Watchdog Report Vol.16 No.26 – November 8, 2015 EST.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 16 years of weekly publishing

>>> 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 www.knightfoundation.org   to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

>>>> For 16 years now, I have reported back weekly how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to do that is at the end of the WDR. Thank You. And to my Supporters and Sponsors, I thank you for your confidence over the past 16 Years. >>> I was also on WLRN 91.3 FM on Nov. 2, Monday before Election Day on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman at 1:00 p.m. on 91.3 FM, and the local municipal elections will be one of the hot topics on the show. And to listen to the show go to www.wlrn.org

>> And may we all have a reflective Veterans Day Wednesday Nov.11 and think of all the sacrifices in blood and treasure these soldiers have given to keep our nation safe and unified as a country. And our forces are still in harm’s way around the globe in so many capacities and pray for their safety and return home alive and in one piece.

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street

>>> Cuban and Venezuelan dissidents speak to House subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, President Obama’s initiative has not changed the repression of Cuban dissidents, 42,000 flea island in 2014and in Venezuela they asked the congressional delegation for “election monitors,” where candidates are being excluded in upcoming congressional races, and dissident Leopoldo Lopez is jailed, while strong arm prosecutor wants U.S. asylum

A congressional subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Friday held a field hearing at the Miami-Dade County Commission chambers Chaired by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R. S. Carolina and heard testimony from a host of dissidents from Cuba and Venezuela and with the central theme was the Obama initiative to open Cuba more and the relaxation of the repression of the Castro brothers brutal dictatorship and Madura in Venezuela has taken a play book out of the Castro’s political page and candidates that want to run in congressional races are finding they can’t be on the ballot. And local U.S Rep. Carlos Curbello, R-Miami was on the panel and the dissidents from Venezuela requested the U.S. send “election monitors,” for the upcoming election in Venezuela and Curbello in an email to the Watchdog Report wrote, “Today’s hearing was an important opportunity to highlight the deplorable spike in repression and human rights violations in Cuba since the Obama Administration embraced Raul Castro’s totalitarian dictatorship. The change in policy has yielded more pain for Cuba dissidents and nothing for the American people. [And] Today’s hearing was an important opportunity to highlight the deplorable spike in repression and human rights violations in Cuba since the Obama Administration embraced Raul Castro’s totalitarian dictatorship. The change in policy has yielded more pain for Cuba dissidents and nothing for the American people,” wrote the first term congressman and a former County school board member.

And the speakers reiterated how nothing has changed in Cuba where in 2014 some “42,000” people sought to leave the communist country that year showing very little has changed over the years where tourists from Canada, Australia were able to go to the island but their influence changed nothing after the Obama initiative and  for more on Duncan go to http://jeffduncan.house.gov/about-me/full-biography And Cuban and Venezuelan dissidents all talked about the “human trafficking that is taking place and how there is a flourishing tourist sex industry where women and underage children were being used as prostitutes and other forms and neither regimes “are moral,” said one lady speaker and included one of the Ladies in White saying the U.S. when it came to human rights the Obama administration has gotten very little in return on this regard and the people of Cuba deserve “freedom as much as anyone,” and noted before the regime change a frequent quip was “anyone but Batista, and look what we got,” she intoned to the panel and Duncan has made the issue of human trafficking a major initiative. And Venezuelan dissident Leopoldo Lopez is still in prison even though his prosecutor has requested asylum in America calling the case against the man a ‘sham,’ and is a continuing example of Maduro’s repression in the oil rich nation, facing fiscal issues with the drop in oil prices. And below is a update from Leopoldo

>>> Leopoldo’s Prosecutor Calls Trial “a Farce” and “Unjust” in Stunning Video Confession One of the two lead prosecutors in Leopoldo’s case has publicly called his trial a “farce” based on “false evidence,” which has “unjustly violated the rights of this person.” In a four-minute video posted here, prosecutor Franklin Nieves claimed he has fled the country with his family. He stated in part: López Family Faces Campaign of Intimidation, Violence Two separate incidents illustrate the shocking extent of intimidation tactics against Leopoldo’s family.  Leopoldo’s father, Leopoldo López Gil, is now the subject of an arrest warrant which was issued on September 29 by the Control Court of Caracas Metropolitan Area. The warrant follows a previous lawsuit that ruled that Leopoldo López Gil and 21 other newspaper managers were guilty of defamation because of their writings. News coverage in Spanish can be read here and here. An even more troubling incident occurred against Leopoldo’s sister, Diana, who was the subject of an attempted kidnapping on October 15.  Three armed men approached her personal assistant, Jorge Leones, and demanded he drive them to Diana. When he refused, the men took Leones to an isolated location where they interrogated and brutally beat him. The assailants then tried to force Leones to leave incriminating information in Diana’s home. The next morning, Leones escaped his captors and contacted his family. News coverage in Spanish can be read here.

