Watchdog Report Vol.19 No.50 August 12, 2018 – EST: 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 18 years of weekly publishing

Miami Chief Colina
 

> >> The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade Annual Report is out and to see what the organization has done over the years go to; https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/ and is seen when children have to repeat a grade and results in a large community bubble and County Commissioner Dennis Moss noted when he was in school there was a “Truancy officer,” and they would pick you up take you to school and also “call your mama,” said Moss

 

But that oversite is hard since a parent may be taking care of multiple kids and not able to ensure her children are in school and the lack of literacy was brought home when the County’s Police Department Director Juan J. Perez told a committee when he was in school he spoke no English and was held back an d he said he learned to read ‘real fast after that,” wake up call. And at a county commission meeting the issue of literacy and the lack of it among certain parts of the community had Jean Monestime wondering how he can do more in his own community to foster literacy and the Children’s trust has a host of reading programs throughout the county including in the summer free books being sent to eligible students. Further since its creation in 2002 there have been no scandals and the entity fended off county commissioner Natacha Seijas who years ago wanted to tap in the trust’s reserves, but the large board rebuffed her attempt to raid the body.

 

What about Monestime’ s commission seat and his challenger Dorrin Rolle?

 

Monestime first won by defeating long time county commissioner Dorrin Rolle who had a variety of controversies including his running of JESCA that went broke and a school district audit found the entity had some $70,000 in bank check charges one year.

 

Further Trust CEO Jim Haj told and updated county commissioners recently and Commissioner Sally Heyman suggested they put more articles in the Community newspapers that are free and cut a wide swath in communities explaining some of the upcoming programs and here is the latest trust annual report:https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/providers/analytics/reports/BOCC_2015-16_Statutory_Format_012317.pdf
Haj
 

What about the United Ways new program?

 

United Way of Miami-Dade County has several programs for-not for-profits with good ideas fostering their growth for more go to: https://unitedwaymiami.org/contact-us/media-kit/

 

Maria Alonso the new CEO of the United Way of Miami-Dade County thanked the county commissioners for their fundraising efforts to the organization that also fills in with the county after natural disasters like Irma and county employees raised some $1 million and the mayor’s ball raised another $1 million.

 

What about the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County?

 

The county commission voted on new trustees for the children’s trust and they are Lourdes Gimenez, Constance Collins, Jose “Félix” Diaz, and Dr. Kate Callaghan our youth and the trust is a community treasure nurturing our youth to excel in life.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

>>>> Long serving commissioner Sosa gets challenger in Vargas, becoming a partisan race

 

While the county commissioners are supposed to be nonpartisan the landscape in the state’s largest county is changing in that regard after Eileen Higgins defeated Republican Zoraida Barreiro recently in a special election in June. Further, Rebeca Sosa has drawn a challenger Maryin Vargas for the District 6 seat and the challenger is aligned with the Democratic Party says an email from the party recently. Sosa a former mayor of West Miami is a republican and has helped campaign for many GOP candidates over r the years since her election in 2002 after her predecessor was indicted Pedro Reboredo. She has a history of following “the process,’ and demanding accountability from the administration and works at the school district and keeps accurate time records said superintendent Carvalho when I asked years ago.

 

What about the county’s new $786 billion combined budget?

 

That includes $5.37 billion for its operating budget: To read the complete budget go to:

http://www.miamidade.gov/budget/library/fy2018-19/proposed/volume-1.pdf

 

>>> The Miami-Dade County Home less Trust held their televised monthly meeting percent Friday, costs will continue even after 3 percent homeless, “elderly in Miami huge problem,” looming says Book, historic community event Aug. 2 at Fire memorial in Doral, HUD Sec. Dr. Carson attending, all hush hush says Chair Book

 

>>> Commission after charter review task force focuses on upping salary to state formula of $90,000, shot down nine times before, critical to limit outside income that has caused problems with some past commissioners

 

A discussion of the Charter Review task force recommendations at the BCC was debated and the usual topic was paying commissioners a decent salary (roughly $47,000 with benefits but was set at $6,000 in 1957) and the issue of a raise has been put on the ballot nine times and always shot down. Further, the main blocking point though is outside employment not being eliminated and when commissioners carp about their salary. I ask why you ran then if you’re that disgruntled about the compensation.

 

Former County Attorney Robert Cuevas chaired the large and diverse Charter task force. Audrey Edmonson said she wanted to support the task force recommendations ‘since they were criticized,” by the press for not following the task force recommendations. Jordan asked why we have recommendation’s and if they are ignored if that was the case “why have the task force?” she considered along with Edmonson.

