Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.18 September 12, 2010 Est. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot!
Argus Report: “Hope is where the heart is,” says Camillus House; chair Dickinson who hopes to “end [local] homelessness in my lifetime”
Florida: Scott & Sink taking first campaign ad shots, both focus on jobs, will party voter turnout be the key?
Miami-Dade County: Rolle gets public endorsement from Seijas in District 2 race, unfortunately done in commission chambers and run on county TV station
Broward County: “Help Me Howard” Finkelstein elected in 2004, reelected in 08 but had challengers, net worth through June $680,174
Palm Beach County: State top prosecutor McAuliffe in the spotlight, elected in 2008, has had a busy time since, had $4.1 million net worth through June 2010
Polk County: There he goes again; Gov. Crist suspends Mulberry mayor Millis for activity with a minor, Crist’s 41st suspension
St. Johns County: Gov. Crist taps Judge Christensen for circuit court
Monroe County: State Atty. Ward in the spotlight, sent wayward school officials to the Big House, had net worth of $284,000 through June
Miami-Dade Public Schools: Historic Miami Senior High restoration gets first bump up from $49.8 to $50.1 million, will this be the last Perez wants to know?
Public Health Trust: The magnificent 23 trustee applicants must be knowledgeable of the situation, but “looking forward” said Council Chair Moss
City of Miami: When it comes to Tuesday’s public budget hearing, expect “rough weather,” says Chair Sarnoff as city faces over $100 million hole
City of Miami Beach: Curry heads to the Beach, solid performer over the decades, looked at for a variety of top posts
City of Coral Gables: Its Showtime for 2010-2011 public budget hearing on Tuesday, Anderson says budget “looks to the future, not just the coming year”
City of Sweetwater: Mayor Marono clinches 13th Education Compact, one school in city “a little jewel,” says board member Perez
Village of Pinecrest: Mayor Lerner gets Education Compact with district, village faced with $1 million budget hole next year
Editorials: Miami-Dade Commission lashes out at media’s “lust for negative stories,” but some of this you cannot make-up
Letters: From the MCCJ Interfaith Clergy Dialogue: As our Muslim neighbors conclude their observance of Ramadan – Reader on my WPBT2 interview last week
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
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ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> “Hope is where the heart is” says Camillus House; Board chair Dickinson hopes to “end [local] homelessness in my lifetime”
“Hope is where the heart is,” and the elimination of homeless in Miami-Dade is the goal said Bob Dickinson, the Camillus House board chair last week at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at Jungle Island. Camillus is in a major expansion roll with a phased in new facility being built near Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Veterans Hospital since many of the chronic homeless are former veterans. The former cruise line president said Camillus House serves 12,000 people a year and his ambition is to “end homelessness in his lifetime,” he hoped. Dickinson said the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust’s recent census of the population indicated there were 1,100 to 1,200 people still on the street, which is a “staggering low statistic for an area this size,” he said. He said the success rate with this population was 89 percent, and includes job training, finding permanent homes as just a few of the services offered to the people. The Camillus chair also made a pitch for their new facilities that is being done in phases. He said the new building near Jackson will cost $84 million and is being funded with some public county GOB money, along with the sale of the existing shelter facility and $40 million is coming from the private sector, which has committed $29.6 million to date he told the hundreds of people attending the luncheon.
>>> Media credentials needed at Miami-Dade County budget hearing Tuesday
Monday and Tuesday are two hectic days for public institutions and here is a brief breakdown of the public meetings that are being held, and while the media will be at some of them, others will go unreported and especially the school board audit committee on Tuesday, which is one of those, must cover meetings. Also, on Tuesday, the Public Health Trust will hold its all day committee meetings and the institution is fighting to financially right itself while also giving over $600 plus million in charity care.
>>> On Monday, after 5:00 p.m. Miami-Dade County will hold its first public budget hearings and media is requested to bring their ID and a business card will not cut it when it comes to the crowded and highly charged event. The media room outside the chambers will be used exclusively by media, and county staff that many times hangs out there will not be allowed in during the public budget hearings.
That is followed on Tuesday with the city of Miami and Coral Gables having their first public budget hearings, among the other municipalities having their own public hearings on the budget, all after 5:00 p.m. Resident turnout is expected to be high at these meetings as well, with some residents split on the need for more services, versus cutting their taxes. But one thing is for sure, fees for a wide variety of activities and services across the board will be going up to cover the budget holes the county and municipalities are all facing.
>>> If you believe it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider supporting the Watchdog Report for no money came in over the last week and I do have to live, thank you! The report is also shorter and with less real content because I am still weak and do not have my past energy level that allowed me to write all day Saturday and Sunday as in the past almost 11-years that I have been doing this. I ask for my readers understanding during this time. >>> Further, I have been honored over the years by being named a WFOR-4 Hometown Hero in 2000, being profiled in a major way by The Miami New Times, The Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel which ran as a nationwide story on me in the Tribune papers on Jan. 2003 and UNC Chapel Hill naming me one of the top columnists in Florida in a multi-state study of the media back in 2004. I also thank Joseph Cooper for the opportunity to be on the WLRN/NPR showTopical Currents on www.wlrn.org since 2000, including yearly election coverage since then, and also the opportunity to be on Helen Ferre’s show Issues on issues@wpbt.org numerous times over the past decade.
>>> See what was said about the Watchdog Report in the Miami New Times 2003 — Best of Miami — BEST CITIZEN — Daniel Ricker –
Three years ago, we said Ricker was our Best Gadfly. Given his dedication and perseverance, this new honor, Best Citizen, is well deserved. Ricker goes to 2500 mind-melting meetings annually, from the Public Health Trust’s purchasing subcommittee to the Efficiency and Competition Commission to the Alliance for Human Services’ nominating council to the school board’s audit committee. Sometimes he’s the only public observer. Object: to be the Public Citizen for all those out there who can’t attend, and to connect and serve as an information bridge among the special-interest-dominated Miami-Dade governmental institutions that seem so problematic and indifferent to the democratic process.
This month his e-mail newsletter, The Watchdog Report, celebrates its fourth anniversary. In a former life, Ricker made a handsome living as an international salesman of heart pacemakers. As the hard-working publisher of Watchdog Report, though, he’s struggling financially — this despite the fact that his weekly compendium of meeting summaries, analysis, interviews, and commentary has become essential reading for anyone involved in public affairs. What his written work may lack in polish, it more than makes up for in comprehensiveness. So raise a toast to the man whose official slogan says it all: “A community education resource — I go when you cannot!”
