Watchdog Report Vol.16 No. 44 March 13, 2016 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 17 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.

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher for 16 years now, has reported back weekly on how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to help support me providing this service is at the end of the WDR. And I hope you will consider keeping an independent news service out in our community, where what is going on with all our government entities is of critical benefit for both the public institutions but voters as well. Thank You. And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ And in the past I have broken the story on Cuban refugees coming in droves and also the Oriental fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.

>>>> CORRECTION: LAST week I incorrectly reported Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine was on the Florida Round-up on WLRN 91.3 F.M.   And he was not on the show. >>> Further the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade did not give Miami-Dade County $5 million for summer employment jobs and I am sorry for these two errors. “I’m pretty sure our investment in this project with the County is $750,000. The discussion probably got wrapped up in other facts and information about us. For example, this year we directly funded $6 million in youth enrichment programs with summer youth employment components. This was procured in 2015. Here is a link to what that that solicitation looked like and its outcome, including details of what orgs were funded and for what:

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/uploads/images/providers/funding/FY14-15/2015-03/2015- 03_RFP_Youth_Enrichment_Recommendations_052215.pdf so, for The Children’s Trust, our contribution to the County initiative helps to leverage funding pledged by them to fund even more programs and augments our own investment in this arena further. It’s a win, win for everyone — especially inner city youth who need these opportunities most,” wrote Emily Cardenas, Director of Communications.

>>>And you can now easily support the Watchdog Report by going to my new PayPal Button account at www.watchdogreport.net However, because of fiscal issues I was barely able to publish this week as Miami continues to get more expensive and it is no easy task to do the WDR weekly. And years ago the County Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if your smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. Many public meetings were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer the case. For an accurate public record is key and diminishes legal action. For you either have an accurate public record or you don’t. And I hope you will consider helping me in this effort to keep the community informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. Thank you for the past support over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years back in 2003 go to: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>>>Trump rallies get heated, blames Sanders supporters for fights and disturbances, but some of his rhetoric is over the top for many, but passions are high, Clinton calls it “not only wrong but dangerous,”

With fists flying and Bernie Sander protestors clashing in Chicago at a Trump rally where the presidential candidate said he would pay for any of the fighters legal fees and felt it was ‘OK to punch protesters in the face,’ and later it was ‘very appropriate to beat protesters at rallies,’ Trump is quoted but American politics is going to the dark side when candidates believe it is OK to hassle the press and look to physical solutions during rallies and these young protesters have a “passion and fervor,” some candidates could only wish for but have failed in that category. And this new heated political rhetoric has Rubio having second thoughts in interviews and Trump is firing back that Sanders should call off his protesters as well and he has described the protesters as “professionally staged wise guys,” Trump believes.

And Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton is weighing in on the disturbances saying Americans will always disagree but “this divisive rhetoric by Trump “is not only wrong but dangerous, the former Sec. of State said at a rally but the Trump campaign has taken a new direction and his supporters are passionate and he believes his campaign is going to bring new voters to the GOP. And for Sen. Marco Rubio it is do or die on Super Tuesday and former Gov. Jeb Bush has stayed on the sidelines and has yet to endorse Rubio a longtime friend he mentored. And Trump’s incendiary comments is becoming the electrolyte of further dividing the nation and if these political clashes continue America will be entering a new campaign phase based on a social media platform and had Trump again calling them “organized professional wise guys,” he said Saturday at a rally.

And since the other candidates all agreed to support whoever the GOP candidate would be Rubio is concerned with the new tone. However, it is unknown if protests will hit the Democratic Party debates and rallies and if it could bleed into local races if activists believe aggressive protests are now effective though in Trump’s case probable just made the supporters more determined but with this new norm President Barack Obama is starting to mock Trump, saying he is not “shocked” about the businessman’s comments because he “thought I was born in Kenya.”

And pundits are calling for Trump to disavow some of his violent remarks and dial it back before it gets out of control and becomes in bedded into political discourse that hasn’t been like this since Chicago in 1968 and as Gandhi liked to say, “Make it the strength of your argument and not the stridency of your voice.” And the electorate will see how this new nationalism plays out among the candidates and has Republicans believing Obama has played a part creating this new divisive culture and harsh attitudes and playing on people’s fear.

>>> Zogby press release: President Obama’s self-declared successor and maintainer of the Obama Legacy took it on the chin in Michigan this past week. Hillary Rodham Clinton seems to be doing her best in all the states that Democrats will not win in November. A major factor in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ surprise win was his strong position against President Clinton’s and President Obama’s negotiated trade deals.