 

And to review the task force recommendations: go to http://www.miamidade.gov/charter/library/2018-02-26-meeting-materials.pdf

 

>>>> Press release: Property Appraiser numbers press release: Miami-Dade

The following municipalities experienced a double-digit growth, primarily driven by new construction:

 Surfside (43.5%)

 Bay Harbor Islands (17.8%)

 West Miami (15.7%)

 North Miami Beach (15.6%)

 Florida City (13.4%)

 Biscayne Park (11.5%)

 Opa-Locka (10.4%)

 Hialeah Gardens (10.3%)

 

The 2018 Preliminary Certification: Individual property assessments are available online at the Property Appraiser’s website. Property owners

are encouraged to look up their 2018 assessments. If they have any questions or would like to review them assessment, they may visit our office in Downtown Miami (111 NW 1st Street, 7th Floor) or the South Dade

Government Center (10710 SW 211th Street, 2nd Floor), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For their convenience, they can also schedule an appointment online or call us at 305-375-4712.The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notice) will be mailed by August 24th, which will provide property owners with their proposed property tax and exemption benefits information.

 

SPCA help, cares for 77 malnourished horses, county hot bed for butchered animals, needs more funding to do mission

The Florida SPCA has a contract with the county’s animal services and cruelty to animal’s department but sent a letter to Commissioner Sally Heyman and the organization did a heart wrenching video of abused and starving animals from 77 horses currently, but the funding is lagging after Hurricane Irma impacted the facility where the animals are fed and brought back to health. The SPCA complained of slow payments and the county budget for this service by the SPCA is $68,000 and is not keeping up with the volume of abandoned animals and are requesting bumping it to $175,000. More consistent with the cost of the SPCA providing these large animal services that is a chronic plaque in Miami-Dade with the butchering of horses being a persistent problem and involve the county’s PD. Th video was heart breaking and gruesome and everyone thanked Heyman for bringing it to the county’s attention. Heyman said. I am working on a new agreement with the SPCA that will be beneficial for all parties involved.

 

What about the animal shelter? That is not a no kill facility and advocates have a host of stories with a hold on the dog by one owner but is killed. I hear these stories on a Dailey basis and I think county commissioners may lose votes after the public overwhelmingly voted for a Pet Trust that was blown off by commissioners and the animal advocates are passionate and I expect will be reflected in some commission campaigns.

 

What about shot spotter technology 80% of shots residents hear do not call 9/11?

 

A presentation by a regional rep of shot spotter which employs sensors around the county and the facts show only a small number 80 percent of people who hear shots” will not call 9/11 when they hear shots and many families have a “protocol,” when they hear shots and the rep believes they are afraid of being known as a “snitch,” and residents why call after hearing shots and no police coming. Commissioner Dennis Moss suggested they think “the police just don’t care.” One thing the shot spotters is good at is recovering shell casings which helps law enforcement on who the shooter might be. Further county police will soon be equipped with “license plate readers’ already in use in a variety of municipalities. And for more on the technology go to: http://www.shotspotter.com/

 

RECORD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR JANUARY-JUNE 2018 GMCVB press release: From January-June 2018, domestic passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by +1.9 percent compared to January-June 2017. International passenger arrivals reached a new record, increasing by +1.3 percent compared to the previous year contributing to record-breaking passenger arrivals with an increase of +1.6 percent.

MIA Passenger Arrivals
Domestic Arrivals
January-June 2018	January-June 2017	% Change vs. 2017
5,926,350	5,815,383	+1.9%
Record International Arrivals
January-June 2018	January-June 2017	% Change vs. 2017
5,554,571	5,482,716	+1.3%
Record Total Arrivals
January-June 2018	January-June 2017	% Change vs. 2017
11,480,921	11,298,099	+1.6%

 

VOTE YES! FOR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE #220CITY OF MIAMI VOTERS —
EARLY VOTING STARTS AUGUST 13, 2018
Proposed Jungle Island Hotel and lease extension on City-owned Watson Island
Click here for more information.

Shall Miami’s Charter be amended extending Jungle Island’s Lease for an additional 39 years, plus 15 year option, waiving competitive bidding, allowing at developer’s expense and option, construction of hotel and attractions with maximum 300 rooms and 130 foot height, in exchange for: *Additional annual rent for the hotel of $250,000 increasing to $1,220,000 or 5% of hotel gross sales, whichever is greater; *Contribution of $700,000 to the adjacent City park and $750,000 for affordable housing.

 

>>> The county’s OIG issued its report on a P3 proposal leak by KPMG and concluded it was accidental. To read the report go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2018/CourthouseDisclosureIncidentAssuranceReview7.3.18.pdf

 

>>> A group of passionate speakers spoke against the extension of 836 at the County’s PAB Wednesday claiming it will only cause more congestion and would result in disrupting the community.

 

>>> It was revealed last week at a County Commission meeting that there is “15,000 frozen county employees,” and the reason for this is in the next two years the County will face a “$95 million gap,” said budget Director Jennifer Moon.

 

And these unfilled positions are going unfilled because of legislation changing the Homestead Exemption and governments are having to adjust budgets before this kick in in two years and this is a significant gap that the county’s administration must close in the months ahead n why some of these steps are in place.