What about the Democratic Party debate last week?

And the Democratic Party held their second forum last week and the challengers to Hillary Clinton taking the party’s presidential baton. Maine Sen. Bernie Sanders went at her for her Iraq War vote and Maryland governor Martin O’Malley took his shots but she is said to be unscathed and there were not the fireworks as in some past forums. And for more go to

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/Democrats-South-Carolina-Forum-Rachel-Maddow-342219031.html And the GOP candidates hold their third debate Tuesday on FOX and with Donald Trump still holding a strong position in the polls and Dr. Ben Carson is getting dinged for inconsistencies in his resume and former Gov. Jeb Bush is trying to reboot his campaign saying he is not worried and that he is a “grinder,” but some people suggest that the younger Bush is “just not that into it,” and his flagging poll numbers suggest he is having a hard time connecting with the GOP faithful and he and Hillary Clinton are facing political fatigue with the nation’s electorate, but Bush has got to improve his campaigning if he wishes to stay competitive on this national stage completely different than when he ran for governor in 1998.

Transportation was the order of the day at the Greater Miami Chamber’s monthly luncheon

Harvard Professor and author and transportation guru Rosa Beth Moss Kanter was the featured speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber’s monthly luncheon Wednesday and the transit infrastructure advocate and author has penned a couple of books on the subject called ‘MOVE,’ and another titled Confidence’ and the Knight Foundation gave out one of her books as a luncheon gift at each table and the books are even signed by the Harvard professor and author. But transportation is a hot topic in grid lock Miami and she notes the nation has some $1.5 trillion (a congressional estimate) in infrastructure needs and the Lack of modern infrastructure is costing the nation daily and “around 25 percent of all functioning bridges in [America] are structurally deficient or neglected,” the author a former IBM executive said. She noted infrastructure maintenance “does not sizzle, is not sexy,” and has politicians slow to push for the funding necessary since the national gas tax funding is flat with more efficient cars. And the lack of maintenance is costing lives citing the Amtrak crash in Philadelphia that “left 20 people dead and hundreds injured,” she said. And Americans waste a “week per year,” costing some $120 billion and has health consequences to the tune “of $15 billion nationwide, and the lack of action is because “maintenance is not a vision,” she believes and whole “neighborhoods have been left behind,” in many communities. She also noted the Japanese Bullet train is celebrating 50 years of operation when it debuted in 1964 in conjunction with the country holding the Olympics and introduced the country back on to the world stage and the high speed train is so advanced in all this time that there was only a “30 second deviation,” in the trains on time performance. She said, “We depend on bridges, and this is an American crisis,” not relegated just to “foreign airports around the globe,” and for many countries is the most visible sign of their rise in economic might. As is seen in China and Hong Kong.

What about MIA being a pharmaceutical hub?

And MIA was recently certified as a shipping pharmaceutical hub, one of the few in the nation and pharmaceuticals is a fast growing business for MIA and is another way of helping pay for the almost $1 million in debt payments per day to cover the bonds that helped finance the $5.8 billion expansion and renovation of the ageing terminals and was once described by aviation director Jose Abreu concerning the forever construction. He said it “was like tiling your bathroom while you are showering since it had to be a working airport where the construction first started around 1994 and finally ended a few years ago. And MIA is one of the nation’s largest international airports with extensive flights to all the South American countries and includes new flights to Turkey in the last month.

>>> History Miami on Jun. 26 to Jan.17 2016 features a major and moving Operation Pedro Pan exhibit, and includes comments from U.S. Sen. Martinez, Miami Mayor Regalado, to Codina, one of the many boys sent to freedom leaving their parents back in Cuba, unknown if parents were to be seen again and has changed the fabric of Miami since the 1960 airlift, and the exodus of 14,000 Cuban children

And the History Miami Museum is celebrating its 75^th anniversary and an upcoming moving display of Operation Pedro Pan is being chronicled and includes interviews of the 14,000 children sent from Cuba to Miami. After Fidel Castro took over and it is a moving exhibit after the Watchdog Report saw the promotional piece on the exhibit including comments from former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and a host of other children who said good bye to their parents in the Havana airport’s “fish bowl,” not knowing if they would ever be seen again or would join them in Miami. Where many were welcomed by members of their extended families and for more go to http://www.historymiami.org/events/details/pedro-pan-at-55-lawyers-and-the-legal-profession-looking-back-and-looking-forward/2015-10-22/ and for more on the Pedro Pan airlift, exodus by the Catholic Charities go to http://www.pedropan.org/category/history

