Watchdog Report Vol.11 No.26 November 14, 2010 Est.05.05.00 – I go when you cannot
CONTENTS
Argus Report: U.S. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen tracking to be chair of Foreign Affairs in House, a number of firsts
Florida: Gov. Elect Scott taps Ferre & Marono for transition team, businessman not known as being warm and fuzzy
Miami-Dade County: Hail new Commissioners Monestime & Bell, encore for Commissioners Heyman, Sosa, Souto, and Diaz, but is more change coming with possible recalls?
Broward County: School board halts vote on Atty. Marko’s $266,000 emeritus contract, what are these five board members thinking?
Palm Beach County: PAST WDR: JULY 2010: Vice Chair Marcus in spotlight, dodges political purge, had $138,000 net worth through Dec. 09
Monroe County: PAST WDR: JULY 2010: State Rep. Saunders facing opposition in McPherson, legislator had $687,000 net worth through 2009
Miami-Dade Public Schools: New lobbying regulations toughest in state, Supt. Carvalho never knew he had so many friends; they don’t come-up just to say hi
Public Health Trust: Does fate of Jackson’s international health services lie in hands of BCC; meeting this week could provide answer
City of Miami: Will Commissioner Gort be the likely new chair? Sarnoff becomes just another commissioner
City of Miami Beach: Ceremonial vice mayor post rotates every three months, but are new cards really necessary since only one Mayor Bower
Coral Gables: Gulliver Academy gets go ahead for major expansion after homeowner agreement, animated conversation on commission
City of Doral: Mayor Bermudez gives State of the City Address, only top leader municipality has known
Community Events: UEL discussion on Media Towers located near Arsht Center — Downtown Bay Forum Dec. 1 Forum luncheon speaker County Mayor Alvarez — Mango Strut upcoming events
Editorials: Release of 3,301 Miami-Dade employees’ salaries over $100,000 causes a stir, other public servants get less, performance must be the litmus test for pay — PAST WDR: NOV. 2004: Congratulations Miami Commissioners, you finally get a raise — PAST WDR: SEPT. 2003: It is some ones money, government leaders and their administrations should remember that!
Letters: One reader on U.S. Sen. elect Rubio’s comment that Republican victory not a “mandate”
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message and you are free to e-mail this on to friends.
>>> If you think it is important to have someone watching your public institutions consider becoming a supporter or sponsor. For there is no trust fund and I do have to live. I almost did not write this week because of my financial condition. And while I as so many others are facing tough times. I hope you or your organization will consider helping in a small or larger way and help keep another voice on line and in the media. A convenient form is at the bottom of this week’s Watchdog Report with all the instructions on how to support this newsletter and news service that started its 11th Anniversary on May 5.
>>> CLARIFICATION: A Community Event announcement last week had a wrong description of the 40-story Media Billboard. The following came in from the PR firm with the Arsht Center clarifying the text in the announcement: “Bill Brinton, a tireless fighter for sane billboard policy in Florida and around the country, has kindly agreed to talk to us about the two uber giant mega electronic billboards that are slated to be built atop Maefield Development’s proposed City Square garage complex.”
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> U.S. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen tracking to be chair of Foreign Affairs in House, a number of firsts
With a Republican majority now in the U.S. House of Representatives, local U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami is in line to be the first Cuban-American woman to chair a House committee and it is the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The congresswoman first elected to the 18th Congressional District of Florida in 1989 has been on a leadership trajectory the past decade, has extensively traveled, and studied the turbulent globe, the people’s ethnic or religious differences and the nations that we are war with. She voted for the 2008 Stimulus bill and has been a leader in domestic violence legislation. She has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Miami and started her career in public service in the state legislature. A fierce advocate of constituent affairs, she works with community’s to solve local problems, many times with federal help. She was the point of the spear in getting the first federal funding for the Miami River dredging back in 1998 and worked with Congressman Bill Young, R-St. Petersburg who chaired the appropriations committee back then and he became aware of the funding request on a golf course at the time.
She also locally helped with Coconut Grove getting a landscaped Post Office Parking lot after trees were cut to install a new sewer system for the facility. A number of Grovites that were angry confronted her at the time and they did not realize that since it was a federal type facility. Their gripes and anger could be ignored, but were not at the time, and the landscaping needed was done and looks good.