 

>>> Further, last year’s IG annual report is out, and it is a fascinating read and the office has saved millions since its creation 20-year ago and to read the report go to:   http://www.miamidadeig.org/ANNUALREPORTS2.htm

 

>>> New continuum of care center coming for homeless with mental issues, JHS involved one stop center

 

The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust along with Jackson Health System is opening a one stop public facility for homeless who qualify for a new diversion program with a mental illness and includes many veterans on the streets and is an old facility previously used by the state, but it will offer a continuum of care and was briefly discussed at the trust board meeting Friday. The whole community has been seeking ways to resolve the mental health issues of the homeless now drawing in people with opioid addiction and a drop of fentanyl can kill and many times is cut with cheap yellow Mexican heroin that appeared years past and is causing thousands of overdoses and the city of Miami spent $150,000 in procuring the miracle drug Narcan that can revive a overdosed person almost immediately and these people cut across all ethnic lines and the issue was discussed Sunday on “This Week in South Florida,” and to see the show go to https://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-oct-29

 

>>> And here is a broader explanation on the new facility Health System – Public Health Trust.

 

“Progress is being made to create a first of its kind mental health diversion and treatment facility which will centralize, coordinate, and provide a seamless continuum of care for individuals, including homeless individuals, who are frequent and high cost users of taxpayer funded services in the criminal justice and acute care treatment systems. South Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc., DCF’s Managing Entity for administering state substance abuse and mental health funding in Miami-Dade County, will lead the renovation of a former state forensic hospital in Miami which will bring together community-based treatment and social services providers under one roof.

 

The project will include an integrated crisis stabilization unit and addiction receiving facility, various levels of residential treatment, day treatment and day activities programs, intensive case management, peer support and mentoring services, outpatient behavioral health and primary care treatment services, and vocational rehabilitation/supportive employment services. All services will be designed to address the complex and co-occurring needs of the target population, including mental health, substance abuse, physical health, histories of physical and emotional trauma, and risk factors for future criminal justice involvement.

 

The facility will also include space for the courts and for social service agencies such housing providers, legal services, and immigration services that will address the comprehensive needs of individuals served.  By housing a full array of services and supports in one location, it is anticipated that many of the barriers and obstacles to navigating traditional community mental health, substance abuse, and social services will be removed; and individuals who are currently recycling through the justice system, crisis units, hospitals, and other deep end services will be more likely to engage in ongoing and sustainable treatment and recovery services. The Mental Health Diversion Facility is championed by Judge Steven Leifman, who chairs the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust’s Finance & Audit Committee.  The project has been developed with input from the Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration, which will be responsible for designating and licensing service providers at the facility.  The Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation spearheaded efforts to occupy the building based on a 99-year lease at $1/year.  The facility is funded, in large part, with county General Obligation Bond funds, with additional funding provided by the Jackson Health and The Public Health Trust.

 

What about the Homeless Trust’s Rent Connect program with landlords?

 

The trust has a new program where people with rental housing can register their rental with the county and for more on the program go to: http://www.homelesstrust.org/rentconnect.asp

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

>>>BCC puts on ballot: Four-year funding referendum for teacher pay raise and new security costs after state’s unfunded mandate for more police presence at schools, once ramped-up significant ongoing cost for district, needs voter approval, about 75 cents on tax bill, with independent over sight board, past GOB bond 50 percent expended, “projects on time no scandals,” says, Supt. Carvalho to county commission

 

It’s a go Miami-Dade County approves putting a referendum to help fund teacher’s salaries increased police costs for school safety after the state passed legislation requiring districts to have police in every school after 17 people were killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

 

The unfunded mandate is just another reminder that the state legislature does not get the size of Miami-Dade’s public-school district (where school police can only cover only 90 schools), An A District but with 70,000 students English learners (and 5,300 students in the autism spectrum in the district) and the demographics of Miami-Dade are such “That the county has the smallest percent of Angelo’s in the nation,” said board member Marta Perez and why the A grade for the district is so special in comparison to other districts around the nation without such a high level of diversity.

 

>>> County press release from Barbara Jordan Commission votes to place school district tax on November ballot

 

MIAMI-DADE – The Miami-Dade County Commission on July 24 approved a resolution to place a proposed school district ad valorem tax increase on the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot.

 

If approved by the voters, Miami-Dade homeowners would pay an additional 75 cents per thousand dollars of their home’s taxable value to pay for higher teacher salaries and increased school safety. The special tax would be levied for four years from 2019 to 2023.

 

The ballot measure was requested by the school board and was placed on the County Commission agenda at the request of Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan.

 

“This will give Miami-Dade voters the opportunity to decide whether to tax themselves more to pay for teacher salary increases and increased safety,” Commissioner Jordan said.

 

The school board says it needs more money to attract and retain quality teachers and hire more School Resource Officers and security personnel in the wake of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and a new state mandate for schools to beef up security. In addition to the school board’s plans to increase security through the proposed school district tax, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s proposed 2018-19 budget sets aside about $20 million to place a police officer at more than 100 schools across the county. His proposal also includes funding new response teams and additional training for officers.