>>> Dan Marino Foundation teams up with Badia Spices to help support children with autism, something appearing across all ethnic groups kids

Webpage info: Badia Spices invites consumers to join their efforts in support of children and young adults living with autism. From now through December 31st, 2015, when you purchase a bottle of Badia (1 LT) Extra Virgin Olive Oil anywhere in the world where Badia Spices are sold, Badia Spices will donate 5% of the proceeds from that sale to The Dan Marino Foundation. Badia Spices believes that being a member of a community means giving back through charitable and community investment. As such, the company supports a variety of charitable and educational organizations. Through the course of the past ten years, Badia Spices and the Badia Family have contributed millions in financial contributions and in-kind donations to a variety of local and national institutions. The family’s efforts on a broad sense have focused on education, healthcare, women’s issues, youth sports, and underserved communities. For more than 23 years, The Dan Marino Foundation has been serving the autism community through unique, impactful initiatives, like Marino Campus – a post-secondary educational opportunity for young adults with developmental disabilities, ages 18-28. The Campus, which opened in 2014, was the logical next step in furthering the Foundation’s mission of “empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.” Badia Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a rich nutty flavor with delicate notes of fruitiness. The Olive Oil is made from the first cold press of Manzanilla, Arbequina, and Lechin and Picual olives. Aside from all the attributed health benefits of olive oil, it is bottled with the promise of full aroma, freshness, rich flavor. “Badia Spices is looking forward to once again partnering with The Dan Marino Foundation,” said Joseph “Pepe” Badia, President of Badia Spices. “This partnership enables us to support the Foundation and Marino Campus, in providing state of the art programing and services for children, teens and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities on their path to independence.” Over the last three years with the support of its customers through the “Go the Extra Yard for Those with Autism Campaign”. Badia Spices has raised more than $300,000 for The Dan Marino Foundation and the Marino Campus programs for young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. “We are continually grateful for the friendship and support of Pepé Badia. It is a privilege for all of us at the Foundation to be a part of the Badia Spices family, stated Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation. I hope Badia Spices and their customers realize the significant impact they have in changing the lives of the young people we serve.” ABOUT BADIA SPICES: Established in 1967 by Jose Badia, Badia Spices is the world’s leading privately Hispanic-owned spice manufacturer with 2012 sales totaling over $100 million. Badia Spices has brought to market the finest ingredients from all corners of the world, making it a favorite among all types of cooks. More than 350 different products are prepared, packaged and shipped to 70 countries and the entire United States. In addition Badia Spices is committed to offering their consumers the highest quality. Badia Spices has added an Organic and Gluten-Free line, and is proud to have its products certified by Safe Quality Foods, an audit recognized around the world as being one of the most rigorous and credible food safety management systems in the marketplace today. For more information, visit the company’s website badiaspices.com.

>>> Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge grant program open, looking for big ideas for community engagement

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Cities Challenge Grant Program is open Oct.1 and Knight program director Matt Haggman discussed the offering last week on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper and Bonnie Berman on WLRN/NPR 91.3 F.M., https://www.newschallenge.org/ and to listen to the show got to http://wlrn.org/post/knight-cities-challenge-funding-innovators-ideas-making-cities-more-sustainable And the program is open to all even if you are not a IRS 501.C3 and all you need is a good idea to make your community more sustainable and informed, Given the Foundation is the premier organization for the Arts and innovative journalism in this changing world of the press in the digital age. Editor’s note: The Watchdog Report has been honored to have the Foundation as an initial Founding sponsor back in 2000, when Hodding Carter, III, a former Press Secretary for President Jimmy Carter. And the Princeton University graduate told me what I was doing was important and fundamental reporting. Since I was covering public meetings where other press was not there and that encouragement has been with me over the past 16-years and I am forever grateful for Carter’s words of encouragement especially when it came to security. An issue I was having in the early years. And for more on Carter who is a professor at UNC Chapel Hill go to http://www.tcf.org/experts/detail/hodding-carter-iii

>>> From the Knight Foundation’s web page: About Knight Cities Challenge

What is your best idea to make cities more successful? The Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas from innovators who will take hold of the future of our cities. From Oct. 1 to Oct. 27, 2015, we invited applicants from anywhere to tell us their ideas for making the 26 Knight communities more vibrant places to live and work. From a pool of $5 million, we’re looking to award grants at the city, neighborhood and block levels, and all sizes in between.

What is the goal?

The challenge is designed to help spur civic innovation at the city, neighborhood, and block levels, and all sizes in between. In particular, we hope to generate ideas that focus on one or all of three key drivers of city success: attracting talented people, expanding economic opportunity and creating a culture of civic engagement.