“Nonetheless, what does Mr. Obama have to worry about? His opposition is eating its young and old and the president’s approval ratings are the highest since he was re-elected in 2012. He and his family displayed elegance at a state dinner featuring the equally elegant Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.Grade B+

>>> Political commentator Joy-Ann Reid of MSNBC interviewed Miami Commissioner

Keon Hardeman about primary elections and Trump’s hate full language causing disturbances at rallies

And Joy- Ann Reid a MSNBC political commentator and a featured Miami Herald editorial columnist interviewed Miami Commissioner Keon Hardeman last week about what issues were of concern to his African American constituents during the presidential primary and he said for them “it is the fear of not being able to walk the streets,” and this ongoing violence [almost daily in Miami] makes parents “afraid when they [their children] walk to school,” given how common the community violence has become and has a child killed almost daily. The Commissioner said parents in homes and barbershops he talks to are “real afraid and don’t Have time for this rhetoric,” and Donald Trump’s tone of “hate,” inspires people, “And he is causing the trouble and he should be arrested,” said the former public defender,” and this heated rhetoric Hardeman hopes does “not incite riots,’ said the Miami commissioner on air from Bayside and it was great to see Reid back in town and she has flourished as a commentator on the news station and for more on the Harvard University graduate go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy-Ann_Reid and she and I have both been on Issues on WPBT channel 2 with then host Helen Ferre and I wish her well.

>>> Zogby press release: The GOP’s Rocky Road to Cleveland

I spent the past few days in Akron, Ohio at the University of Akron’s EXL Center for Entrepreneurism. One of my events was a political panel on the 2016 election and we were all asked by a member of the audience: “Is Cleveland ready for the Republican Convention?” One of my colleagues started to answer positively about improvements to the airport and convention center when I interrupted and said I think the man was really asking whether or not the world was ready for this convention. The audience member agreed that is what he was truly getting at.

And it is a good question. The GOP and the nation are in for a very difficult time. This past week, frontrunner Donald Trump received withering attacks from both the 2008 and 2012 party presidential nominees, relentless hammering from his colleagues Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, and pointed prosecutorial questions from debate moderator Megyn Kelly. The New York State Attorney General offered that he is certain he is the goods on fraud at Trump University and 22 prominent Republican foreign policy experts labeled Trump’s foreign policy ideas as dangerous to the national security. At least one group of major donors got on a phone call convened by eBay founder Meg Whitman and vowed to look into ways of stopping Trump’s march to the presidential nomination.

FLORIDA

>>> State Rep. Fresen editorial in The Miami Herald, fails to mention close ties to charter schools, sister married to owner of Academic, one of the largest

State Rep. Erick Fresen, R-Miami threw down the charter school gauntlet in an editorial in The Miami Herald concerning how beneficial Charter Schools are to the state in offering children an option to public school districts schools. And to read the editorial go to http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article64658637.html However, critics charge that public money is going to private entities that are owned many times by the Charter School and just a few firms (Academica is one and Fresen’s sister is married to the firm’s president) who runs a host of them and receive a very steady management fee from a host of charter schools and it is the fact the taxpayers do not own any of these assets that get public money for improvement’s. And this diversion of public capital funding has eaten into funding for large public districts like Miami-Dade where there are over 130 charter schools and was one of the reasons why the District had to pass a $1.2 billion GOB bond and in his editorial Fresen did not note his ties to the organization Academica that has also fiscally been good for him and his family.

What do we know about his net worth?

Fresen through 12/31 2014 had a net worth of $484,057 and had $1,500 in household goods and his home is worth $550,000, there is $4,057 in a checking account and Civica pays him $150,000 and the lawmaker gets another $26,697 from Florida as a legislator. He also lists an $85,000. Student loan owed. And to read the forms go to: http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2014/72863-Form6.pdf and for more on Fresen’s relationship with charter schools go to: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/cashing-in-on-kids/article1939208.html

What about his previous year’s disclosures?

Fresen in Dec. 2008 had a net worth of $330,000 and his home was valued at $433,000 and his student loan back then was $113,000 states the older financial disclosure on the land use lobbyist who is chair of the Florida House Education Committee.

Fresen

>>> Sen. Diaz de la Portilla gets a shout out for stopping open carry gun law on campuses by WPLG senior political reporter Michael Putney

State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami got a nice shout out by Michael Putney and on This Week in South Florida for his not supporting a bill that would allow college students to carry guns on their campus called “Open Carry,” and his lack of support at the time killed the bill from advancing. And to see the local senator’s comments go to: http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-march-6

>>> With Florida being a must win state for presidential candidate Rubio, will Gov. Scott endorse the junior senator from Florida, is a must state for Rubio to win to keep his campaign alive against an insurgent Trump?

Gov. Rick Scott is being coy about who he would support in the March 15 GOP primary and the business man made his fortune in the healthcare industry and he penned a editorial praising the Donald Trump campaign but Scott has yet to make a formal endorsement and since Sen. Marco Rubio must win his home state as is the case with Ohio Gov. John Kasich and his race in Ohio.