 

>>> DASH school project tells peers with stickers and help # regarding mental health. “Don’t stall call,” for help it suggests.

 

A DASH school project had students come up with a way to remind students if they need mental health ‘don’t stall make the call,” a slogan that will be found on the sides of toilets and the issue of lonely aggrieved students lashing out has been brought home after the Parkland shooting.

 

>>> After checkered history A&M charter school terminates District contract, conflict of interest highlighted in 352-page forensic audit: sent to IRS

 

The board of the Charter school Arts & Minds is asking to terminate its agreement with the School board and the school on Commodore plaza has been highly controversial since its inception in 2004 and is known as a “related transaction,” since the building’s owner Manuel Alonso Poch was what caught the WDR attention charged the district $29,000 in monthly rent, however, that number in 2008 had jumped to just over $90,000. In monthly rent and caught the eye of the District’s auditors and a 352-page forensic audit was released and was sent to the IRS, and the school became a poster child of an attorney using a charter school to enrich his own pockets and here is some of the media on A&M and its compliant board and the District Audit committee received a voluntary letter of A&M terminating the charter school agreement. And here is the letter: http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_July_17_2018/ItemOld%20Business.pdf and here is another story on A&M. hhttp://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/manuel-alonso-poch-wont-fix-conflicts-of-interest-at-his-charter-school-new-audit-finds-6390328

 

>>>> Up to 3,000 students could get summer jobs, funded by a host off organizations, gives a boost to a resume as well, and in some cases hired

 

A summer job program pushed by county commissioner Xavier Suarez has blossomed to some 3,000 summer jobs in the wings with funding coming from the county, school district and the Children’s Trust. The school district along with Miami-Dade County and the Children’s Trust along with some banks expects to provide some 3,000 students with summer jobs and this is program started a few years ago, said Gus Barreiro on Your South Florida show on www.wptb.org For more on the trust go to: https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/content/careers

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

 

>>>> The PHT closed its last quarter in the black and continues a six-month trend of operating in the black ($55 million cash on hand) despite Jackson Health System (JHS) having a “lock on the charity care market,” quipped CEO Carlos Migoya at a joint BCC meeting and the PHT board.

 

>>> Annual PHT joint board meeting smooth and an upbeat discussion after the county once thought of selling Jackson Health System to Boston investors, now while challenges is public community “jewel,” says chair Bovo

 

The Annual Joint meeting with the county’s commission was a night and day presentation. BCC Chair Estephan Bovo, Jr. said it was a “leap of faith,” when the body reduced the size of the board from 21 members to seven and, but the commission passed and instituted some reforms that at one point some investors from Boston wanted to buy Jackson Health System. Bovo thanked Migoya for the remarkable job and gave a shout out to union leader Martha Baker. for working closely to make the hospital more efficient while keeping the world class medical care. Migoya noted Jackson did over $300 million in charity care and JHS has “cornered that market.” Though other hospitals have the same problem of uncompensated care.

 

>>> Chair of citizens GOB $830 million Making Miracles bond, says on track, low administrative costs, clinics popping up all over Miami-Dade, CEO Migoya gets rave reviews from BBC, though commissioner Jordan was “skeptical,” and gave the banker a “tough time,” that’s changed

 

The chair of the Citizens oversight board Jose Luis Gomez for the $830 million JHS making miracles bond, gave an upbeat report and the low administration costs for the major capital program that includes a host of community clinics. The voters approved this bond back in 2013 overwhelmingly under the leadership of CEO Carlos Migoya who has worked closely with the unions and was a key to getting the public hospital.

 

He also created a “protégé program,” that helps SBAs qualify for contracts and the capital plan is moving at a brisk rate. Ron Frazer an architect said the county should consider doing its own protégé program, he told commissioners on Tuesday where the body got an update on the bond’s progress. For more go to: https://www.jhsmiami.org/webApps/JHSGOBCitizen/getFiles.cfm?MeetingType=c_CitizensMeetingAgenda#

 

>>>> Florida Legislature needs to fund Ryder Trauma, the communities crown jewel for Trauma

 

What about Ryder Trauma?

 

Florida Legislators need to reaffirm the importance of the Ryder Trauma Center and keep funding for the medical center. One of the finest in the world and is the only Class I Center in South Florida and should be nurtured by law makers. I reminded Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R Monday of this fact. He noted when a Florida State Trooper was badly injured it was Ryder that saved his life and he seemed to understand what a jewel the center is to the community.

 

>>> Trust continues to have clean audits, challenges continue ahead, closed the year with $30 million budget surplus, 50 days cash on hand, new rehabilitation Center property prepped Friday

 

The PHT trustees’ meeting was short and sweet Wednesday with the health trust having a “clean,” KPMG audit for last year and the auditing firm has been the trust’s auditor for 7 years but having no audit exemptions is a big deal and back in 2004 under previous management the trust took a $84 million chargeback on past audits going back to the late 1990s.