Who should apply?

The Knight Cities Challenge welcomes anyone with big ideas and the ability to realize them. Applicants may be activists, designers, artists, planning professionals, hackers, architects; everyone is welcome. You don’t have to live in one of the 26 Knight communities to apply, but your project must be located in and benefit one of those communities. No project is too small — so long as your idea is big. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article37161870.html

FLORIDA

>>> Gov. Scott calls for $1 billion in tax cuts, but will legislators buy in with other funding priorities in competition for this lost state revenue

Gov. Rick Scott a former healthcare executive is calling for a $1 billion tax cut in his budget message to the state legislature and cuts cover a host of different items he believes will spur business but legislators responses are mixed to his plan noting that the department of Children and Family has extensive financial needs as does the state’s prison system and more money for mental health issues, and the debate has begun among lawmakers.

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott announced that he is proposing $1 billion in tax cuts to grow the manufacturing industry and Florida’s small businesses to further diversify the economy and guard Florida against another economic downturn.

Governor Scott’s $1 billion tax cut package includes: Permanently Eliminating Income Tax on Manufacturing and Retail Businesses – The elimination of this tax will reduce the cost for businesses in Florida by about $770 million annually, attract more businesses to the state, and diversify Florida’s economy by helping more businesses succeed.

Permanently Eliminating the Tax on Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment – This tax cut is estimated to reduce the tax liability of Florida’s manufacturing businesses by $76.9 million annually beginning in 2017. By permanently eliminating this tax, Florida will be more competitive for manufacturing businesses to start or expand. If no action is taken during the upcoming legislative session, there will be a substantial tax increase on Florida manufacturers.

Cutting the Tax on Commercial Leases – Florida is the only state that has a tax on commercial leases which unfairly targets small businesses. Governor Scott is proposing to reduce the tax on commercial leases by 1 percent in 2017 through the use of both recurring and non-recurring funds. This will save Florida businesses $339 million over the next two fiscal years. Extending the Sales Tax Exemption on College Textbooks – Governor Scott is proposing to extend the sales tax exemption on the purchase of college textbooks for an additional year. The prices of college textbooks have increased significantly over the years, often exceeding $100 per book.  Exempting college textbooks from the state sales tax is expected to save Florida students $46 million. Saving for Families with Sales Tax Holidays – The budget includes funding for a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday and 9-day hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday.  These two tax holidays will save Florida families an estimated $72.8 million in the upcoming fiscal year. Governor Scott said, “By eliminating the tax on business income for Florida manufacturers – big and small, and all Florida retailers, which include many small businesses all across the state, we are putting job creators on the road to success for years to come. I want Florida to be the small business capital of the world. Our state is already home to 500,000 small businesses. The more we can cut taxes – like the one on commercial lease – the more we can grow our small businesses in Florida and further diversify our economy to invest in our future. “Florida is on a roll. Our businesses have added almost one million new jobs over the last four years, but we have more work to do. We can’t only create jobs when the national economy is good. We must cut taxes and diversify our economy so Florida can grow even when the national economy is bad. Florida must compete with Texas, and diversify our economy to guard against another recession.”

What about the 2010 redistricting process?

And for the third time the Florida Legislature failed to approve redistricting maps at the end of a special session and the costs of these sessions is adding up now around $9 million but there is no end in sight and for more go tohttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article43500222.html And redistricting is not having smooth sailing as both political parties sides try to draw maps that the Florida Supreme Court will approve after previous efforts to do redistricting under the Fair District amendment have failed and lawmakers had to hold another special session to get the job done spending millions in state funds. And one of the stumbling blocks now is which senators have to seek reelection in the coming cycle. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article41706951.html

What about sea-level rise and local and landmarks like Vizcaya?

Historic Vizcaya and Gardens is becoming another public face of global warming and the high tides are washing over some of the historic structures paths and is just another example along with Miami Beach and Aventura which has been experiencing extensive flooding depending on the king tides and millions in new pumps have been installed but Vizcaya does not have that option given it is on the bay and will need to be monitored in the coming years for this could be an ongoing problem that may have to be addressed.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Commissioner Jordan asks permission from peers to negotiate with Opa-Locka officials, to discuss debts owed to County and other matters, as municipality works through significant debt, phones at city hall have even been cut off, why Opa-Locka general aviation airport’s development is so critical to the surrounding area