>> Bio on web-page: A Powerful Voice for South Florida
I have been a strong leader in the United States Congress, fighting to advance the needs of South Florida and ensuring that the nation continues to prosper. Addressing the needs of the unique community in South Florida, I have worked so our precious ecosystems are preserved for future generations to enjoy.
I have fought to secure in excess of $27 million to provide for the dredging of the Miami River, ensuring that the river remains a vibrant natural resource. This important project removes contaminated materials from the river, protecting coral reefs and other important marine life in Biscayne Bay. I have voted consistently on helping homeowners not lose their homes during this period of market uncertainty. I voted in favor of the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which recently passed the House. This legislation provides mortgage refinancing assistance to keep families from losing their homes, protects neighboring home values, and helps stabilize the housing market. I also supported the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act. This bill establishes a national affordable housing trust fund to build or preserve over a million homes over the next decade. Increasing the supply of affordable housing will help ensure that South Florida families who have lost their homes can find housing.
I voted in favor of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. This bi-partisan legislation was enacted as an effort to reinvigorate the economy and help hard-working South Floridians who are struggling with rising costs of fuel and groceries. I have worked hard to lower the burden of high taxes on families so that they can keep more of their money. I have supported legislation to lower the income tax rate, eliminate the death tax and reduce the marriage penalty tax. I have cosponsored the 401Kids Family Savings Act to allow tax-free distributions from a Coverdell education savings account for first-time homebuyer expenses and permit rollovers from Coverdell education savings accounts to Roth individual retirement accounts. I also cosponsored the Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act to establish tax-exempt financial security accounts for individuals with disabilities to pay certain expenses of such individuals, including expenses for education, medical care, and employment training.
Given the importance of the Port of Miami to the South Florida economy, and its position as the gateway to the Americas, it is vital that the port receives the security it requires to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I have fought to bring attention to the critical needs of our ports, which are high priority targets for those who aiming to inflict chaos on the United States. Working with the County, Port of Miami officials and the State of Florida, I have ensured that the cargo facilities are equipped with security resources to keep this important piece of infrastructure safe, in turn protecting the local community and the economy.
As a former educator, I have has been a strong voice for addressing the education needs of our community. While in the Florida Senate, I introduced legislation to create Florida’s first Pre-Paid College Tuition Plan. This plan has enabled students to attend college, equipping them with the resources to reach their highest ambitions. Without this plan, many of these students would have been denied this opportunity. Continuing my support for the education of our future leaders, I recently voted in favor the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act. This will give the Department of Education the authority to purchase student loans from lenders, increase the unsubsidized Stafford loan limit, and provided an optional grace period so that parents can defer certain loan payments until after their children graduate. I have been a strong advocate of programs that address the serious problem of violence against women. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 2876, which reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, I sent a strong message to the community that violence against women is unacceptable, and ensured that programs to address this problem continued to be funded into the future.
A Strong Commitment to Foreign Affairs
I am the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Serving in this role, I have been a tireless advocate for the advancement of human rights across the globe, as well as continuing to be a strong voice in opposition to Castro’s dictatorial regime in Cuba. This marks a long involvement in foreign affairs, having previously served as Chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, the Subcommittee on Africa, the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights and as Vice-Chair on the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. For more information go tohttp://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/SinglePages/SinglePage.aspx?NewsID=6
>>> What were AG McCollum & AG elect Bondi thinking regarding lobbying and Vegas trip for trial lawyers 60th birthday?
Bill McCollum, the Republican Florida attorney general has asked for an opinion of when he could become a lobbyist after serving four years in office and now we have his replacement, Pamela Bondi www.miamiherald.com flying off to a 60th birthday party for a prominent trial lawyer in Las Vegas and while both claim to have the highest ethics. In today’s political climate and the dismal economy what are they thinking when it comes to public perception. Bondi, an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County before winning statewide office Nov. 2 when she defeated state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach after getting 55 percent of the vote is now in the big leagues and this type of activity just sends the wrong message, especially after the pledges of good government, transparency and the sacred rule of law.