FLORIDA
>>> Scott & Sink taking first campaign ad shots, both focus on jobs, will party voter turnout be the key?
The governor’s race is turning out to be vanilla so far when it comes to the political ads with Republican Rick Scott going back and forth in his attack and feel good ads concerning his rival Democrat Alex Sink. She has made a straightforward look in your face ad that suggests she just wants to get serious about the state’s issues and wants to get Floridians moving when it comes to jobs, a theme both campaigns are pushing, with the statewide high unemployment rate. However, both candidates have their drawbacks with Scott still having to deal with the Columbia/HCA issue where the firm after his leaving paid a record federal fine of $1.7 billion for Medicare fraud. And Sink being pushed out of her bank job which was not the gumbuya moment sometimes portrayed in the late 1990s.
What is clear is that voter turnout will be key to whoever wins the prize of governor, and so far Republicans if the primary results are any indication are voting at a higher rate, some 20 percent higher than Democratic Party voters which statewide have a considerable lead when it comes to registered party voters. Early voting starts Oct. 18 for the Nov. 2 general election and the two debates between the candidates may be the defining moment for many of the state’s undecided voters, a smaller pool of people now, and polling shows the two gubernatorial candidates are neck and neck in the race.
>>> Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Louis Marc Silber, 61, of West Palm Beach, partner and attorney with Silber Valente & Davis, succeeding Sonja Knighton Dickens, appointed for a term beginning September 8, 2010, and ending July 1, 2014.
Glenn Jerrold Waldman, 50, of Weston, president and attorney with Waldman Trigoboff Marx & Calnan P.A., succeeding Kara Rockenbach, appointed for a term beginning September 8, 2010, and ending July 1, 2014.
Howard I. Weiss, 64, of Boca Raton, partner and attorney with Weiss, Handler, Angelos & Cornwell P.A., succeeding David Ackerman, appointed for a term beginning September 8, 2010, and ending July 1, 2014.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Rolle gets public endorsement from Seijas in District 2 race, unfortunately done in commission chambers and run on county TV station
Commissioner Dorrin Rolle got a campaign boost during a county awards ceremony Thursday morning before the regular commission meeting began. He is usually the Master of Ceremonies of these events and periodically is joined by other commissioners. Rolle is in a runoff race with Jean Monestime for commission District 2 and it is the closest race the long serving commissioner has had since being appointed to the body by Gov. Lawton Chiles after his predecessor on the dais, James Burke eventually went to federal prison for accepting bribes. Rolle had drawn five challengers in the primary and at the end, he got 40 percent of the vote, with Monestime getting 26 percent and the rest split by the other four candidates.
Commissioner Natacha Seijas joined in the ceremony to note there was a Memorial to Fallen Police Officers at 10:00 a.m., but she also made a political endorsement of Rolle. She noticed that they were both wearing pink guayaberas and he “looked Cuban” to her. She then said all the Cuban voters in his commission district should vote for Rolle in the Nov. 2 general election and the political campaign comments were run on the county television station. Unfortunately political campaigning cannot be done in the commission chambers, or any public building and why last week the Watchdog Report made a big deal out of the Labor Day greetings that were sent to all county employees form commissioners, which is legal, but opens up a slippery slope and this recent example at the commission chambers should not be happening.
Rolle
Monestime
What did Jordan say The Herald got right?
Commissioner Barbara Jordan did make an exception of the daily’s reporting when it came to a recent editorial in support of legislation protecting people from wage and theft from employers. She said when it came to the “Wage and theft ordinance, for once The Miami Herald got it right.”
>>> Comcast cable customers watching the county commission feed may have been wondering why the microphones during the commission meeting Friday kept dropping out for a few seconds. I contacted the mayor’s media representative and she indicated the problem was with the company and it was being corrected. Victoria Mallette, the Director of Communications wrote back, “It’s a Comcast issue. [And] We’re working to resolve it.”
>>> County Inspector General report: Department of Procurement Management/Department of Park and Recreation’s Progress Report Regarding the OIG’s Final Audit of Zoo Miami’s Commodity Purchases, Ref. IG09-S0A, September 2, 2010.
>>>Miami-Dade County League of Cities press release: It is with regret that I write to inform you that City of Miami Beach Mayor Matti H. Bower’s husband, Richard, passed away on Sept. 6 after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and will be missed. Mayor Bower is grateful for all your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
>>> Press release: Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners to hear citizen’s concerns during September Budget Hearings at the BCC Chambers, 2nd floor. Media is asked to bring a picture ID from their respective employer in order to receive press access; please note a business card will not suffice. First Budget Hearing – September 13, 2010 at 5:01 p.m. – Second Budget Hearing – September 23, 2010 at 5:01 p.m.
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners will hold two budget hearings during the month of September, 2010 to allow for citizen input in the F.Y. 2010-2011 County Budget process. The First Budget Hearing is scheduled for September 13, 2010, starting at 5:01 p.m. The Second Budget Hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2010, starting at 5:01 p.m. Both hearings will take place at the Miami-Dade Commission Chambers, 111 NW 1 Street, 2nd Floor. Anyone wishing to speak will have two minutes. Due to the amount of county residents we are anticipating, we will begin the speaker’s registration at 3:00 p.m. at the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center.
On both dates, Miami-Dade Transit will extend Metrorail and Metromover service if the budget hearing ends after normal operating hours (after midnight). Metrorail parking facilities also will remain open. There will be a northbound and southbound train waiting at the Government Center Station to provide service after adjournment of the budget hearing. It is recommended that the public proceed to the Government Center Station platform immediately following the hearing. The Miami-Dade Cultural Center parking garage located at 50 NW 2nd Avenue, the Hickman Garage located at 270 NW 2nd Street, and the North surface lot located at 111 NW 3rd Street will be available for parking for the budget hearings. These are the only three facilities to be used for parking for this event. Additionally, the Bottega Grill Café on the ground floor of the Stephen P. Clark Center will offer pre-made salads and sandwiches available for purchase and will be selling coffee and pastries for as long as there are patrons. WHO: Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners -WHAT: Budget Hearings for F.Y. 2010-2011 – WHEN: September 13 and September 23, 2010, starting at 5:01 p.m. WHERE: 111 NW 1 Street, Commission Chamber (2nd Floor) at the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 N.W. First Street, Miami, FL., 33128.
>>> Press release: GMCVB: “THE NEW MIA”–MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVALS INCREASE IN JULY 2010
Passenger arrivals at Miami International Airport (MIA) increased for the month of July 2010 with international arrivals up by +7.0% when compared to the previous year’s level. Domestic passenger arrivals were up +2.4%. Total arrivals increased in June by +4.7%.