At Tuesday’s County Commission meeting Commissioner Barbara Jordan asked her peers on the body to agree with her having a Sunshine meeting with City of Opa-Locka officials and manager Steve Shiver to “negotiate,” some outstanding issues the County has with the small municipality, that recently had its phones cut off at city hall and the lawmakers, along with Shiver have asked the governor and state to step in and would likely include an independent oversight board to get the city back on track and in the black but the amount of Opa — Locka’s total debt is unknown and Shiver is still finding unpaid invoices and elected officials carp they were kept in the dark concerning how dire the fiscal issue was, but another local municipal government, one of 34 in Miami-Dade is in trouble and the City of Miami had the same trouble back in 1997 and a state oversight board cracked the whip and brought the city back into fiscal health and the board was dissolved in December 20001 when Mayor Manny Diaz became mayor and the city was slowly coming back to fiscal health now a long ago memory with the some 91 new condominiums built under Diaz’s watch fattening up the city’s tax base. However, Commissioner Sally Heyman had some issues since the request came out of the blue and was not on the commission’s “agenda.” The former state lawmaker urged that the County’s attorney office be involved and she was concerned any forgiveness of debt would be asked by perhaps one of the other 34 municipalities and was concerned with creating a precedent she warned Jordan and the commission agreed to her request and while the commissioners would not speak of what the problem was. Commissioner Audrey Edmonson chimed in saying she understood the magnitude of the problem when Heyman pressed for more details on the matter. Which the community now knows the extent of the problem and Gov. Rick Scott is weighing if a financial oversight board is needed something that occurred back in 2002 and was in place for three years, during the Gov. Jeb Bush administration and there was such a board for the City of Miami at the time.

However, Opa-Locka missed the transformation boom Miami had and has been struggling financially but local leaders seem to have abdicated their responsibilities and this crisis continues a reoccurring theme of mismanagement of the Arabian Nights themed city, and the development of the nearby general aviation airport has been slow and is a priority for local economic development that has yet to flourish and is a top priority of Jordan’s. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-gardens/article43040772.html And The Herald states the city owes $1.5 million in residents water and sewer bills and overall there is a $8 million deficit partially caused by the Great recession where property values and the tax base plunged some 27 percent and has not recovered like most of Miami-Dade. And is why the Watchdog Report’s ears perked up when County Commissioner Barbara Jordan during Tuesday’s County Commission meeting said she wanted to have the Sunshine meeting with the City of Opa Locka leaders and manager, and for her to be able to “negotiate,” some money owed to the county for a variety of services. But had Commissioner Sally Heyman concerned about authorizing her in this capacity as a negotiator and insisted any conversations include the County’s attorneys at the meeting. She also noted the issue was not on the “agenda,” and her request kind of came out of blue. And Commissioner Audrey Edmonson chimed in saying she was aware of what the issues were and concurred with Jordan for as we now know. The phones had been cut off at the municipal city hall and restoration on the historic hall structure had come to a halt for lack of paying the contractor

>>> Jordan gives shout out to County firefighters for teaching “170 kids,” how to swim, skills can save many at risk youth from drowning

County Commissioner Barbara Jordan gave a shout out to Miami-Dade firefighters who taught “170,” children how to swim at the Betty Ferguson facility and since children who can’t swim have a tendency to drown. She said a heartfelt thank you to the firefighters, in the County Commission chambers.

What is going on with development in the Horse Country, in western Miami-Dade?

And the County’s Planning and zoning board had an extensive discussion on a new development in what is called “horse country,” and could result in “spot zoning,” said one concerned speaker opposed to the development in the last rural area in west Miami-Dade that thousands of people use for equestrian activities and some 8,000 horses are transported out of MIA yearly said county commissioner Javier Souto. And the area is a major economic generator for the county Souto has said in the past and at the meeting there was a heated discussion where the local residents people feel their lifestyles will be impacted by the intrusion and will open even more development in the rural neighborhood where many of the residents have fruit groves in their yards and residents have had to fight for years to keep the unique character of the area from development. Editor’s note: in the letters section is one proponents take on the matter written by land owner Michael Miller of the Community newspaper fame (see the letters page) and his strong feelings but the Watchdog Report believes the debate will continue. As grass roots residents continue to fight the development and with all the land use attorneys involved including Tucker Gibbs and Juan Mayo, Jr., the fiscal meter is running. And the zoning board transmitted, with a covenant, but no recommendation to ultimately to the County commission next winter to vote on.

And at another zoning meeting Wednesday a discussion of the Ludlam Trail had state Rep. Eric Fresen, R-Miami wearing two hats one for a development in the West end of Miami Dade at Krome and 101 St. and also the Ludlam trail and the Charrette the County held. Fresen said there is “coordination,” with all the government entities since the trail goes through “S. Miami, Miami and the County.” All in his district, he also said that County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa has been a “Pitbull,” in getting a properly designed trail and it not having rampant development along the corridor he said. And Fresen has been a controversial representative and for more go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Fresen and he has been a frequent supporter of charter schools, such as Somerset Academy and he was lobbying for the school in Coral Gables a few years ago.