Scott who has a mixed reputation is an out sider of the establishment who ran using much of his own money in the first race but took outside contributions for his reelection in 2014 and since Trump is eclipsing Rubio in the state’s polls Texas Senator Ted Cruz is also staking a claim in the Sunshine State. And Scott is facing major opposition with his major initiatives in the legislature like $1 billion in business tax cuts and $250 million for Enterprise Florida whose mission is to bring new companies to Florida but some consider it corporate welfare and a poor investment for taxpayers. And the governor with numerous past vetoes has failed to build bridges with law makers. Who shot down most of his budget recommendations when the session ended Friday passing an $82.3 billion record budget.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> Police cameras cost not big issue, secure storage in cloud not cheap, and “state sponsored hackers can hack any government,” Zapata is informed nothing really secure anymore

The issue of Police body cameras was a major topic at this week’s county commission meeting and it is not the cost of the cameras but the secure storage of the data that gets expensive and while staff assured the Cloud being used was secure. Commissioner Juan Carlos Zapata noted someone told him that no government is secure,” if hacked by a state sponsored hacker and with hacks at the Pentagon, IRS it is clear IT security is going to be a costly item in the coming years….

>>> PAST WDR: Commissioner’s want a “level playing field,” for App services, cost for fingerprinting, drug tests have to be reasonable for Uber and Lyft drivers, says Heyman

The County Commission had a workshop on Uber and other App ride services and commissioners wanted to make the “playing field level,” said Commissioner Estephan Bovo and he is a traditionalist when it comes to using taxis and Commissioners Sally Heyman and Javier Souto wanted to know the costs for fingerprinting and drug screenings and Souto wanted the county to do spot testing to be sure drivers are not impaired and a risk to passengers and the these car services are only gaining popularity and has some people selling their cars and using only these on demand services to get around and has become a hot potato for officials.

Bovo

Heyman

Souto

And to see elections issues in Miami-Dade running up to the March 15 elections, go to

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article64069647.html

>>> Mayor Gimenez let the media park at the Stephen P. Clark Center, they fell on their sword when juvenile court House built and three press spots were absorbed, created in 2000 after Elian Gonzalez controversy, parking on plaza sidewalk gets tickets from Miami Parking Authority

The Mayor should consider reinstating parking areas for the press that were lost when the Children’s Juvenile Court House was built and for a decade there were three parking slots for the media but since then parking around county hall is almost impossible and needs to be corrected and can be done by having a couple of dedicated media parking slots in one of the county’s garages now charging around $10.00 to park which in today’s world adds up if you try to be there every day like I used to be able to do and cannot for a variety of reasons.

And who knew both Commissioner Xavier Suarez and Mayor Carlos Gimenez were escorted out the same elementary school by soldiers with machine guns at the Belen Jesuit School in Cuba and Suarez is a Belen graduate and Gimenez later went to Columbus and there is a ferocious rivalry between the schools. And they had a quick joke about the joint experience as children.

>>> Mayor Gimenez should insist water and sewer repairs on roads should end with a smooth roadway, and be part of a repairs final inspection

Mayor Carlos Gimenez could get a huge number of votes if county contractors doing the $10 to $20 billion in water and sewer repairs on the streets after they dug up the road asphalt that the new asphalt be done so there is a smooth road and not the rough uneven surface the road usually becomes and this is a big deal given the mammoth scope of the upcoming work and any final inspection should include a suitable final road surface for currently the streets are getting badly torn up and is a major complaint that I hear all the time.

>>> Press release: Ethics Commission opposes proposed amendments to Public Records Law

The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust (COE) today voted to oppose bills moving through the Florida Legislature that many believe would negatively impact citizens’ access to government records.  House Bill 1021 and Senate Bill 1220 eliminate mandatory legal fee awards when a government agency fails to adequately fulfill public records requests. Opponents argue that giving judge’s discretion to award attorney fees to citizens who successfully sue when records requests aren’t met removes a strong incentive for agencies to abide by the law and also blocks access to the courts by citizens who may not be able to afford legal representation.  Ethics Commissioners said they do not want to eliminate the mandatory requirement to award the fees, but would like to see judges have more leeway on how much should be awarded. The request for opposition to the legislation came from the Jacksonville Ethics Commission, which passed a similar resolution last week and is seeking support from other ethics commissions on the issue.

Are early drafts of a speech subject to Florida’s Public Records Law?  Different interpretations of state statute are behind a finding of No Probable Cause to a complaint (C 15-29) filed under the Miami-Dade Citizens’ Bill of Rights against Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, for failing to preserve early versions of his State of the Village address. Working versions of the speech had been shared among the Village Clerk, Public Information Officer and Mayor Flinn when Vice-Mayor John DuBois requested a copy on October 13, 2015; the day before the speech was to be presented.  Preliminary drafts of government documents circulated among public officials are generally considered public record.  However, since the Mayor relied on contrary advice from the Village Attorney, the Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint, but agreed a Letter of Instruction should be issued to the municipality to avoid future confusion over the preservation of public records.