 

>>> New report on how JHS spending $830 million bond monies, going well

 

Here is the most recent update on the $830 million GOB passed by County wide voters to update the ageing facilities at Jackson Health System and the projects are going very well and includes minority vender participation similar the public schools oversight system and this public money is key to the communities’ health since there is a big push toward prevention and wellness has FIU physicians doing primary and family medicine and is a real boon in keeping healthcare costs down. To read the report go:

file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/8UMCRP67/Mayor-BCC-PHT%20-%20CAC%20Quarterly%20Report%20-%20July%20to%20September%202017.pdf

 

>>> County OIG report on Career Source and workforce development in Monroe and Miami-Dade; to read the report go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Reports2018/FinalAuditReport-CareerSourceSouthFlorida.pdf

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

>>> Suarez’s strong mayor initiative runs into iceberg Carollo; language must ban outside employment, for mayor and manager

 

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s bid to put a strong mayor form of government hit a ice berg called Commissioner Joe Carollo as he drilled into the petition process that is not defined in the Miami charter and use the county’s petition guidelines and Suarez hired a firm from Tallahassee to get the signatures and Carollo zeroed in whether theses paid signature gathers either lived in the state or even Miami-Dade and that is important for to gather signatures under county statutes you have to be a registered electorate to preform this function and Carolllo found many of the signatures he checked were bogus.

 

Further in the lobby was a man dressed like a dictator and the mayor’s initiative once was pushed by his father Xavier Suarez a former Miami Mayor. Carollo and Commissioner Manola Reyes also had problems with the way the salary would be written and not what could be up to $326,000 and does not exclude outside employment and it was revealed the city manager is also moonlighting in some capacity and that is not boding well with the discussion starting again this week and for more go to:

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article216436445.html

 

What was the new wrinkle during the meeting Suarez refused to say he would not have outside employment and when that was asked to Miami manager Emilio Gonzalez he did not say no and does something, now unknown in some capacity. However, tax payers expect full time employment when discussing salaries and performance goals for the taxpayers and the fact that Gonzalez is doing something beside his job is disconcerting and, in the mayor’s, case given the political maneuver.

 

Miami Residents get to roll the dice re city leadership and is you Suarez the anointed one has the cash to make it happen?

 

Further, if this form of government is approved the electorate will be rolling the dice that the young attorney with a new daughter will have the heft and political skills to work under the five-member city commission that can resemble a verbal lion’s den with a level of diversity seen nowhere else in America and his judgement sometimes goes off course.

 

Like when Suarez and Marc Sarnoff ate lunch at Versailles with a group of Miami lobbyists and used two sergeant -of. Arms to transport them (and he got an ethics commission slap of the hand) to the tony local restaurant. Suarez when he first ran said he could have run as Xavier Suarez rather than Francis. But by doing that he also dodged his father Xavier’s media moniker of “mayor loco,” coined back in 1997 when he briefly was Miami mayor, yet later removed by county circuit judge Tam Wilson. After it was found there was widespread voter fraud in the election and Joe Carollo was brought back to the office through 2002.

 

The sophomore mayor believes the strong mayor administration will be more responsive and if voters are dissatisfied the occupant can be recalled he insists and no easy project without serious money. Further, critics wonder why this push for transparency and performance since. He has yet to show that with the no bid Beckham deal as a prime example and was hosted on the commission before it was fully baked and rushed through, until the commissioners pushed on the brakes but in his mind the $3 million he raised for his campaign was not obscene after I asked him about this and I left puzzled what his core values were and Miami will find out if his initiative passes.

 

However, while Suarez may be a prototype mayor. What about his replacement in the future?

 

Here is trailer video from his twitter page on new movie Warriors of Liberty City, https://twitter.com/FrancisSuarez. But the city administration is a rolling social media machine with selfies and the manager having a photographer and some believe this self-promotion is a double-edged sword.

 

>>>> MESA, The Miami Exhibition and Sports Authority is in the news again after its staffer Lourdes Blanco was found to be getting two paychecks and the city employee is calling it a ‘witch hunt, ‘also $10,000 promotion check, given and then rescinded to wrong Jazz Festival, former mayor Regalado attended last MESA meeting June 31

 

The board founded years ago is the back-door entity for deals on Watson Island waterfront and is an obscure board that was funded by the old Miami Arena and had commissioners wining and dining with no; limit on the charges said one city intern back then, while the elected official hit on them and the women rebuffed by laughing at the thought. However, that was years ago and more recently MESA was supposed to have given $10,000. For the Miami Jazz Festival, when it was supposed to be for the DDA’s downtown Jazz festival with a similar name and afterwards the director told the wrong organization, the city wanted the $10,000 back immediately even though it had already been spent on promotion of the earlier event but it shows some of the chaos, and while a very visible tape recorder tapes the meetings rarely are there meeting minutes in the handout documents many of which I have from the past meetings and the board is run by the mayor in this case Tomas Regalado and past staff have included an attorney or any administrator or connected employee an is one of Miami’s sweetheart jobs with car allowance and other perks.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article215641790.html