International MIA Passenger Arrivals –
July 2010 July 2009 % Change
853,229 797,753 +7.0%
Domestic MIA Passenger Arrivals –
July 2010 July 2009 % Change
825,751 806,292 +2.4%
Total MIA Passenger Arrivals –
July 2010 July 2009 % Change
1,678,980 1,604,045 +4.7%
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> “Help Me Howard” Finkelstein elected in 2004, reelected in 08 but had challengers, net worth Through June $680,174
Howard Finkelstein, the Broward Public Defender is in the spotlight and he has been a constant advocate of defendant’s rights, and fought against some of the political culture and cronyism that exists in the state’s second largest county. He gained fame in the mid 1990s as a legal commentator during the O. J. Simpson murder trial after being busted on a drug charge, and was part of his community service back then. He since appears on television as “Help Me Howard” where he tries to help people that have been wronged through the legal process but when he first ran for office back in 2004, when he ran unopposed. The media debated whether he should stop doing the television show but the general consensus back then was Broward voters knew what they were getting in the candidate since he had been doing the WSVN 7 television show for years prior to throwing his hat in to the ring replacing long serving Public Defender Al Schreiber.
What do we know about his finances?
Finkelstein through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $680,174 and he lists $70,000 in household goods. His total assets are $725,161 and a home is valued at $300,470, there is $89,000 and $12,000 in an IRA fund, deferred income is $131,000 and there is $18,697 in cash on hand. The attorney’s liabilities are $107,266 with GMAC and a credit union is owed $7,220. The television personality was paid $152,915 in his official capacity and Sunbeam Television kicked in $45,930 state the year’s financial disclosure forms.
Howard is the elected Public Defender. He also serves as the on-air legal analyst for the Fox networks local affiliate, WSVN Channel 7 News. In that capacity he has provided gavel to gavel legal commentary in the case of the State of California vs. O.J. Simpson and has provided ongoing commentary during the USA vs Timothy McVeigh and Nichols Oklahoma bombing trials, the Marv Albert Sodomy trial, the President Clinton impeachment proceedings, the Terry Schiavo right to die case and the Michael Jackson child m… case. He presently has his own regular news spot on Channel 7 that airs twice weekly called “Help Me Howard”.
Howard has been recognized by many organizations for his work and his community service. He is the recipient of the E.P.I.C.(exceptional People Impacting the Community) Award(1996) from the Mental Health Association of Broward County, the Harry Gulkin Award for Honesty and Integrity(1996) from the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Humanitarian of the Year (1996) from the Broward County Young Democrats, the Citizen of the Year(2000) from the National Association of Social Workers, The Independent Spirit Award (2002) from the Center for Independent Living, and the Distinguished Service Award(2003) from C.C.O.H.A.L.N. In addition the Broward County Commission has declared May 21, 2000, February 8, 2003 and September 12, 2003 as Howard Finkelstein Appreciation Day. He has also received the Civics in Action Award, Broward League of Women Voters, 2008, Stars of the Rainbow, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida, 2008, “Elected Official of the Year”, Coalition to End Homelessness, 2007, Distinguished Achievement in Public Service Award and Presidents, National Medal of Patriotism Award from the American Police Hall of Fame, 2005, and the Profiles of Excellence Award from Henderson Mental Health Center, 2004. His hobbies include reading, exercise, philosophy, yoga, and meditation. He is a man whose passion in life is his family and helping others.
>>> Thank you for using the Broward County Commission Agenda E-mail Notification System. A new Broward County Commission Agenda is available. Point your browser to http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm to view the new agenda.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
>>> State top prosecutor McAuliffe in the spotlight, elected in 2008, has had a busy time since, had $4.1 million net worth through June 2010
Michael McAuliffe, the state attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit is in the spotlight this week and he was first elected in 2008. Since taking office he has been a busy man when it comes to public corruption that recently took out County Commissioner Jeff Koons from the dais.
What do we know about his finances?
McAuliffe through June had a net worth of $4.1 million and he lists $315,000 in household goods. His home is worth $2.1 million, another property is valued at $550,000, there is $550,000 in equities, an IRA has $699,000 and there is $21,800 in cash. He owes the Palm Beach Day Academy $40,540 but that is tuition. His income for the year was in total $289,000 including his wife’s income, the state paid him $152,000 in his official capacity, and he withheld $26,175 on his W-2 and filed his joint IRS 1040 for the year. The reporting Gold Standard.
>>> Press release: RHODE ISLAND AND FLORIDA SEAFOOD COMPANIES INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE THE LACEY ACT IN SELLING CHINESE SALMON AS RUSSIAN SALMON
POLK COUNTY
>>> There he goes again, Gov. Crist suspends Mulberry mayor Millis for activity with a minor, Crist’s 41st suspension
There he goes again, Gov. Charlie Crist suspended John Millis, the Mayor of Mulberry for inappropriate activity with a minor on Friday and it is the governor’s 41st suspension since taking office in Jan. 2007. His last one was in June. Crist has followed in Gov. Jeb Bush and Lawton Chiles footsteps in suspending elected officials at a brisk pace since they all held office and the state was listed as number one nationally when looked at over decades for suspended and jailed politicians and public administrators. Crist says there is “culture of corruption” around the state and must be weeded out and months ago. State Attorney General Bill McCollum set up a statewide grand jury to report on the matter located in Broward County and currently hearing testimony.
St. JOHNS COUNTY
>>> Gov. Crist taps Judge Christensen for circuit court
Press release: Governor Charlie Crist announced the appointment of St. Johns County Judge Patti A. Christensen to the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.
“With 18 years of experience as a practicing attorney and 10 years on the county court, Patti is well prepared to be a circuit court judge,” said Governor Crist. “Respectful of all who have appeared in her court, she is committed to a just and fair application of the law.” Judge Christensen, 55, has served as a county court judge since 2000. Previously, she was a sole practitioner from 1997 to 2000 and practiced with Christensen and Burk from 1995 to 1997; Dobson and Christensen from 1988 to 1995; Meredith, Dobson and Ready from 1987 to 1988; Coker, Meyers and Schickel from 1986 to 1987; and Kent, Watts and Durden from 1982 to 1986. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and law degree from the University of Florida.
Judge Christensen will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Edward E. Hedstrom.
