission meetings and Chair Gort should get some guidance on this matter. Since there is such a contrast versus the county where elected leaders ask often if any public wants to speak. And Gort also urges public speaking after they  run over two minutes, “and in conclusion” he reminds speakers which many times disrupt’ s the person’s train of thought  at the podium. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/03/miami-commissioner-willy-gort-draws-a-challenger-in-reelection-campaign.html

Commissioners Gort and Suarez want more funding to keep Miami “clean of trash,”

Miami Commissioner Wilfredo Gort is also pushing a “Clean Miami,” proposal trying to get  young people and their parents to not litter and throw trash “out of a car window,” which someone would “get cited for in the past,” said Gort and just  makes the city look bad while clogging up storm drains and contaminating the Bay, he insisted. And Gort has an ally on the dais with commissioner Francis Suarez who “almost” voted “against last years,” budget because “there wasn’t taxes going to Beautification,” which he says residents want and deserve,” believing a “certain amount of their tax dollars [should] be invested for beautification,” he insisted last week on the dais at the commission meeting during a discussion by Gort on the matter that has Miami officials working with the schools to get the word out about not throwing trash in the public domain.

What about Miami’s bond holdings?

The City of Miami has some $200 million in bond holdings and the Signa Cyber Security guidelines after a breach a while ago was discussed by one of the board members and Cyber Security in a host of ways is becoming a major worry for municipalities.

What about the Miami Audit Committee?

PAST WDR: Because of the lack of appointments by the Miami commission the critical Audit Committee has not met in the “past year,” and commissioners need to make appointments to this critical oversight board for it also plays an important role in keeping the city on an even fiscal keel.

What about the other candidates for the Dist.2 seat becoming open?

Teresa Sarnoff has decided to knock on doors with her husband Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff who she wants to follow in his seat since he is termed out after eight years in the office and there is clearly voter fatigue for the man. Who comes off as irritating and has trouble connecting with people and could be the wife’s downfall in the crowded Dist.2 Miami Commission race with a host of challengers who just need to get 50.1 percent to prevail in the primary and the expected general election in late November and having a strong organization getting voters to the polls will be key to any victor.

And When it comes to the Miami Commission District 2 race things are very quiet and the Watchdog Report has seen a couple of candidates in my neighborhood or down at Miami Commission meetings, (That is changing and a couple of candidates were seen at Thursday’s Commission meeting.) but campaign reports show candidate Grace Solaris has raised some $118,820 (up from 57,680) to her likely challenger’s Teresa Sarnoff who has increased her war chest to $389,964., through April 2015. And she was seen knocking on doors in the South Grove last week where she was walking with some women volunteers wearing tee shirts so she is now doing traditional campaigning.

And in the District 4 race incumbent Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez is reporting $23,125 for his campaign and the younger Suarez is facing long time perennial candidate Manolo Reyes who has raised $70,710 and another challenger Antonio J. Diaz has $23,125 for his own campaign but Reyes has been trying to get elected for years. And there are gaps on who contributed this money and the only listed expense was $3,360and to read all the latest campaign reports go to http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/City_Clerk/Pages/Elections/CampaignReports15.asp

What about the Miami Charter Reform and Review Committee with Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez on it?

The City’s Miami Charter Review and Reform Committee has been meeting for months and for some of the members this is not the first time being on such a committee and some good discussion is going on, some that is fairly nuanced but there are number of things that need clarification in the Charter like who can fire the Miami Police Chief after the botched firing of a former Chief by a past City Manager a couple of years ago and perhaps a clarification in the Charter who the City attorney works for. The people, the commission or the mayor, for many of these municipal attorneys when asked who they work for they say for three votes on the commission. Further Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez wants to create a City Transportation Trust noting that the popular Trolley system is running out of money,” and the City needs to set aside general funds for funding, including “sea level hardening,” he said. And upkeep the Vice Chair of the MPO told Charter Review members and Suarez planned to bring the item to the commission in the future possible May 28. And Suarez, the Younger “wants to create a policy that we “set aside,” “monies,” for a “pay as you go basis,” for these needs as the booming city tax base increases but has created a traffic nightmare downtown where “some 200,000 people come to Miami,”  every day says the Miami DDA.

What about Past Committees?

Back in 1999 a charter Review committee chaired by Gort created ballot language that was written specifically to force then controversial Mayor Joe Carollo to run for reelection again which he won but it was a real eye opener to what can go on at such a committee which is not the case now.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

Mayor Levine throws his hat in ring seeking reelection, has taken the job for a spin, what will termed out Commissioner Wolfson do with .$5 million in PAC?

Wow, Miami Beach Commissioner Jonah Wolfson has raised $500, 0000 for his PAC called ‘Relentless for Progress,’ and much of it is coming from developers says the General circulation daileyhttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article23914081.html  And Wolfson has been an enigma on the dais in some ways but he is termed out. But apparently still wants to keep his finger in politics that includes his wife a County Circuit Court Judge Andrea Wolfson elected again in 2012 to the bench but her husband at first would verbally battle it out when with then Mayor Matti Bower, who later lost reelection to Mayor Philip Levine who has announced he is running again as well and Levine has really taken the job for a spin becoming very active on the County’s MPO body. A regional transportation body pushing a form of Baylink mass transit to the Beach. And Levine again plans to self-finance his campaign, he says.

At a County Commission Committee meeting during a discussion by Commissioner Juan C. Zapata when he inquired of county budget people if that there was a “extra $3.5 million in CDT funds,” but he found out this money could not be used to accelerate such projects as the historic Venetian Causeway now to be closed for over a year and is making such events as Art Basil a nightmare to get to say critics.

Mayors ban together to fight gambling in Florida

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine are linking up with other Florida mayors to fight the expansion of gambling in Florida and the state legislature is currently trying got come up with some deal but that seems unlikely

Mayor Levine press release: Dear Fellow Floridians and Friends,
Please click here to view the ad below, that I was honored to participate in with my fellow Mayors from Bradenton, Orlando, and Miami.