Fresen

>> With the demise of Dade Medical College many politicians are looking for work, including former Gables Mayor Slesnick, none seemed to know anything was amiss at the for profit college.

A lot of politicians will be looking for new jobs with the closing of Dade Medical College where a number of current or past elected people, about a dozen have worked and even included former Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick, II and the mix. But its founder Ernesto Perez, has been deviled by accusations that students were not getting a proper education at the for profit institution and students did poorly on medical certification exams and the courses were a rip off leaving students with large debts they could not pay after graduating, but Perez was a high flying man with a private jet and used his political connections to get favorable legislation for the college that has now come to an end. For more go tohttp://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article41967387. And the politicians are trying to keep their distance from Perez, last seen in handcuffs. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article43611897.html

>>> Chapman Partnership celebrates 20 years of providing a continuum of care for the county’s homeless, major service provider of the County’s Homeless Trust

The Chapman Partnership for the Homeless celebrated its 20^th Anniversary recently and the organization that provides a continuum of care for the homeless many who are veterans and the organization has not had a hint of scandal over those years and provides a host of services along with Camillus House. And the organization has helped reduce homeless on the streets from around 9,000 back in 1993 where there was even a mayor at one of the shanty towns, said Sergio Gonzalez , the first CEO of the homeless trust and is a vice president at the university of Miami. And was Mayor Alex Penelas’s chief of staff and he is Georgetown University graduate. And for more on the Chapman Partnership go to https://www.chapmanpartnership.org/

GMCVB press release: During the month of September 2015, Miami-Dade County’s reported collections for the 2% Hotel Food and Beverage Tax collections from hotels in Miami-Dade (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) showed an increase of 15.7% compared to the same time in 2014, while the 3% Convention Development Tax (TDT) collections for Greater Miami (excluding Bal Harbour and Surfside) showed an increase of 13.6% compared to the same time last year. The 2% Tourist Development Tax (CDT) for Greater Miami (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside) showed an increase of 10.0% compared to the same time in 2014.

Record September Miami-Dade County Tax Collections
2% Hotel Food & Beverage Tax
September 2015	September 2014	% Change vs. 2014
$535,303	$462,480	+15.7%
3% Convention Development Tax
September 2015	September 2014	% Change vs. 2014
$4,416,587	$3,889,014	+13.6%
2% Tourist Development Tax
September 2015	September 2014	% Change vs. 2014
$1,513,792	$1,375,599	+10.0%

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho makes his case on NBC 6 show hosted by Jackie Nesperal on why, district is interested in working with MLS soccer and owning new stadium in Little Havana site.

Superintended Alberto Carvalho on NBC 6 in an interview with Jackie Nesperal explained why the public schools district is talking to David Beckham about owning a new stadium for the team and he noted when it came to the project he felt it was important to be “at the table, rather than be on the plate,” he reasoned. Regarding the discussions taking place with the team and trying to lure the MLS franchise, but the devil is in the details as Michael Lewis wrote in www.miamitoday.comm In an editorial last week that he believes there are many questions to be answered before the nation’s largest public district does such a deal that would bring a number benefits to the District versus the skewed Miami Marlin’s Stadium deal. And to see the show go to http://www.nbc.com/live and the community debate on the stadium deal is just beginning and it remains to be seen how it will play out after a number of misfires, but has gained new life. Though local property owners are asking too much for their properties needed to build the stadium and has MLS team members getting inpatient with a looming deadline in December.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> JHS sees remarkable revenue excess $58.35 million, up from budgeted $12.4 million in expected excess, after a decade of running in the red, dramatic turnaround but challenges remain

PHT CEO Carlos Migoya in a Nov. 2 memo notes Jackson Health has closed the year “substantially stronger,” than the budgeted $12.4 million, to the tune of $58.35 million and continues the trend of the public health trust running in the black after hemorrhaging red ink for a decade and Migoya working with the unions and other efficiencies has turned the beleaguered hospital system around and the WDR gives the banker a Tip of The Hat for a job well done.