>>> An employee of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department claimed in a complaint (C 16-05) that he suffered retaliation and faced a hostile workplace after reporting violations about his agency to the Department of Environmental Protection.  Accusations of retaliation must be made within 60 days of the negative action and this complaint came more than two years after the alleged incidents, so it was dismissed as Not Legally Sufficient.

>>> Ethics Commission Executive Director Joseph Centorino reported that his staff had recommended against granting a conflict of interest waiver to a Tallahassee-based law firm that lobbies on behalf of Miami-Dade County, but also represents ride-sharing company Uber before the Florida Legislature.  County ordinance prevents any company that is contracted to represent the County from lobbying against any County position on any issue unless it is granted a waiver by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC).  The Pittman Group was retained by Uber to support passage of legislation that would preempt local regulation of so-called Transportation Network Entities like Uber.  Ethics Commission staff found that granting a waiver to the Pittman Group to represent Uber while also representing the County created a conflict that should not be waived. The BCC agreed with the recommendation and voted to deny the waiver request at last Tuesday’s (2/2/16) meeting.

A similar recommendation made against Ballard Partners on the same issue last year was also accepted by the BCC. 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, outreach and enforcement, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust.   

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Supt. Carvalho calls for massive mentoring state attorney KFR has list of “100 at risk youth,” identified, massive mentoring program trying to short circuit epidemic school children shootings.

Alberto Carvalho in a discussion in the press room at Wednesday’s school board meeting said that when it comes to all the children being killed he believes a public forum recently produced some real strategies and he is a man who attends the funerals of the students that is getting to be way too many he said. The educator noted that the local state Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle has a “list of 100 at risk youth,” and they had already been involved with a gun in some way and he believes the community has to focus on these high risk youth and one way is through a major “mentoring program,” and he wants to partner with five of the local universities and other partners to try to reduce what is called “hyper violence,” and these senseless killings of our community’s youth and children.

>>> Controversial Arts & Minds Charter School Audit shows $416,534 deficit, owner used to get almost $90,000 a month in rent, subject to scrutiny since 2004

And the school board Audit and Budget Review Committee is meeting this Tuesday and it is the community’s fire wall for responsible spending of your some $4.3 billion in district tax funding.

And the committee is made up of respected CPAs and tax attorneys and that was not always the case, and in 20004 through a story in the Watchdog Report. I finally got the long serving chair (after a decade) to step down and since then there has been an orderly change of leadership essential to good governance. And the Arts and Minds Charter Audit is below and the controversial school on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove has been in the press including the Miami Herald and the school is operating with a $416,534 deficit and total liabilities are $664,645 an the school started by the owner of the building’s assets are $122,000 and at one time in 2007 to 2009 the owner Manny Alonso Puch, was getting some almost $90,000 in monthly rent from the district and its governance was questioned given it is what is known as a “related” transaction and why I first flagged it back in 2004 and to read the audit go to http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_March_15_2016/Charters/2015%20Academy%20of%20Arts%20and%20Minds%20Charter%20High%20School%207022.pdf

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> The funding nightmare begins for low income patients at JHS funding could drop from $1.1 to $600 million after Fla. Leg does not expand Medicaid, future draw down money now a gamble on how much will come back?

After decades and Florida being threatened by the President Barack Obama administration if Florida did not open up Medicaid in Florida under the ACA. The Upper Income Pool program is changing dramatically and while Jackson Health System (JHS) has for years primed the federal draw down pump where some 400 million in intergovernmental transfers is sent to DC and later that amount comes back. However under a new formula this drawdown money is no longer assured and for JHS is some $600 million in reduced funds for charity and uncompensated care and Gov. Rick Scott is holding firm, as is the legislature not to expand the Medicaid population and this is the federal government punishing the state for not allowing more Floridians to sign up for Obama Care and local hospitals do millions in charity care and this is a real hit. And for more go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article65202472.html

>>> PAST WDR: With $1.4 billion in capital funding change is coming to dated JHS campus and facilities, board and management say projects will be on time and on budget as public system tries to catch up with other health systems

The PHT continues the massive expansion of the health system and at Friday’s televised board meeting Board Chair Joe Arriola discussed the $1.4 billion upgrade of facilities that will actually happen including the rehabilitation facility long promised but never materialized. And FIU Medical College Dean Rock, M.D. at the PHT board meeting televised noted the schools two year physician assistant program is going well and has “some 120 students,” in the program and is a key component to the community healthcare program being pushed by the public university and has medical students at a host of hospitals around Miami-Dade and these budding physicians are making their mark while training and are getting good reviews from their peers. And JHS is itself getting fiscally better and cash on hand is at 49 days much higher than when at some points. It was at nine or ten days of cash and under the leadership of Carlos Migoya and his team along with concessions from the unions they have done a remarkable job turning around the beleaguered organization whose new facilities will mirror the great medical care the system provides to the poor and uninsured now.