MONROE COUNTY
>>> State Atty. Ward in the spotlight, got wayward school officials to the Big House, had net worth of $284,000 through June
Dennis Ward the first term Monroe State Attorney of the 16th Judicial Circuit is in the spotlight this week, the nation’s southern most county rarely gets the media spotlight that major markets receive, and a strong county prosecutor can make a difference in a county that has the tourist tag line of being a Conch Republic. Ward recently got significant sentences for the elected school board superintendent and his wayward wife who charged over $300,000 on a district credit card for a host of items, some of the purchases were almost bizarre in nature.
What do we know about his finances?
Ward through June 2010 had a net worth of $284,000 and he lists $20,000 in household goods. His home is worth $300,000 and another property in Miami Beach is valued at $143,000. He owns 5-acres on Card Sound Road valued at $10,000 and there is $165,000 in DROP, a state retirement program. His liabilities are $284,000 owed Flagstar, and two other mortgages are owed $24,000 and $30,000 and a credit union is due $16,000. His listed income for the year was $150,000 as the state attorney and another $60,000 came in from the Miami Beach Police & Fire retirement fund.
>>> Other media stories on Ward: ACEVEDO GUILTY | KeysNews.com 29 Aug 2009… Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo to three or four years in state prison, Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said Friday.http://keysnews.com/node/16423
Ward: Call to judge broke no ethics rules | KeysNews.com 25 Jun 2010 … A Miami lawyer has accused Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward of unethical conduct and demanded Ward recuse his office from …
http://keysnews.com/node/24428
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> Miami Senior High restoration gets first bump up from $49.8 to $50.1 million, will this be the last Perez wants to know?
Historic Miami Senior High’s renovations is costing the school district another $ 329,551 when the school board approved the change order Wednesday. The venerable high school was home to many local students over the year and when the board first approved the restoration. The administration said it could be done within its appropriated budget of $49.8 million, that is now $50.1 million. Board Member Marta Perez noted these past administration comments when she spoke on the subject. She said when the item came before the board originally she was skeptical about what the real cost would come to and hoped this first adjustment was not the beginning of a trend of them, at a time the school needed every public dollar available. The firm doing the work is Mcm Corp, and they are using Zyscovich Inc. and Bermillo Ajamil & Partners states district documentation on the subject.
Marta Perez, Ph.D.
Martin Karp, Ph.D. is in the spotlight this week and the District 3 board member was first elected in 2004 after beating back attorney and former PHT Chair Michael Kosnitzky in a tight general election runoff race. Karp an educator and Eagle Scout has settled into the position over the years since then and he is up again in 2012. He has done a yeoman’s job on The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade and along with his teaching experiences; he also has an MBA, which gives him a business sense when looking at the nation’s fourth largest public school district with 340,000 students and 392 schools.
What do we know about his finances?
Karp through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $1.28 million and he lists $108,000 in household goods. His home on the Beach is worth $718,000, an apartment is valued at $165,000, there is $128,000 in cash and in bank notes, and a 401K has $166,587 in it. His income for the year was $38,500 from the school board, another $35,000 came in from a foundation, a school kicked in $14,603 and there was $12,600 in rental income.
Dr. Karp is a strong advocate for interest and needs-based learning, where each child is recognized as an individual learner. He is chiefly concerned about ensuring that students with special needs receive the appropriate services, and that hands-on science courses and art programs are preserved. He has proffered agenda items for children with disabilities, boys and girls who are gifted, youngsters who are in foster care and students whose families are facing foreclosure.
Martin Karp’s education initiatives on the School Board include increasing and sponsoring bilingual education programs, increasing the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, establishing Dade schools as a foster care and adoption friendly workplace, adopting a District-wide Bullying and Violence Implementation Plan, adopting Health Connect with The Children’s Trust to provide nurses in 164 schools, supporting Holocaust Education programming, ensuring a differentiated curriculum for gifted students, improving job training and employment opportunities for students with disabilities, supporting sexual abuse education programs and teacher training, recognizing Special Olympics sponsors and participants, and promoting community service and service learning in elementary and middle school grades. Eighteen years ago, Martin helped create the gifted program at Biscayne Elementary School. The program began as a unique joint effort between a private and public school with students from both schools participating.
Dr. Karp founded, coordinated, and produced a children’s television show, WKDZ Kids’ World. The show aired on a weekly basis on Cable TAP’s community access channels and on WLRN channel 17. On the PBS affiliate in Miami, WPBT-TV channel 2, Martin provided assistance and suggestions for educational programs. He created two educational radio talk shows, which he produced and hosted on local A.M. stations. The programs highlighted issues including school choice, dropout prevention, parental involvement, charter schools, overcrowding, and bilingual education. Guests included school board members, children advocacy group representatives, authors of books, adoption specialists, leaders of multicultural groups, and directors of organizations working with teen delinquency and the underprivileged. Dr. Karp began volunteering in South Florida in 1982 when he started S.H.O.P. (Senior Handicapped Outreach Program). He created S.H.O.P. in an effort to assist elderly citizens who were unable to leave their homes and shop for groceries. In another voluntary role, Martin founded a countywide Miami-Dade County Public School district-approved contest sponsored by the Miami-Dade Police Department and Humane Society of Greater Miami. He started the Help Overcome Pet Euthanasia Contest 14 years ago and more than 3,000 students have participated. The purpose of the Contest is to provide students with an opportunity to engage in problem-solving activities addressing pet overpopulation in the community. He continues to coordinate the contest today. >>> Dr. Karp was awarded the highest honor in Scouting—Eagle Scout and he served as Advancement Chairman for a local Scout troop and as a board member for Pioneer District. Recently, Martin was honored with “The Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award” by Nova Southeastern University, the “Helping Hands Award” by the Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and the “People, Pets & Vets Award by the South Florida Veterinary Foundation. Today, Martin serves on the board of the New World School of the Arts and The Children’s Trust. Prior to becoming an educator, Martin served as Circulation Director and Business Manager for Southern Playbill Publishing, Inc. Martin and wife Danielle are proud parents of Herschel and Benjamin Karp. For more information: http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/bdmembers.asp
>>>District web-page: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, America’s fourth-largest school system with a diverse enrollment of more than 340,000 students from over 100 countries, offers innovative educational programs at its 392 schools, including elementary, middle, senior high schools and alternative, specialized and vocational centers. Students and their families have an active voice in choosing learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, school-to-career pathways and real-world learning. With 119 programs, including 89 magnet programs, the Miami-Dade school district has one of the largest choice programs in the United States. The impressive array of course offerings include renowned bilingual schools, international baccalaureate programs, schools in the workplace, and a convenient downtown commuter school designed for working parents. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has an annual capital and operating budget of $5.5 billion, and 50,271 employees, including 22,006 teachers, of which more than 1,100 are National Board Certified, third highest in the Nation. The teacher: pupil ratio is 1:17. School Listing: http://www.dadeschools.net/schools/schoolinformation
>>> The school board audit committee is meeting Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and a vote on the leadership of the board is planned at the end. There is also an update on the ongoing negotiations between Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and WLRN Foundation management. For more information go to
http://mca.dadeschools.net/AuditCommittee/AC_September_2010/agenda.pdf
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> The magnificent 23, trustee applicants must be knowledgeable of the situation, but looking forward said Council Chair Moss
The PHT Nominating Council met Tuesday for almost two-hours and the Watchdog Report was the only media there along with 14 other people including County Commissioners Dennis Moss, Katy Sorenson, Sally Heyman, state Rep. Juan Zapata, R-Miami and John Copeland, III the PHT board chair. Moss chaired the Council and noted the questions the 23 short listed candidates that were selected would be asked, should reflect “the whole new different environment of today” that the health trust faces. A completely new set of questions, similar to a case interview where the candidate is given certain facts is being considered and the applicants interviewed will also be judged on their intimate knowledge of what is going on at Jackson. Sorenson suggested asking if the candidates had read the Aug. 5 Jackson grand jury report, and kept abreast with what is going on at the hospital system through the press, and public trust televised meetings. Heyman having reviewed attendance records of trustees said “flexibility of time” to serve was important. She said candidates during the interviewing process should suggest, “Ways to move forward” that includes the current county “management watch” and “not regurgitate their bios,” she said.