>>> And the Trust board has a new trustee, William Heffernan, a former banker with Total Bank before it was sold, and Moshe Kagan, Esq., was also reappointed by the County Commission and she is the vice chair of the board chaired by Joe Arriola. And here are the other board members on the PHT Recovery Board, Joe Arriola, Chairman, Mojdeh L. Khaghan, Vice Chairwoman, William J. Heffernan, Treasurer, Dr. Irene Lipof, Secretary, Ralph G. Patino, Member, Darryl K. Sharpton, Member, and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo, Member. Latest Construction Projects. Jackson is proud to begin work on major initiatives throughout Miami-Dade County, including pursuing our 100-bed inpatient… [Read More]

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Russell becomes giant killer in race for commission district 2 race, beating Teresa Sarnoff by almost two to one, but race still is up in the air as Sarnoff tries to bow out of the race, but wants to keep #3 candidate Solaris out of runoff, city charter unclear about what to do when candidate does not get 50percent plus one in race, but some believe phony Nov. 17 election just a ploy and Russel is ramping up his come from behind campaign, against her $1 million campaign war chest

The City of Miami had another Miami Moment when long shot candidate Ken Russell, a pole-vaulting athlete managed to beat Teresa Sarnoff in the nine candidate Commission District 2 race Tuesday. And the neophyte candidate connected with voters even though his campaign war chest dwarfed Sarnoff’s $1 million in funds if a PAC was included but the wife of termed out commissioner Marc Sarnoff could not shed the fact she was seen as a puppet to her control freak husband and voters rejected her sudden candidacy and many of my readers thought I was being too hard on Teresa, but I responded that comes with this kind of political maneuver and voters said enough was enough when it came to a Sarnoff dynasty and gave her only 23.5 percent of the vote to Russell’s 41.3 percent and third was Grace Solaris getting 22.23 percent of the low turnout vote and absentee votes were less than I expected given the political machine the incumbent had created in his past races. But voters were looking for a clean slate of the Sarnoff’s and the wife in a letter to The Miami Herald is bowing out but cynics think this might be some ploy of her husband and with another runoff election Nov. 17. Russell is not letting his guard down and is out campaigning and keeping his team intact and he is now getting some help, from the police union who endorsed the wife and in the fundraising category from Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez who Sarnoff predicted had presidential aspirations and he would support the man but the district 2 voters changed that equation and it remains to be seen how this contentious race will ultimately pan out and had Russell standing at the polls with various members of his family campaigning all day for him and a campaign ritual, including his Japanese mother bowing to voters at the Brickell polling site and his wife worked the Water and Sewer site all day and they were determined to get the candidate elected who is finding out he has a lot more friends now and his fundraising efforts are expected to pick up now that the filed has winnowed out from nine candidates to just him and Sarnoff and his cell is so busy he is not taking messages. And to see the election results go to http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Dade/57808/156967/en/summary.html#

And outgoing commissioner Sarnoff was seen pacing and looking visible disturbed at the now closed Miami Science Museum polling site and during Election Day I never caught up with Teresa. Though I briefly saw her at the city of Miami polling site getting into a Sienna van. And was in contrast to the other candidates like Javier Gonzalez and Gracie Solaris who also put their time in at the polls rain or shine last week. And many people said “Teresa just did not seem that into it,” when it came to her running for the office and the candidates are waiting for a ruling if the city has to have an election or can Russell be declared the winner saving the city having to spend $100,000 on the runoff election.

What lobbyist were at the Miami commission recently?

Raphael Garcia-Toledo a prominent Miami-Dade County lobbyist who is close with Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his wife Vicky an attorney who is a prominent city of Miami lobbyist and both of them were at the Miami commission meeting Thursday where the couple held court. And his wife Vicky Garcia Toledo is a former Miami attorney and she still seems to think she works there given her familiarity at commission meetings, including even going into the restricted staff area for staff once to talk to then assistant manager Alice Bravo and the area is what I call the forbidden zone. Since only city employees are allowed in the area. And her black Land Rover is easy to spot given her license vanity plate V G-T and she was cruising along Bird road Saturday. But I keep watch on the attorney only because of her husband and his connection to Gimenez.

What about Sarnoff’s email and will it bleed into his wife’s campaign effort?