>>> Four trustee’s applicants accepted, but two more applicants are needed, application deadline extended

PHT webpage Overview: The Public Health Trust (PHT) was created in 1973 by the Board of County Commissioners as an independent governing body concerned with the county’s most vital healthcare resource: Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Trust is comprised of concerned volunteer citizens who set policies that assure that Jackson Health System is responsive to community needs. This “citizen body” provides leadership for joint planning between Jackson Health System, the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, Miami-Dade County and other private and community organizations.

In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners amended Chapter 25A of the Miami-Dade County Code that governs the Public Health Trust. Notably, these changes altered the composition and size of the Public Health Trust as well as the responsibilities for countywide health care. A new Office of Countywide Health Care Planning was created under the Office of the County Manager and Jackson’s role was redefined to focus solely on the planning of facilities within the system. To read the Public Health Trust Bylaws, click here. View the Public Health Trust meeting calendar by clicking here.

>>> Please hold Monday, March 21^st, 2016 at 11:00 AM to reconvene the Public Health Trust (PHT) Nominating Council at Jackson Memorial Hospital, located at 1611 N.W. 12^th Avenue, 1^st Floor, in the West Wing Board Room (see directions below) to review the applicants and interview process to fill the open seats on the Public Health Trust Board of Trustees.  The applicant matrix will be emailed to the Nominating Council the week of March 7^th, 2016 and the meeting agenda will be provided the week of the PHT Nominating Council meeting.

>>> Press release: As of the February 9, 2016 deadline for Public Health Trust (PHT) Board of Trustee applications, the following four (4) applications were received:

William Heffernan,
Irene Lipoff,
Albert Dotson, and
Ralph Patino.

Per the County Attorney’s Office, in order to bring an item forth to the Board of County Commissioners, the Nominating Council must put forth six (6) names, at a minimum.  Therefore, Chairman Arriola has extended the PHT Board of Trustees application deadline until March 2, 2016 (3 weeks) at 4:00 pm.

As a result, the Chairman has requested that the February 24, 2016 meeting be rescheduled so the Nominating Council can review all the applicants after the extended deadline and decide finalists to interview.  The date of the next Nominating Council meeting and a revised timeline will be forthcoming. I have included the 2016 PHT Board of Trustees application in case you would like to share with any candidates.

>>> Past WDR: health trust will be looking for trustees in near future, only the best of the best need apply to be on seven member oversight board, $830 million GOB oversight board looking for trustees as well

The Public HealthTrust Nominating Council is meeting and is expected to be running an ad soon asking for residents to apply to be on the seven member oversight board that looks after the health trust system and is currently a much more nimble board then when it was 18 members years ago, but County Commissioners reduced the board’s size and under the leadership of Carlos Migoya alongside with the unions and major concessions from them the trust has operate the organization in the black the last three years after years of hemorrhaging red ink to the tune of a $84 million loss back in 20003.

>>> And the $830 million GOB bond oversight board is looking for trustees as well and if you have skills in construction consider applying here http://www.jacksonhealth.org/jackson-bond-program-CAC.asp#2

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> It’s good to know people in high places, NET administrator Acosta gets almost $130,000 salary despite needing two waivers for original past job when hired

A Miami net administrator Vanessa Acosta, an attorney is in the rarified air of making almost $129,000. Per year in the city of Miami. And she gets this compensation because she was brought in to write the legislation for media billboards and it is in her retirement. She really scores and her mother Ileana used to Chair the Miami planning and Zoning Board and was close to long serving Miami Commissioner Wilfredo Gort but the city has a long history of appointing politically connected people and it is only when they retire residents pay the price. Further when Acosta was hired to work in the building and zoning department and her appointment required two waivers by then Miami Manger Jonny Martinez and Carlos Migoya but http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1943919.html she is now one of the NET administrators and while she has a Law degree from UM which she said is why she made this salary. I doubt the other NET administrators are compensated so well and she takes umbrage of any one questioning why she is compensated so well. Further, in her career she has worked for the now defunct Adorno & Yoss law firm and had Hank Adorno fighting to keep his law license after a controversial class action settlement.

>>> Sarnoff Chief of Staff Nelson lands at the Miami-Dade County Transit Department, doing special projects, and the Grovite has a prickly personality

Ron Nelson, the former Chief of Staff for Marc Sarnoff has joined Miami-Dade County transit doing special projects for Director Alice Bravo and he was the enforcer for the commissioner Sarnoff’s years in office and when Sarnoff and his wife Teresa lost the election he was finding it hard to stay with hot city and he did work the polls during the failed election of his boss wife to now Miami Commissioner Ken Russell and Nelson’s office is in the transit village and the activist was very involved with the Grove Civic Club in past years.