Moss the county commission chair, said we are “trying to get this stuff behind us” and wants to see people that will “figure out a way for this to work positively.” He said the commission has been under the gun before at “the airport” and at “elections” and we “were able to get a handle on them” and wants the same result from the “Public Health Trust.” He indicated he was looking for people that “think about the environment we are in” and to “tell us the kind of contribution to the trust” they would make if selected to be on the 15-member citizen and county electorate board that includes two other voting county commissioners. Moss also said he reviewed other boards like the trust around the state and the people on them are very similar. He said “business people”, “attorneys” was the norm for these other boards, and on the PHT board there are also a “banker and [retired county] firefighter, he said.
Who were the chosen trustee candidates for interviews?
After extending the application deadline, 69 people applied and 23 of them were selected to be interviewed Sept 29 and 30th. The people making the selection cut are Rene Alvarez, Gladys Ayala*, Sal Barbera, Hugo Castro, Mary Coombs, Marvin Diaz-Lacayo, Alan Erzin, Charles Fultz, Morrie Hollander, Saif Yamani Ishoof*, Clifford Kolber, Angel Medina*, Noelia Moreno, Stephen Nuell, Kamlesh Oza, Robin Reiter-Faragalli, Manny Alejandro Rodriguez, Mark Rogers, Jonathan Rose, Roberto Saco, Kenneth Sellers, Frederick Thornburg, and Raul Valdes-Fauli. Editor’s note: A * indicates a trustee incumbent.
What should they do now?
Candidates should read as much as possible about what is going on at Jackson Memorial Hospital system including www.miamiherald.com & www.watchdogreport.net & Jackson Health System Purpose of the Public Health Trust … About Public Relations & Marketing … It is also home to the Ryder Trauma Center, Miami-Dade County’s only Level 1 …
http://www.jhsmiami.org/ >>> Public Health Trust In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners amended Chapter 25A of the Miami-Dade County Code that governs the Public Health Trust. http://www.jhsmiami.org/body.cfm?id=45
>>> Here are two reports that should be read. >>> >>> To read the Grand Jury report go to Miami Dade Office of the State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit …
>>> County IG Report: Final Report on OIG Review of the Jackson Health System Business Plan for Civica Tower, Prepared January 2010, Ref. IG09-89, August 26, 2010. The Business Plan or see the story in www.miamiherald.com
>>> CORRECTION: The county commission resolution sponsored by Commissioner Joe Martinez that originally included reducing the size of the PHT board was not part of the legislation the commission considered Thursday. The body only voted on that BCC board directives must be complied with by the PHT board.
>>> Upcoming PHT Council meetings
Sept 22, 2010 11:30am-1:30pm – Nominating Council convenes – Review interview questionnaire and select questions in preparation for interviews
>>> Sept 29, 2010 – 9am-5pm Sept 30, 2010 – 9am-5pm Nominating Council Convenes: Interview Finalists Select slate of nominees for presentation to Board
>>> October 19, 2010 – Final nominees presented to the Board for approval
***Request Waiver to BCC
>>> PAST PHT Nominating Council minutes Sept 16, 2005 written by Mary Smith-York, the Commission reporter: V. Interview Date: Following a brief discussion, Council members rescheduled the interviews on October 3, 2005 at 10:30 a.m.
Following Senator Garcia’s comment that he declined requests from applicants to meet with him, and inquiry regarding rules governing the discovery process as it related to the Dade Delegation, Mr. Shy explained that the existing Cone of Silence ordinance did not prohibit the Nominating Council members from communicating or meeting with the Public Health Trust members for any
reason.
Chairperson Sosa stated she too denied requests from applicants to meet with her before the interview process was concluded and suggested that her colleagues also deny similar requests. Discussion ensued regarding the specifics of the interview process, following which Council members agreed that a total of three applicants should be scheduled for interviews during a one-hour span.
Watchdog Reporter Dan Ricker pointed out that of the 20 candidates selected, 16 were male, which was not representative of the community. Chairperson Sosa noted the gender ratio was consistent with the 51 applications received which
contained 39 male and 12 female applicants. Upon Chairperson Sosa’s request that Deputy County Manager Hernandez provide Commissioner Souto with the items approved in today’s meeting, Assistant County Attorney Shy advised that a previous practice allowed a Council member who was absent during candidate
selection to submit a list of candidates he/she wanted to be interviewed.
Chairperson Sosa expressed opposition to this practice and asked that in the future, the meeting be rescheduled when a member was unable to attend so that all members could participate in the selection process. Upon receipt of Commissioner Souto’s list of candidates, Chairperson Sosa noted all but five names on this list were included in the 20 candidates selected earlier. It was moved by Senator Garcia that the following individuals be added to the list of candidates.
>>> PAST WDR: What about the claim people did not know Jackson was in trouble?