The Watchdog Report has asked a number of people about this activity, especially by Bondi going into the office versus McCollum whose political career is over, and the general consensus was she should have avoided it, especially so soon after the election. In today’s world with instant communication and blogs joining the public discussion in the media, Bondi should learn from this incident for this high profile is new to her, but if it happens again and becomes a pattern. It will come back to haunt her when she runs again. For state voters wanted change, but after the back drop of state party officials getting indicted, a governor elect’s company he founded paying a $1.7 billion fine for Medicare Fraud, this kind of questionable activity will not stand, and could be reflected in future elections.
>>> Ros-Lehtinen Says Concerns Remain about U.S. Assistance to Lebanon
Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on today’s announcement that Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) have lifted the hold on U.S. assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“Unanswered questions remain concerning the long-term impact and long-term strategy of U.S. assistance to the LAF. There also appears to be a disconnect between components of this assistance package aimed at addressing U.S. counterterrorism objectives, those referring to building the capacity of the LAF, and our broader approach to a Lebanese government increasingly influenced by Hezbollah. “There are multiple kinds of U.S. assistance provided to Lebanon but these do not appear to be fully coordinated to advance both our immediate, as well as our long-term, interests. “I would hope that, in the future, these significant concerns will be addressed before any assistance package is submitted to Congress.”
>>> PAST WDR: Nov. 2004: A few questions frequently asked about the Watchdog Report
Question: How many staff do you have to produce the weekly reports and Extras?
Answer: The Watchdog Report is written and edited solely by the publisher and there is no other staff. I use tape & VHS recorders, public documents as well as physically being at the thousands of meetings that I attend a year to get the information, and after seven years of watching our community’s government. I try to weave the weekly news events with the past and present to give readers an inside look, at ground level of your government at work or its inaction. In my reporters vest and blazer I wear there is two professional tape recorders, one of which is digital with a 50 foot voice sensitivity, a disposable still camera with flash, binoculars with a 20 shot digital camera inside, a cell phone, a reporters notebook and a compact HD video camera just in case I need it.
Question: Who gets your report?
Answer: The report is sent to a complete cross section of our community and almost everyone gets it free. I have made a conscious effort to disseminate the information to all that might benefit in knowing more about what their elected leaders and government is doing. However, this has caused the lack of subscribers and funding but I believe it would be wrong to just give the inside information to a few and I have faith in the future that more people will realize the effectiveness of the Watchdog Report and step forward to sponsor my efforts.
The publisher’s attempt has been to connect the average citizen with their political institutions and perhaps helps restore their faith in public institutions and to be bold: The possibility of the county’s voters passing a general obligation bonds for their two major institutions, which at the moment, is still very doubtful. The Watchdog Report also goes to hundreds of journalists and news organizations around the globe and that is one aspect that makes the Watchdog Report unique. Many times after a story is broken here, another more substantial news organization will write the longer and more involved piece a few days later.
>>> Press release: Zogby Interactive: Poll of 2010 Voters Finds Majorities Still Support Spending For Infrastructure to Create Jobs On Other Issues, Voters More Likely to Favor GOP Positions
Fifty-six percent of people who voted in the mid-term election favor federal spending on infrastructure projects that create jobs, but they are also more likely to side with the Republican position on other key decisions the next Congress may face, according to the latest Zogby Interactive poll. The poll of 2,185 voters was conducted from Nov. 3-5, 2010. The finding on voter preference for job-creating infrastructure spending is consistent with our previous findings. For example, in July of this year, 53% of likely voters said that “federal spending targeted to create and maintain employment is a more important concern than the federal deficit.” Please click the link below to view the full news release on our website: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1919
>>> 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! 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
>>> Gov. Elect Scott taps Ferre & Marono for transition team, businessman not known as being warm and fuzzy
And away we go, Gov. Elect Rick Scott will be sworn in Jan. 4 and people and elected leaders around the state are still not sure what they will get in their new Republican governor that spent $73 million of his own money to garner the office. I have found a number of people that have spoken to him since the election but they note he is a businessman by nature and not warm and fuzzy as say Gov. Charlie Crist or even former Gov. Jeb Bush and how he relates with the 160-state legislators is still up in the air. Scott made “Jobs” his mantra during the campaign, a goal that Floridians want him to succeed at but how that occurs remains to be seen. Scott has brought in some veteran political operatives including locally former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who ran a doomed U.S. senate campaign that ended in August after the primary and he threw his support to Scott in this race. Another local Miami-Dade leader in the inner circle is Sweetwater Mayor Manuel Marono, first elected to office when he was 23, and he is a strong mayor of the municipality. At local campaign events he was constantly at Scott’s side along with state Rep. Eddy Gonzalez, R-Miami Lakes and could face some blow back if Scott continues to push a immigration law similar to what was instituted in Arizona, that has some in South Florida with its diverse demographics and ethnic groups wondering if they will be the target of police profiling.