Nelson

>>> LinkedIn page: Special Projects Administrator, Department of Transportation and Public Works, Miami-Dade County

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

Government Administration

Current	City of Miami
Education	Florida State University
Recommendations	1 person has recommended Ron

>>> Vice Chair Russell gets the gavel after Chair Hardeman cannot get to commission meeting Friday, ran the meeting well with a friendly tone, joins with Commissioner Carollo to protect City’s Park lands and any future developments

Miami Commissioner Ken Russell got to chair his first commission meeting Friday when Commission Chair Keon Hardeman was unable to get back to Miami in time for the rescheduled Friday meeting and he grasped the parliamentary lingo used to run the meeting easily and with an almost 79 page agenda it was a long meeting. And Russell has started an intern program in his office and he heard reports on the Historic Virginia key Beach Trust.

That honors the only African American Beach in segregated Miami in the 1950s and Gene Tiinney the Trust chair noted that UM historian Prof. Greg Bush is writing a book on the iconic Beach’s history an Bush is a noted environmentalist and park advocate as well and he has fought for decades against rampant Miami development and the destruction of historical places in the magic city.

Russell also pushed legislation trying to protect and expand the City’s small park system and he noted he was surprised that there “were so few park activists,” and apparently they “don’t show up if a [meeting is on] Friday,” he mused. And Russell cut his political chops fighting to clean up a local contaminated park in his neighborhood and that activism catapulted the man to the top in a crowded commission race. And he has an ally on the dais in Commissioner Frank Carollo when it comes to protecting park space in Miami that many times gets used for private developments and requires voters to approve any projects on these public lands.

Further, Russell wants to end the commission having to approve by a five zero vote for anyone staying on city boards needing a waiver because critics argue some boards like planning and zoning need high caliber people who also have history and suggest the commission would be better served making it a case by case basis on the appointees.

Russell

>>> Distribution of Open Tennis tickets agreement, “fell through the cracks,” says Manager Alphonso

And an agreement with Miami-Dade County “fell through the cracks,” when it came to the city getting the free tickets to the Sony Open valued at some “$15,500.” for the lease of the Erickson Tennis tournament after years ago the County’s Ethics and Public Trust Commission suggested these tickets be split among lawmakers but in the case of Miami Manager Daniel J Alfonso he told commissioners an agreement never happened during Johnny Martinez’s tenure and the city had no leverage etc claim the tickets he told commissioners on Friday.

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> The funding nightmare begins for low income patients at JHS funding could drop from $1.1 to $600 million after Fla. Leg does not expand Medicaid, future draw down money now a gamble on how much will come back?

>>> Miami River Basilica Bridge is telling drivers to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders

The second Avenue Basilica Bridge says it is, “vote for Bernie [country],” since on the roadway someone painted that request and can be seen when the bridge over the Miami River is up and Sanders is a favorite with millennials over Hillary Clinton.

What about the Coconut Grove Playhouse and actor Kevin Spacey?

The Coconut Grove Playhouse shuttered since 2006 is gaining steam and fans and actor Kevin Spacey is getting support from a number of online groups and for more go to: https://thenewtropic.com/kevin-spacey-playhouse/?mc_cid=009ee60100&mc_eid=3d3085fc5f And Spacey for the first time was on Face The Nation Sunday and he is a major cultural and arts advocate with a strong sense of public service and his interest in the Playhouse is very much welcomed.

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Mayor Philipp Levine and the commission are expediting work on flooding in parts of the tony Beach http://www.miamiherald.com/news/ and he is continuing his just get the job done regime and is dealing with hordes of Spring Breakers that are trashing the beaches and causing issues with the crowds and check out his exclusive interview with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sirius

>>> Press release: Please enjoy my exclusive personal interview on Sirius with Secretary Hillary Clinton while she was in Miami Beach this week. 
Click: An-intimate-conversation-with-Hillary-Clinton
>>> Beach voters coming around regarding new convention center and March 15 vote, community and tourism leaders all behind the new design and deal that will jump start big time convention tourism

Press release: GMCVB Board of Directors unanimously approved support of the March 15, 2016 City of Miami Beach Referendum Item #60 approving the city’s lease of city property for a convention headquarter hotel adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center on Monday, January 25, 2016. The proposed 800-room headquarter hotel adjacent to the convention center is crucial to the success of the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center in attracting business and especially the highly coveted citywide conventions. The GMCVB encourages Miami Beach residents to VOTE ‘YES’ #60.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES

>>>> Broward OIG report critical of Manager Swanson-Rivenbark and procurement practices, “Called gross mismanagement”

A critical Broward Office of the Inspector General report is out and it refers to the current Coral Gables Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark when she was the City Manager of Hollywood and it is a great read and below is the short section that discusses what her role was and the link to the complete report is below.

ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS COVERED IN THIS REPORT Atrium Personnel, Inc., dba Transhire has been providing temporary staffing to local governments and businesses since 1984. It was awarded a contract by the Southeast Florida Governmental Purchasing Cooperative on October 16, 2007 to provide certain types of temporary services to the local governments that were party to the contract. The contract expired in October 2013. Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark was the City Manager from June 2011 until December 2014 (initially as interim). 1 She had been working for the city since May 2009 as the Assistant City Manager. 1 Although she is no longer with the City of Hollywood, Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark was City Manager at all times relevant to the events in question and is referred to as City Manager throughout this report. OIG 14-027 March 2, 2016 Page 2 of 68 BROWARD OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FINAL REPORT RE: MISCONDUCT AND GROSS MISMANAGEMENT BY THE CITY OF HOLLYWOOD IN THE PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE SERVICES Matthew Lalla Mr. Lalla has been the city’s Director of Financial Services (Finance Director) since July 2010. The Finance Director is responsible for the supervision of the city’s Procurement Services D.

http://www.broward.org/InspectorGeneral/Documents/20160302OIG14027FinalReport.pdf

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Presents -THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES
MASTER QUEST Multimedia symphonic concert returns with new music and scenes from “Tri Force Heroes,” the latest The Legend of Zelda video game. The Legend of Zelda franchise celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2016!

“An utterly flawless presentation!” – WIRED Part of the 2015-2016 Live at Knight Series

April 16, 2016 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $35-$125* VIP Package: $150*John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall

MIAMI, FL January 15, 2016 – Now celebrating its 10^th Anniversary Season, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to present the return of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES and its new highly-anticipated multimedia symphonic concert MASTER QUEST. This latest edition of The Legend of Zelda symphony will feature brand-new music and visuals from the new The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes video game released in October 2015. As part of the Center’s Live at Knight Series, MASTER QUEST will delight video game and orchestral music fans alike on April 16 in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall.

Tickets to MASTER QUEST are on sale now and range from $35 to $125*. A VIP Package for $150* includes premium seating, meet and greet with executive producer Jason Michael Paul and principal conductor Amy Andersson, official tour VIP lanyard, limited edition poster and a VIP Fast Pass to the merchandise booth. Tickets may be purchased at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

Making its South Florida premiere, MASTER QUEST is a never before seen or heard multimedia concert experience featuring a live 56-piece orchestra, 20-person choir and a larger-than-life video presentation of gameplay imagery. The concert also boasts live orchestral performances of theme music from Nintendo’s beloved The Legend of Zelda franchise – now celebrating its 30^th anniversary. Guests will enjoy their favorite game moments from the series, carefully and beautifully timed with a gorgeous orchestral score approved by Nintendo sound director and The Legend of Zelda composer Koji Kondo.

Those new to THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES will also have the opportunity to experience the beautifully orchestrated four-movement symphonic work from last season which chronicles fan-favorite moments from the video game’s rich and storied history, carefully and expertly timed with videos. The concert is a festive experience for all fans, many of which attend in “cosplay” as their favorite characters.

For more information, please visit: www.zelda-symphony.com. Support for the Live at Knight Series is provided by Wells Fargo. *All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Additional fees may apply. Visit www.arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information, details and performance.

Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.arshtcenter.org/press.

 

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations. In its 10^th anniversary season, the Arsht Center thanks its institutional donors for their historic commitment to the performing arts and Greater Miami: Adrienne Arsht; Miami-Dade County; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Dr. Sanford L. and Dolores Ziff & Family; The Arison Family/Carnival Corporation; Knight Ridder Inc. and The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald; Sears Roebuck and Co.; Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; Bank of America; Joyce and M. Anthony Burns; Audre and Donald Carlin, Hedy Carlin and B. Pair Carlin; The Cejas Family Foundation; Gilbert S. Kahn and John J. Noffo Kahn; Haskell Company; Miami Salon Group Inc.; Odebrecht; Peacock Foundation Inc.; Ryder Charitable Foundation; Terra Group; Wells Fargo and Lynn Wolfson.

 

About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

Set in the heart of downtown Miami and designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is one of the world’s leading performing arts organizations and venues. Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has emerged as a leader in presenting innovative programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity as well as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area. Spotlighting legends and serving as a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage, the Center presents nearly 500 events each year across its eight flexible, state-of-the-art performance spaces. The Center programs 12 signature series, including the largest jazz series in South Florida, the biggest flamenco festival on the East Coast, and a robust program of new theatrical works as well as free programming for the community and an arts education program that serves nearly 30,000 children each year. As Miami’s new Town Square, the Arsht Center also houses Brava! A fine dining restaurant; the Café at Books & Books in the historic Carnival Tower and a weekly Farmers Market. Visit www.arshtcenter.org for more information.