 

>>> Will MSL stadium on golf course open floodgates on other developments on waterfront public properties Dist. 2 “in Harm’s way,” says one attorney, because of all the waterfront park land that could now be developed

 

“What’s the rush?” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber at a Miami commission meeting debating the controversial Flagstone project on Watson Island. And both Gelber and Suarez (Net worth through 6/30/17 $245,015) went through the Good Government program run by former county commissioner Katie Sorenson. And one of the tenets of good government was following the process with transparency. However, when it comes to the soccer village. MLS stadium and retail plus a hotel on the city’s Melreese International Country Club for David Beckam’s MLS team and the deal where numbers were changing on Suarez’ dais was poorly presented to commissioners and shows Suarez’s leadership style while he seeks a strong mayor form of government where at the county people are having second thoughts about having a strong mayor calling Mayor Carlos Gimenez “King Carlos.”

 

Why is commission Dist. 2 “in Harm’s Way?”

 

While city voters must approve this project city leaders know with the right political ads it wall pass easily, perhaps with a dash of scare tactics included.

In the case of the stadium it was a not a competitive bid but very little of the deal was known with an army of lobbyist’s before the commission meeting a 14-hour affair with supporters of The First Tee organization whose home is the golf course and has changed the lives of a host of low income and handicapper kids get outdoors and are taught fundamental life skills and a host of graduates have gone to Ivy League schools

 

However, young Suarez could be taking a Greek Icarus political trajectory and believes given his overwhelming election with 85 percent of the vote. That anything he wants should be on autopilot. And while he talks “Transparency and trust,” Manolo Reyes wants “to trust but verify,” but given support documentation available only at the last hour it appears the mayor and Suarez administration was winging it on the fly. Further commissioner Joe Carollo went after the mayor on details and him verbally clubbed Suarez, like a baby seal and the lack of study and transparency he believed going into the meeting and how the deal was crafted was the point of the spear of his criticism and Suarez asked the public to “trust,” him. But after raising some $3 million for his mayoral campaign he is a believer the ends justify the means when I hinted that the amount he raised was “obscene,” for a municipal mayor’ s race, and he did that to challenge any opponents when in fact he ran against five unknown candidates who raised no money for their own races.

 

Francis the eldest son of former Miami mayor Xavier Suarez is the chosen one and he is said to be eying a run for governor in the years ahead. However, he is making a political calculation on this stadium deal and he believes he can make it a done deal with little commissioner input as Wilfredo Gort pointed out and Gort was looking for some attention since the stadium would be in his District.

 

The problem with unsolicited proposals is that Miami could have park waterfront land become developed and this could be that precedent even with city voter’s approval for development on Miami waterfront parks something eyed by the city in years past and is a third rail with many voters but the city does have some underused waterfront land that to the city is just an avenue for money after the city’s boom and bust property value history and has Carollo saying during these boon times Miami was spending city funds Like a drunken sailor.”

 

Why is sophomore mayor Francis Suarez being verbally pummeled by Commissioner Joe Carollo? Suarez blows off the lack of transparency and insufficient documentation and details before the commission discussion and on “trust” says it is a great deal for the city since it’s a $1billion investment deal with Jorge Mas of MAS TEC and an investment group doing the financing and will “not involve any public funding.” Mas noted a stadium is not a “economic engine developer unless there is some retail and an entertainment complex,” and the renderings show a fair amount of green space. Further MAS TEC had a subsidiary JASCO that got an IG audit years ago and to go to that go to: http://www.miamidadeig.org/Archived/01-124jasco.pdf

 

But the administrations info was half baked and reflected on Suarez who also got mauled by the other commissioners for the lack of “specifics,” and Manola Reyes who ran “nine times,” said his “dream was to bring “transparency,” to Miami,” and he is not giving up on that dream,” he told his peers at the dais.

 

>>> Commissioner Carollo and Reyes wants commission auditor to audit BayFront Park Trust, where there is a “$1.5 million” variance said Carollo, brother Frank former chair and CPA headed the trust, Carollo has no trust in CFO and director, back in 2000 major scandal at entity with the director Ira Katz being arrested, case fell apart after federal, state and FDLE agencies lost the evidence, CFO tried to hide laptop in bathroom ceiling tile

 

Newly minted Commissioner Joe Carollo is maintaining his reputation of being a divisive force on the commission and an item trying to abolish the Bayfront Park Trust and the board Carollo chairs was being pushed by Commissioner Ken Russell who later withdrew it to promote peace on the dais and Carollo followed his brother Frank Carollo, CPA.