The Watchdog Report has covered the PHT weekly for 11-years, and when I did not write a story, it was because I was either broke, sick, or a hurricane was bearing down on Miami-Dade. And while I have now around 100,000 readers that did not include the hundreds of thousands of people who read The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com during my time as an independent guest editorial columnist in 2000 and as a independent featured weekly news columnist from 2003-2007 with the general circulation paper. I wrote dozens of stories about Jackson that ran in The Herald during this time, the public hospitals financial challenges and my readers even wondered why I wrote about the health trust so much. However, now everyone knows why, because this public institution is a medical jewel and community treasure but unless there is true community will. The ongoing financial and governance issues will remain, and all indications are very little of the Grand Jury report’s recommendations will be acted upon by the county commission in the Watchdog Report’s opinion. >>> To read the Grand Jury report go to Miami Dade Office of the State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit …
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> When it comes to Tuesday public budget hearing, expect “rough weather,” says Chair Sarnoff as city faces over $100 million hole
The rubber is meeting the road with Tuesday’s 5:05 p.m., first public budget hearings in the Miami Commission Chambers and turnout of citizens is expected to be high, as the commission deals with a over $100 million budget hole that must be balanced by Sept. 30, and to break even. The administration is suggesting taking around $10 million from the CRAs, www.miamiherald.com a controversial move considered by some, and may be challenged in court later. Mayor Tomas Regalado told the Watchdog Report last week that the earlier commission meeting in the morning will be dealing with “fees and fines” that are expected to increase to help close the financial gap, but blow back from property taxpayers that received their tax notices in August is expected later in the evening. The city has had to dip into almost all of its reserves over the past few years to make up for lower revenues coming into city coffers but this year the problems are more vexing. The administration has been playing hardball with the city’s unions saying up to 1,340 employees would be given the heave-ho if major concessions are not granted by their membership. And pensions of these workers are the sticking point and Miami is not alone and the fiscal problem is playing out around the United States at all levels of government from the smallest town to the largest states.
The Watchdog Report contacted elected leaders last week about the budget and what they expected and Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff suggested it would be “rough weather” in the chamber and to “bring a rain coat,” as residents wail about their property taxes, and inability to pay any higher taxes. However, the die has been cast for the last two decades and there are no more rabbits to pull out of a hat when it comes to general fund money and readers should stay tuned to see how Miami weathers its toughest storm ever. Since Mayor Joe Carollo back in 1996 asked Gov. Lawton Chiles to appoint a Financial Oversight Board made up of non-city residents to put the city, back on the right financial course and ended in late 2001.
>>> Press release: MIAMI-AREA CLINIC OWNER PLEADS GUILTY IN $23 MILLION HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCHEME
A Miami-area resident who owned and operated an HIV infusion clinic pleaded guilty today for her participation in a $23 million HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services announced today. Flor Crisologo, 58, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in U.S. District Court in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Crisologo was originally charged in a May 2010 indictment. According to the plea documents, Crisologo was the owner and operator of J & F Community Medical Center Inc. Crisologo admitted that she submitted approximately $23 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for HIV injection and infusion services purportedly provided through J & F. According to court documents, Crisologo hired a physician at J & F and conspired with the physician and others to order unnecessary tests, sign false medical analyses and diagnosis forms, and authorize treatments to make it appear that medical services were being provided to patients who were Medicare beneficiaries. The services included medically unnecessary injection and infusion therapies. Crisologo admitted that she and her conspirators paid Medicare beneficiaries kickbacks to induce the beneficiaries to claim they received legitimate services at the clinic when in fact the HIV infusion services were either not provided or were not medically necessary.
The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit health care fraud is 10 years in prison. Crisologo also faces fines and forfeiture of any property or proceeds derived from her criminal activities. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 23, 2010.
Today’s guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; John V. Gillies, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Miami field office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations Miami office. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph S. Beemsterboer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG. Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 810 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $1.85 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
>>> Press release: The Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP), an agency of the City of Miami providing independent citizens’ oversight of the Miami Police Department, seeks qualified applicants to fill two vacancies on its Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee interviews applicants for CIP membership and makes recommendations regarding persons who should be appointed to the CIP. The vacant seats on the Committee are for City of Miami Commission Districts 1 and 3.
Members must be either permanent residents of the Commission District, own real property, work or maintain a business in the district, have a good reputation for integrity and community service and shall not have a record of a felony conviction, nor be a current or former City of Miami police officer. Interested persons must submit a completed application and a biography or resume. Applications may be downloaded at www.miamigov.com/cip, obtained from the CIP office at 970 SW 1 St., Suite 305 or by calling 305-960-4950/fax 305-960-4959. Completed applications are to be mailed or delivered to the CIP address listed above. Recruitment will remain open until a sufficient number of applications are received.
>>> Check out the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Miami in the spring of 2012, its impact on the economy and how much money the organization is asking for from the city of Miami. For more information go to www.volvooceanracemiami.org
>>> The following e-mail was sent to (now former) Mayor Manny Diaz using his e-mail address on his extensive city web-page on Sept. 13, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. and to date there has been no answer from the mayor. It currently goes to his new e-mail address.>>> “Mayor Diaz, I wanted to ask you in the chamber today but not in front of Chair Joe Sanchez. My question is where did the extra $400,000 in the 2007 disclosure form come from? I will run what ever you respond unedited but I would appreciate closing this issue, as I am sure you do. Sorry but I have to ask. Best to all. Dan” >>>> The Watchdog Report through Dec.7 has yet to get a response or catch-up with Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz on where he got the extra $400,000 in cash listed in his 2007 financial disclosure forms. To see what CBS 4 reporter David Sutta’s take on this issue and the other city leaders financial disclosures go to cbs4.com Blogs . >>> Readers should stay tuned and catch the meeting on the city’s cable station channel 77. >>> Stream Channel 77, for all City of Miami meetings, (Commission, Village Council meetings, Waterfront, Zoning, PAB, Code, etc. hearings) http://videos.miamigov.com/
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> Curry heads to the Beach, solid performer over the decades, looked at for a variety of top posts
Cynthia Curry, the well-respected county assistant manager brought back a few years ago to county hall after a scandal at the housing department that resulted in HUD taking over the organization has joined the Miami Beach building department www.miamiherald.com as its new head. Curry over the years has done a number of jobs and I first ran into her when the 1998 Empowerment Zone study was done on Miami-Dade and she was the driving force behind the two volume study that showed Dade when it came to poverty, environmental pollution, housing and other negative community issues had severe problems and is one of the reasons I continued to watch our public institutions. For the cost to Miami residents was felt and seen everyday in South Florida. Curry dropped off my radar a couple of months ago and I stopped seeing her at county hall, but she has landed on her feet on the Beach, getting a salary of $170,000. She is replacing Alex Rey who is going back to his past job of manager of Miami Lakes, and she has been considered for a number of top spots but fell short, including as a county manager, Director of MIA and even as the president of the PHT. A position suggested by County Commission Chair Barbara Carey Shuler at one point, but not acted upon and a national search was done to fill the spot.