>>> Check out Helen Ferre’s interview with local state lawmakers Issues – A Production of WPBT2 Issues has responded to the community’s need for in-depth representation of local concerns for almost 30 years, bringing together local leaders and …http://channel2.typepad.com/issues/
>>> Will Lydecker and Smith duke it out for Florida Democratic Party Chair?
Richard Lydecker, the Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair seems to be vying for possible the top state party post, and the former prosecutor is the law partner of former Miami Mayor Manuel “Manny” Diaz. The attorney represented Diaz when he was before the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission for a real estate transaction that had Diaz getting a scolding multi-page Letter of Reprimand years ago. Lydecker though may be thwarted since former state Rep. Rod Smith; recently Lt. Gov. candidate for Democrat Alex Sink in her failed run for governor is in the mix as well. However, Lydecker has a friend in U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL and he is supporting the attorney in his quest for the top leadership of the Florida Democratic Party. The opening in the party’s leadership came after Chair Karen Thurman, a former congresswoman stepped down after six-years in the chairmanship that included two successful election cycles in 2006 and 2008 but Democrats got a wake-up call Nov. 2 when Republicans swept the political field, including all the Florida cabinet posts.
>>> Press release: The Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation has chosen a new Chairman for 2011. Representative and Incoming House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera will replace Representative Juan C. Zapata as Chairman of the Delegation. “I thank my fellow Members for their confidence and the privilege to serve as Chairman of the Delegation. I look forward to working with our colleagues in County government and from around the state, to address Miami-Dade’s critical issues”, stated Chairman Lopez-Cantera upon being selected.
Representative Lopez-Cantera was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004 from District 113. In addition to serving as House Majority Whip during the 2009-2010 legislative term, he sat on the Rules and Calendar Council, the Elder and Long Term Care Committee, the Property Tax Reform Committee, and was Chairman of the Business Regulation Committee.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Hail new Commissioners Monestime & Bell, encore for Commissioners Heyman, Sosa, Souto, and Diaz, but is more change coming with possible recalls?
Let the new commissioner election celebration begin with the swearing in of new county Commissioner of District 2, Jean Monestime and District 8 Commissioner Lynda Bell on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the commission chambers at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, but with Mayor Carlos Alvarez and five other commissioners facing a possible recall in the future, a cloud will hang over the proceedings. Other Commissioners to be sworn in again are Sally Heyman, Rebeca Sosa who both won with no opposition, and Javier Souto and Jose “Pepe” Diaz easily defeated their opponents.
In Bell’s case, her opponent Eugene Flinn capitulated after incumbent Commissioner Katy Sorenson called Bell last week and congratulated her on the win. Flinn who had sought a recount and had lawyered up folded upon hearing the news dropping his challenge. Further, County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez spoke with the newly minted commissioner elect last week, since in the primary he supported Flinn, and any conversations after Bell is sworn-in would have had to be in the Sunshine and public. Monestime and Bell, have gotten their official photos taken, met with some county directors and Bell is expected to be “high energy” said one person watching her at county hall.
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Local Circuit Court Judge Israel Reyes has requested removing himself from the hearing regarding whether the County Clerk’s office run by Clerk Harvey Ruvin was following the county charter when an assistant clerk signed off on recall petition language calling for Mayor Carlos Alvarez to be recalled. The judge says he knows too many of the lawyers and people involved in the subsequent lawsuit challenging that delegation of authority brought by County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and the lawyers and judge will meet again Monday and try to resolve this issue and what judge will have to deal with this political hot potato. The mayor is finally fighting back after Norman Braman got over 112,000-signed recall petitions regarding Alvarez and the community has to wait to see how this plays out. However, Ruvin gets the bulk of his $80 million in funding from fees, but he does get some county money and that has critics wondering if he can be objective, though he assures the public that will be the case. For more information go to www.miamiherald.com or www.cbs4.com
Alvarez
http://www.justnews.com/station/269244/detail.html
What about Commissioner Sorenson’s final sayonara Monday night?