His brother believes there are a variety of irregularities regarding the Trust’s finances and he told commissioners when he met with the director and CFO he was told there was some “$1.5” million variances. Carollo the senior said he did not know these people and wanted the trust to be audited by the commission auditor Ted Guba who is very busy with other audits since commissioner Manola Reyes wants every city trust to be audited. However, outside audits are done for all these organizations already, but the former Miami Mayor thinks some of these could be cooked

 

What about the park’s scandal back in Jan. 9, 2000 when the then director Ira Katz was arrested after Miami herald reporter Tyler Bridges did an extensive investigative series of stories and when the trust was raided by federal and state authorities and the then CFO tried to hide his laptop in a ceiling panel. Further, back then the trust was getting some $500,000 from the city in subsidy and longtime Commissioner J.L. Plummer chaired the trust like a little fiefdom. The reason the city has so many trusts is the commission periodically raids any money in them and see the trusts as piggy banks. Further, the way joe about sunshine meetings the city could be under fiscal siege since a judge ruled in favor of a flagstone project on Watson island and the developers sued the city $120 million and another lawsuit is MESA is said to be coming.

 

What about the city’s finances?

 

Commissioners have been holding private “shade meetings,” where the administration and their attorney’s discuss legal suits and Carollo brought up the need for revenue a number of times and “hard times,” could be coming since a court ruled on a $120 million lawsuit for the city terminating the Flagstone project on Watson Island and another suit is going on for discussions leaders has at Miami Expedition Sports Authorities meeting that I have attended for years and involved a helicopter dean and seaplane base that was run by Chalk’s Airlines until a high profile crash shut down the service.

 

What about the Watson Island Flagstone project?

 

Suarez Friday told the WDR that he believes the city appeal of a local court ruling will be successful saying past administrations due diligence for the Flagstone Development on Watson Island was flawed and the developer never had the financial where with all to get the project done and the company “had been shopping the deal,” he said, and the final verdict will be determined by the District’s Third Court of appeal. However, this deal has always been political and was selected by the financial urgency board created by the state and at the time was chaired by banker Adolpho Henriques and the Flagstone project was to pay the most of three proposals that were put on the ballot. The selection committee back in 2001 met at the Miami outboard motor club. Further, the city was sued $120 million for it claiming the development was in default and along with pension concerns the city is dealing with a variety of fiscal obligations: Editor: Miami lost this in court and is another fiscal torpedo coming to the city.

 

What about soccer fields on Virginia Key? However, Bruce Matheson told me recently that a 116-acre land fill could be cleaned up and mitigated for some $5 million, a Hollywood firm did similar site in St. Lucie County, he said

 

Miami Commissioners are starting to express an interest in putting soccer fields possible on Virginia Key and it was suggested by Commissioner Joe Carollo and Commissioner Manolo Reyes who also noted the need for such facilities as did Mayor Francis Suarez. However, the Key is an ecological treasure and includes a major landfill dump that the county has $40 million from a bond to clean it up but says that is short. However, Matheson had an outside engineering firm Hazel & Sawyer, from Hollywood look at it and they believed the 116-acre landfill could be capped and mitigated for some $5 million and the firm did a similar project in St. Lucie County near their airport. Further, in this landfill is an earthmoving machine that was sucked into the toxic dump decades ago. But if cleaned up it is prime waterfront property and this dump should be addressed once and for all for Virginia Key needs to no longer be a Miami stepchild asset,

 

What about the Miami Children’s Museum (MCM)?

 

Carollo also went after the MCM director because the not for-profit was seeking some city land about a half-acre for a new Autism wing and is offering to also make a park in the land left and would be maintained by MCM saving the city money. Editor’s note: Carollo said his wife had an autistic boy and one Miami Charter school once they heard the “A” word never called his wife back, he told his peers on the dais, and he thought that was deeply wrong he said. Without naming the school. He also reminded commissioners when he left there was $100 million in reserves back in 2001 when Mayor Manny Diaz was elected and blew through a lot of this reserve with the Marlins stadium and the Global Agreement with the county being the final strain on the Miami budget.

 

What about the Forever Miami bond Oversight Board?

 

However, Carollo wanted with MCM to see three property appraisals part of legislation known as “the Carollo Amendment,” that sates any projects on waterfront land must get voter approval and was passed by voters back in 1984. The city’s finances were very aggressive saying. Miami is dependent on real estate and when things are good the city “spends money like a drunken sailor,” and rarely socks anyway in a “rainy day” fund.

 

EDITORIALS

 

>>> Mayor Suarez’s strong mayor proposal flawed should not allow outside income for either mayor or manager, not about him but future mayors

 

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’ push for a strong mayor an idea not about him. He says he wants a quick decision so that voters don’t have to pay $1.2 million for the Special election in Nov. is a canard and

 

The issue is about the soul of the city, its charter that is constantly reviewed by a city Charter Review panel but the strong mayor form of government never passed muster with the panel over the years and the young commissioner a real estate attorney wants the power and the big bucks but will not to commit a strong mayor will not have outside employment and that s a big deal and is what many times gets officials arrested and can raise the ugly head that taxpayers interests could be at risk and conflict and he is lowering the good governance bar.