And the Watchdog Report has become aware that the commissioner uses two email accounts when he conducts public business. And I asked his law partner Jay H. Solowsky, if his “server was secure?” last Wednesday and he said the salaw account was supposed to be used “only for business,” but that is not always the case. And Solowsky said the firm’s server “was as secure,” as one can be in today’s world he noted referencing all the cyber-attacks that have hit the nation. And at a Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority (MESA) meeting that Solowsky sits on with Commissioner Sarnoff, Willie Gort and is chaired by Mayor Tomas Regalado. A speaker making a presentation noted the people in the room were very “erudite,” and Sarnoff, quipped he must be talking about only “Solowsky,” but it was a snarky comment the others in the room did not deserve. Update: Sarnoff at Thursday’s commission meeting honored Solowsky with a proclamation saying he is one of the “five smartest people he knows,” and he is the number five,” of them and the snarky comments keep coming from the man who is clearly going to miss the life of an elected Miami commissioners and all the perks that come with it, after voters approved a salary bump for them but included commissioner term limits. And the Watchdog Report asked Solowsky, Thursday if Sarnoff would stay of counsel at his law firm and he said he did not know but he was “giving him time,” and he is “very bright,” he considered when I asked about Sarnoff saying he “was one of the five smartest people he knew,” and was a back hand comment something the commissioner has perfected and impacted his wife’s campaign. And even Sarnoff’s chief of staff Ron Nelson, a Grove activist fell under the spell and appears to have been incapable of reigning in the commissioner. But all of that is now over if we are to believe Teresa. Who first turned down an interview with NBC6 anchor reporter Jackie Nesperal but she and her husband both showed up to the door of the station and asked to be included and Russell at the time was unaware they were showing up since he was told she had given it a pass. And some wonder what Teresa will do after this significant humiliation that had long time husband supporters trashing her and not willing to work on her campaign and was clear at the polls where some of the Commission’s sergeant-of-arms worked the Sarnoff polls and Sarnoff’s chief of staff Nelson worked the Miami poll site and he is trying to find a job at the city but is finding no tackers yet.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Levine cruises to victory over neophyte candidate Wieder, decisive 65.4% win and believes it is a mandate since his slate of new commissioners except one all won their races outright

Mayer Philip Levine cruised to victory after getting 65.4 percent, despite criticism of his “bonehead” decision to be involved in a Wolfson created PAC, that while legal caused controversy after ran a rebuttal ad against WPLG reporters, and the PAC. Since dissolved. And to see all the election results go to http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Dade/57808/156967/en/summary.html

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>>> Animal lover’s mecca claws for Paws at Joe’s Stone Crab, Nov. 15, Champaign brunch, honoring reporter Jacey Birch of WPLG Local 10 for investigative reports and a moving pet adoption segment every day – The iconic Joe’s Stone Crabs on Miami Beach is hosting the annual Claws for Paws Champaign Lunch Sunday Nov. 15 and animal advocate Jacey Birch, a reporter with WPLG Local 10 and the time honored event is not only a special treat, with delicious food but brings together a large swath of animal lovers and for more and tickets go to http://www.eventbrite.com/e/claws-for-paws-tickets-17957588631

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

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

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 -www.miami.com/mld/MiamiHerald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/

LETTERS

>>> Subject: Horse Country Needs Your Help

A developer wants to put a strip mall into Horse Country and we need your help. Please click on the link to change.org and read what’s going on. You can help protect and preserve Horse Country by putting your name on this petition, which will be given to the County Commission on November 18th.If the Master Comprehensive Plan is changed at the corner of SW 127 Ave and SW 56 ST, as requested by the developer, it would allow a strip mall and will most assuredly trigger multiple applications for more non-agricultural uses, such as grocery stores, offices, gas stations, restaurants and more businesses all along SW127 Ave from Sunset Drive to Bird Road,as well as east on Sunset Drive and east on Miller Drive. This is a very important issue and you can make a difference by standing up to developers that want to dismantle Horse Country, which is from SW 40 St to SW 72 St and the Turnpike to SW 127 Aventis matter is very important to all those that love Horse Country and your help would be very much appreciated. Here’s what you can do: Just sign the petition and share, share and share. If you have any questions, please feel to call me at 786-543-3872. BTW, Did I mention that if you sign this and share it, you’ll make a difference?https://www.change.org/p/miami-dade-county-commission-keep-horse-country-agricultural-for-miami?recruiter=410088364&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Michael Miller

Community Newspapers

>>> Great story on the Pets’ Trust.  I’d love to speak with you and tell you more.  You are right…..it will be an issue in the Mayor’s race.  

Please watch this…      Pets’ Trust…the Story    password is     movie         

 And read this……..  http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/joe-cardona/article2087823.html

Michael Rosenberg

President Pets’ Trust

Rita Schwartz Cofounder

>>> We are having an incredible exhibit at the Warehouse of Anselm Kiefer, one of the foremost artists this century. Anselm will be here October 21st for an intimate dinner with the proceeds to benefit Lotus House. It is the best exhibit we have ever had in our fifteen years. Please make sure you see it when we open in late October.
Marty Margulies

>>> The Watchdog Report is Celebrating 16 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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>>> 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

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CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

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MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors 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 250 reports and Extras 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. I welcome letters via e-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

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2015, Daniel A. Ricker

>>> 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

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times

The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

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 –www.miami.com/mld/MiamiHerald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/

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