>>> Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club – PRESS RELEASE – Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 – Meeting Time: 8:30 AM -Meeting Place: David’s Café II, 1654 Meridian Ave., South Beach: Michael Góngora, Miami Beach City Commissioner, will be this week’s guest speaker at the September 14th meeting of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. Michael was first elected to the City Commission in 2006 to fill the unexpired term of Luis Garcia, who had resigned to run for state office. Michael lost a very close election for a second term in 2007, but was successful in winning a seat on the Commission in the following 2009 election. Michael serves as Chairman of the Commission’s Land Use and Development Committee and is an alternate on the Neighborhoods / Community Affairs Committee. He is a lawyer with the firm of Becker and Polikoff. Everyone is welcome to attend. David Kelsey, Moderator for the Breakfast Club >>> For more information contact David Kelsey. To be placed on the Breakfast Club’s mailing list, contact Harry Cherry. Both can be reached at TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo.com
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Its Showtime for 2010-2011 public budget hearing on Tuesday, Anderson says budget “looks to the future, not just the coming year”
With the clock ticking, the commission will hold the first public budget hearing on Tuesday just after 5:00 p.m. in the commission chambers and Manager Pat Salerno has tried to craft a budget consistent with the financial times, but some wonder if it is enough, or to much. The Watchdog Report last week contacted the elected leaders about the upcoming budget and long serving Commissioner Maria Anderson, elected back in 2001 wrote back. “The City Manager has presented us with a budget that looks to the future, not just the coming year. Changes to the organization are underway – much needed, and long overdue, as well as pension system changes that will help us slow down that runaway train,” wrote Anderson. Below is the agenda links for the regular commission meeting, followed by the public budget hearing.
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| 09/14/2010 Tue | 9:00 AM | City Commission |
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| 09/14/2010 Tue | 5:01 PM | City Commission |
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CITY OF SWEETWATER
>>> Mayor Marono clinches 13th Education Compact, one school in city “a little jewel,” says board member Perez
Mayor Manuel Marono was at the Tuesday Miami-Dade school board meeting and the board approved an Education Compact between the school district and the city, and it was the 13th such municipal pact said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to the board. Currently there is only one public school in the city that Board Member Marta Perez called “a little jewel” because of the students’ performance.
What do we know about the mayor?
Manuel M. Maroño
Mayor Maroño has spearheaded hurricane protection for his residents of Sweetwater and all of Miami while serving on the Blue Ribbon Committee for Underground Utilities and the Miami-Dade County Underground Wiring Committee. His service to the people also includes a longstanding and respected position on the board of the Miami-Dade League of Cities, serving as treasurer and secretary before being elected president of the league in 2006. Mayor Maroño remains active in the beacon Council Board of Directors and the Florida League of Cities where he is the co-chair of the Federal Action Strike Team and a member of the Advocacy and Criminal Justice Committees. Manuel Maroño is also a founding board member of the Florida League of Mayors. Mayor Maroño is currently the Executive Operations Manager of Westbrook Motors. Manny lives in Sweetwater with his wife Jennifer and their two sons. Email: mlmarono@cityofsweetwater.fl.gov Mayor’s Secretary -Natasha Santos
Tel 305-221-0411 E-mail nsantos@cityofsweetwater.fl.gov
>>> County Ethics study on salary & benefits: The City of Sweetwater’s “strong mayor”, receives annual salary of $50,108, and has a vehicle allowance of $7,480 for a base package of $57,588 in fiscal year 2008. The Mayor also has an annual expense allowance of $7,913 – the remainder of which at year’s end is also treated as income. A separate travel allowance of $7,000 has also been budgeted for the Mayor. In 2007, City Commissioners received $5,738 in salary, an expense allowance of $7,700, a vehicle allowance of $6,600 and another $2,240 for gas. The total yearly compensation package for Commissioners equals $22,278 – or roughly four times base salary. W-2s were issued for the above items, but that any legitimate, documented expenses were deducted from the expense allowance prior to preparing these tax documents. Some Commissioners submitted their expense items; others did not. According to the Mayor, Commissioners do not have City-issued credit cards, but he does, along with some department directors. The Mayor explained that the City does not have a formal policy for the use of its credit cards, but rather follows a “common sense” policy.
VILLAGE OF PINECREST
>>> Mayor Lerner gets Education Compact with district, faced with $1 million budget hole next year
Cindy Lerner, the mayor of Pinecrest spoke in front of the school board before the body approved the 12th municipal Education Compact with the school district. Lerner told the Watchdog Report after the vote, that when it came to the city’s finances. They are facing “a $1 million” hole in the budget for next year that begins Oct.1. Pinecrest has seen one of the lowest drops in property values this year and the tony village was first incorporated in 1996.
| Mayor Cindy Lerner Elected in November 2008 Biography [PDF] 2010 State of the Village Address |
EDITORIALS
>>> Miami-Dade Commission lashes out at media’s “lust for negative stories,” but some of this you cannot make-up
At the Miami-Dade Commission meeting Friday the media and press took a verbal beating and seemed to be blamed for all the ills of the world. The Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com the commission’s Great Satin got the brunt of the assault but the commissioners’ comments cut a wide swath when it came to this profession. Elected leaders and county administrative staff such as Manager George Burgess during the discussion felt expansive when it came to the subject of media bashing calling critical stories “a lust for negative reporting” and the board should “keep your eye on the prize” and disregard what the media says and writes. He further, noted “I don’t pander to this board” and the legislative body has given the administration the flexibility to fix past county problems like the 2002 primary election fiasco, the public housing department disaster, and of course the MIA Capital Plan started in 1994 and closing out over $6 billion when overruns are factored in, that “required the right people” to make it finally end, he intoned.