>>> History Miami is celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of iconic singer Frank Sinatra and for more go to www.historymiami.org  

EDITORIALS

>>> Elected officials and municipal employees getting free tickets that are not disclosed is still a problem with some 30,000 public employees, Ethics commission years ago found very few people get gifts since so few reported as required, state attorney KFR lists a host of tickets, many for charities, one even to Miami Heat game

The issue of elected leaders getting free bees and tickets to events has been a persistent problem over the years in South Florida and the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Commission once did an analysis and report and found out of some 30, 0000 employees at the County and the 34 municipalities only a hand full of people listed these items on the required disclosure forms for any ticket over $100. And the commission could only conclude that people were not accepting these benefits and one of the main people when it came to these types of gift disclosers was Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle who extensively reported receiving a host of event tickets including one to a Miami Heat game and at least she reported them. But when it comes to the municipalities only sporadically are these gifts reported though many are on Miami Beach. But officials should realize how taking these perks send residents through the roof and is one of the reasons on a national scale voters are so angry with government and with elections coming around in the months ahead there was never a better time to play by the book and either wave off these gifts or pay the price at the polls. And voters are watching.

>>> Public institutions need to remember baby boomers not as nimble with technology as young folk’s small font a nightmare for some

There is not just a digital divide, but a widening technological gap as baby boomers get older and are expected to be more capable of their computer skills, despite having some medical issue like a stroke and public institutions are moving faster with this new technology leaving many people behind, who may or not have a smart phone that was first introduced Jan. 9^th 2007 by Steve Jobs and the Apple iPhone and while young people have no problem with all this technology that is likely not the case if you are in your sixties where reading small font requires a magnifying glass and public institutions as they rush to embrace this technology that they need to remember that for some people they may need some help navigating it and catching up to speed of this technological revolution.

>>> One of Watchdog Report’s main missions is to keep watch on all the host of Trust’s in Miami-Dade and these organizations involve some serious public money in the billions

Residents in Miami-Dade County periodically ask why I cover all the trust’s found in the county, from the Children’s Trust to the Public Health Trust to the County’s Homeless Trust and it is because elected county leaders are always looking for new funds and while the raids of these public dollars periodically occurs like in the case of the Citizens Independent Transit Trust where the county is slowly paying back the sales tax dollars absorbed by the county’s transit system in what was called “unification,” by county leaders but the Public Health Trust was also raided back in 20002 when county commissioners shifted some $ 70 million in unfunded mandates on to organization and that cost has risen over $100 million a year and was one of the reasons the Public health trust needed a $830 million GOB passed overwhelmingly by voters a few Years back to upgrade its infrastructure and ageing main campus

After this past money was diverted over a decade by the County commission that does provide some $250 million in public funds for a maintenance of effort contribution. But in Miami-Dade where everything is political. I keep watch so that these organizations are kept whole and politics is kept to a minimum and this oversight helps keep the organizations on the straight and narrow when it comes to public dollars and it is no small amount of money and helps explain why there have been so few scandals in the past that plagued the county back in the 1990’s and was a frequent topic in the media.

LETTERS

>>> Correction on Children’s Trust funding about $250,000 not the $5 million I reported my error

I’m pretty sure our investment in this project with the County is $750,000. The discussion probably got wrapped up in other facts and information about us. For example, this year we directly funded $6 million in youth enrichment programs with summer youth employment components. This was procured in 2015. Here is a link to what that that solicitation looked like and its outcome, including details of what orgs were funded and for what:

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/uploads/images/providers/funding/FY14-15/2015-03/2015-03_RFP_Youth_Enrichment_Recommendations_052215.pdf

So, for The Children’s Trust, our contribution to the County initiative helps to leverage funding pledged by them to fund even more programs and augments our own investment in this arena further. It’s a win, win for everyone — especially inner city youth who need these opportunities most.

Emily Cardenas

Director of Communications

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

>>> A Reader on danger of yellow pole barriers on 195, and sign petition asking FDOT to modify polls https://www.change.org/p/florida-department-of-transportation-change-i95-plastic-poles-to-unable-movement-in-and-out-of-the-express-lanes

>>> 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

>>> And another reader sent the following the shocking truth about Miami-Dade Animal Services, http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-USA/MiamiAnimalServices.htm

DR

Coconut Grove

>>> 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.

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

***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

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

Mr. NORMAN BRAMAN http://www.bramanmotorcars.com/dealership/normanbraman.htm

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year

COLSON HICKS EIDSON, PA www.colson.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.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

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

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

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

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

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

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

THE 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

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

>>> 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

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

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

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

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

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

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, 2016, 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

>>>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.

***************************************************************************************************************

Watchdog Report Supporters Invoice-Form

Thank you

Supporting Sponsors $5,000

Sustaining Sponsors $2,000

Corporate Sponsors $1,000 (All levels above will be listed in the report with web-site link if desired)

Large Business Supporters $500

Small Business Supporters $250 

Individual Supporter $150

Name & Address Make checks payable to Daniel A. Ricker

Send to     

3109 Grand Avenue, #125

Miami, FL 33133

And to contact me go to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net OR TO USE PayPal go to www.watchdogreport.net

Tags:

This entry was posted on March 13th, 2016 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.