 

Further, it emerged recently that the Miami Manager has outside employment, but it is not known what that is, and residents should demand to know what that is and the fact. Suarez is not forthcoming on this issue flies in his claim for more transparency and open government and many of his past staffers are lobbyist pitching deals or zoning and his entourage are populating dinner key and there are several new staffers.

However, Suarez is diminishing the office’s gravitas with all the social network activity and the potential to become a reality star seems to be his plan and with his 75 percent win at his election. The telegenic mayor may feel he is recall proof and that is very dangerous for a politician though he punts with the phrase “let the voters decide while,” he sits on a few million PAC and campaign asset’s. For more go to: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article216436445.html he 15

 

Further, with voter turnout in many elections in the 15 percent range this lack of participation by the electorate is a corrosive force. Early voting in state, judges and other races start Monday in Miami Dade and will you be participating for we get the government we deserve if voters do not exercise their right and is the bedrock of a democracy.

 

>>>> Now what you did not run yourself will you at least vote?

 

Monday is the last day to register to vote and voting is the hall mark of a democracy and while millennials lag the over 50 voters are very dedicated to this pattern of consistently voting and while these young people are starting to find their political voice they need to use their feet and vote if they ever hope to become the transformation generation that they espouse in many cases.

 

>>> The Florida Legislature should keep its hands off the 20 counties that have Home Rule Charter local government is better with local leaders but yes not perfect, at least we arrest our own

 

Thank you, Florida Legislature, for requiring at local meetings the public has “a right to be heard,” and at the county commission and at local municipal meetings law makers are hearing a host of matters many times with the bark on and usually deal with a local community dilemma that might be heard without this new opportunity to be heard. However, the legislature is wrong to dilute the powers of Home Rule Counties and try to put a state overlay of laws that don’t represent the diversity of the state’s communities and since there are 20 Home Rule Counties local government is always better for residents and voters should let their legislators know they should keep their hands off parenting local government since counties already get beat up in the capital and since Miami-Dade is the state’s largest county with 2.5 million residents and a donor community by some 34 percent of the state’s budget, said the Florida CFO years ago. The state lawmakers should keep that in mind and let local government decide their own legislation regarding issues that affect the local communities.

 

>>> Mayor Suarez needs to lead by example, and be careful who he hob nods with, city needs to tighten-up

 

New Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has a unique chance to change the permissive culture of the city where practically no Miami employee wears their city ID or carries cards. Further, city leaders have to tighten up with whom they associate with and if someone is a convicted felon one might want to steer clear because the mayor sets the tone of the administration and after the last few years things were very loose and who you knew versus your competency, was many times over rode and Miami residents deserve better and every city employee represents all and should never forget that you are a public figure and a public servant something many employees seem to forget.

 

>>> Politicians don’t realize voter’s frustration is they are such hypocrites, many times in their own actions

 

Politicians are always asking for our trust but it is the hypocrisy of their actions that has gone on for years that makes voters jaded and even if voters pass something they then renege on any promises made and the Pet Trust is one such example and for many local politicians who are high maintenance they forget they work for the people and voters should not have to say thank you for running for office which periodically raises its ugly head and that it is a privilege that just sometimes is based on someone getting their resume punched and the idea of political dynasties in the coming 2017 election is not the way to elect our local representatives and the public can only hope that their true colors will not be seen during their time being a public servant. Further, with municipal elections coming. Since you did not run yourself will you at least vote Nov. 7 and make your community a better place with quality elected leaders or have a small minority chose your leaders. It is up to you.

 

>>> 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 almost 18 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 information is at the end of the WDR. And I hope you will consider supporting 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 l. Thank You.

 

And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ And we have about $9 billion in GOB funds being spent through a variety of public institutions and that is no small number 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.And I also keep watch for the all-important tourism industry and with the Zika Virus people are starting to understand how vital these tourists are for a host of amenities like culture and the arts, Jackson health System and transportation dollars all entities that benefit from tourism sales tax dollars.

>>> And while the Watchdog Report has reached19 years of using my own money to survive in the costlier Miami community. And while I have cut expenses I need my readers help. In this fast-changing world and with Pay Pal now you can easily use a credit card to contribute and I hope you will consider helping to keep someone out in the field. And I have not wanted to be a lobbyist but rather a lobbyist for everyone and is why I use the tag line ‘I go when you cannot’. But things were made worse after spending 18 days in the hospital with a badly infected finger. And is why I am behind sending my traditional thank you letter to any supporters contributing and hop to catch up soon. And I thank these people from the bottom of my heart for the past financial help.

>>> I just ask any reader, once a year who thinks this community resource is valuable to contribute via my Pay Pal account for the fiscal issues sometimes keeps me from going to a meeting sometimes, and the stress also affects my health and only with my readers support can “I go when you cannot,” thank you and hope you will help so the WDR can celebrate 18 years on May 5^th. 2018.

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan

However, 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 you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. And many public meetings back then were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer the case. For an accurate public record is key and diminishes future 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. And I thank my supporters over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american        

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>>> 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, 2018, 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
 
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