Commission Chair Dennis Moss in discussing the Aug. 5 Jackson grand jury report said, “We have seen this movie before.” The report said “they screwed up,” and “let the private sector” do it, which he said is what they did at MIA but had to take over the terminal renovations a few years ago from the private sector after the program had gone dramatically off track. He said the “self anointed” 41 people that signed a letter concerning the governance of Jackson were wrong and just as the commission “pushed back” when it came to MIA and a authority to run it back in 2000, the Performing Arts Center, housing and elections. He believes these critics comments should “be pushed back [because these] people have their own agenda,” he suggested of the study group that reviewed Jackson’s operation and governance.
Commissioner Natacha Seijas also weighed in saying the grand jury report was “a tremendous disappointment” and when it came to study group she called them “elitists” and the commission was the body elected to “provide oversight to public monies.” And of course, she complained and said she ignores those people “that buy ink by the barrel.” Katy Sorenson was concerned about PHT trustees meddling in the “process [of running the hospital] and that should not happen,” she said. The retiring commissioner after 16-years in office also questioned what the advantages were to an independent board. “Independent from what, do they just drop down from another planet.” She noted that even if the governor made the appointments like in Broward County, “it’s political.”
>>> let’s not forget the press does produce change many times for the good
And while it is great for the commissioners to vent about the press, it should be noted that the media does not make-up some of this investigative reporting, that is very time consuming and why The Herald does the bulk of it. From The House Of Lies series www.maimherald.com on public housing, the election snafus that resulted in a $12 million plus general election in 2002, the PACT coming in 20-months late and costing $472 million, versus the original $255 million figure (The Watchdog Report actually broke that story in my weekly Herald column back in 2004) to the perks granted to the commission and mayor’s office. Further, when it comes to getting the word out the media has a real role, that many times helps the commission but that gets little verbal time on the county dais. The Watchdog Report for example runs a variety of county press releases each week free of charge, even though I could get paid for it. If I joined the county’s periodical program but that is a program I watch over the years after six free periodicals were given around $20,000 each but there existence could not be established by county auditors.
What about Jackson’s governance?
Further, when it comes to the governance of Jackson Memorial Health System county commissioners own involvement in its operation pops up periodically and any blurring of lines is enhanced when an elected official, not only has oversight, but is also a patient as well. And I hear comments at public meetings that suggest rather than one level of care, there may be different attention for an elected leader and that dual relationship has to be watched very closely. For in the past at the Port of Miami and at Jackson, politicians have had influence and in the case of the port in the mid 1990s. Port money was going to elected officials campaign funds when former convicted felon Carmen Lunetta was running the facility and when Ira Clark was overseeing Jackson. Medical equipment and antibiotics were being shipped for “humanitarian” reasons to Nicaragua were being done, under instruction of Commissioner Pedro Reboredo and this is one of the problems with the current oversight model in my opinion.
LETTERS
>>>Statement last week from the MCCJ Interfaith Clergy Dialogue: As our Muslim neighbors conclude their observance of Ramadan, re-dedicating themselves to God and God’s service, we as the Interfaith Clergy Dialogue of MCCJ condemn the planned burning of Holy books and the tone of hate and intolerance against the Muslim community. We ask all people of good will to promote respect and love of neighbor and to speak and work against extremist ideas of any group, in order to uphold our common teachings to promote peace.
Reverend Laurinda Hafner & Rabbi Mark S. Kram Co-Chairs, MCCJ Clergy Dialogue The MCC Clergy Dialogue is the oldest continuous interfaith clergy dialogue in the United States. >>> MCCJ was founded in 1935 as the Miami branch of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
>>> Great show on issues…you are becoming a regular…
Carmen Caldwell
>>> To see the show: WPBT2 Issues with Helen Ferre as the host, go to This Week on Issues – 9/03 & 9/05 >>> Interview with City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado – Week in Review: Jackson Ethics and Scott’s Pick -The Office of Inspector General has issued a harsh report on Jackson Health System’s project to build an office tower saying the plans raised “serious concerns about [its] integrity and objectiveness.” In state news, gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott announced his running mate this week, State Representative Jennifer Carroll. We discuss news of the week. Guests: Joy Reid, The Miami Herald, Daniel Ricker, Watchdog Report.
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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 Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events. The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain.
LETTER POLICY
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>>> Watchdog Report is expanding as a new service and this content is now available to other news media, no longer exclusive to The Miami Herald
The Watchdog Report is no longer exclusively with The Miami Herald, and excluding the one story a week that is printed in the paper on Monday in the Metro & State section by me. The rest of the 20 or so news stories weekly sent out Sunday in the Watchdog Report are now available to television stations web pages, and all the newspapers and other media in South Florida if the publishers have an interest to run part or all of the stories. Further, in 2000, I used to have some paper’s running the report in the Spanish press, that option is available again, and publishers should contact me. The news content will not be free, but you can pick and chose the stories of interest, edit them if necessary but you must still keep the general story intact. If you are a news outlet and would like to learn more about, the Watchdog Report and this offer contact me at watchdogreport1@earthlink.net for further information.
>>> Here is what past newspapers have written about the Watchdog Report publisher including a survey and regional study done by the U. North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the media in the southeast United States.
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years. >>> Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, The (FL) CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS >>> Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, The (FL) MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED >>> 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.
>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times —The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-05-15/citylife2.html/1/index.html
From the spring of 2003: U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Southeast U.S. Media Report lists Watchdog Report publisher as leading Florida commentator >>> Selected excerpts from the report on Florida’s media sources
Those who do read the newspaper in Florida have a bevy of options for state government and political coverage. The dominant newspapers in the state are Knight-Ridder’s The Miami Herald (Acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006) and the Poynter Institute’s St. Petersburg Times. Both papers endorsed Gore in 2000 but split on the 2002 gubernatorial race, with the Herald endorsing Republican incumbent Jeb Bush and the Times backing Democratic challenger Bill McBride.
Daniel Ricker of The Miami Herald also writes an influential column as well as an email newsletter called the Watchdog Report that goes out to more than 100,000 subscribers. FEBRUARY 2004 – Florida: Columnists in Abundance —ERIC GAUTSCHI, graduate student, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill – D) LEADING COMMENTATORS – Resource Commentator Organization Type Web site –Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/bousquet.shtml -“First Friday” WPBT TV (Miami) TV Show www.channel2.org/firstfriday/issues.html –Lucy Morgan St. Petersburg Times Column www.sptimes.com/columns/morgan.shtml –Daniel Ricker Miami Herald/Watchdog Report Newsletter –www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/dan_ricker/ >>> Readers who would like to read the complete University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southeast United States Media Report go to view the complete report or download all the data used in this study. >>> Watchdog Report Editor’s note to the NCU/CH study: The subscriber number referenced is incorrect and applies to readership.
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