On Monday, County Commissioner Katy Sorenson will have her last good-bye party at La Loggia Restaurant located at 63 West Flagler downtown from 5:00 p.m., to 7:00 p.m. and friends and past supporters are said to be invited to the affair. She has returned her county car, a green Prius, and replaced it with a new red Camry hybrid her husband picked up for her.
>>> Seijas says still no e-mail, but she does Google
Commissioner Natacha Seijas long known for her lack of technological prowess after having her computers removed from her office back in 2002 said recently that while she may not use e-mail. She does know how to Google and is taking a cue from Barbara Jordan who once asked county staff after a scandal had broken, “don’t you Google these people?” After it was revealed the person in question, Dennis Stackhouse had not been all the person that he told people he was and is now awaiting trial after being charged by the state attorney’s office involving a failed Biomedical Park promised in Overtown.
Jordan
Seijas
The Watchdog Report ran into former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas Friday at lunch and I asked him point blank if he would run for mayor again in 2012 and he laughed and said, “no way.” Penelas, since leaving public office in 2004 after a failed Democratic Party bid for the U.S. senate but lost in the primary has kept a low profile but as I have noted in the past, the attorney does lobby for one client at county hall.
BROWARD COUNTY
>>> School board halts vote on Atty. Marko’s $266,000 emeritus contract, what are these five board members thinking?
When will it end in giving public servants at the top a golden parachute like was attempted by the Broward County Public School District board last week when it came to their long serving board attorney Ed Marko and a deal that was later tabled by Board Chair Jennifer Gottlieb, until the new board members are in place, but the fact this maneuver was tried in today’s economic reality defies belief to the general public. The school board members were to vote a $266,000 one-year contract for Marko to be the district’s general counsel emeritus, while replacing him with James Stokes after a national search had been done for Marko who first joined the district in 1968. However, Stokes’ compensation package being negotiated was between $180,000 to $216,000 says www.miamiherald.com and the attorney with 15-years of government law balked at having his predecessor looking over his legal shoulder for the next year, and he was right. Stokes broke off negotiations and now one of the nation’s largest public school district’s is without a new attorney and Marko seems to have not gotten the memo that times are tough, and with so many decades of public service under his belt, should just fade, fade away into retirement. For the public schools budget is being hammered and with federal stimulus funds running out in September. Broward faces even greater fiscal challenges and paying a unnecessary golden parachute to the attorney, sends not only the wrong message to teachers and taxpayers, but should be seen for what it is, an embarrassment.
What do we know about their finances?
The board members that were supporting the $266,000 sayonara package were school board members Benjamin Williams (Net worth $825,000), Maureen Dinnen (Net worth $843,667), Bob Parks (Net worth $1.26 million), Ann Murray (Net worth $378,555), and Kevin Tynan (Net worth $536,207). The Watchdog Report reviewed these people’s financial disclosure forms on file with the state and while nothing jumped out on the forms, readers can now see here what their net worth for the reporting period was.
>>> For more on this race go to Bob Norman’s http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/11/why_mayor_ken_keechl_lost.php#more or www.miamiherald.com
>>> Press release: FIVE CHARGED FOR STEALING PATIENT INFORMATION
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced the filing of a criminal complaint against defendants Albert Anthony Andrulonis, 26, of Davie, Raushanah Bowleg, 33, of Opa Locka , Mildred Alexis, 42, of Miramar, Natashi Orr, 36, of North Miami, and Jimmy Lee Theodore, 27, of Pembroke Pines, in connection with the theft of private patient information at Holy Cross Hospital (HCH) in Fort Lauderdale and a doctor’s office in Aventura. Four of the five defendants were arrested today and made their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenbaum. Defendant Jimmy Lee Theodore remains at large.
More specifically, the complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. If convicted of the mail, wire, and bank fraud charges, the defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years on each count. In addition, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison on each count of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information.
According to the complaint unsealed this morning, the defendants conspired to steal patient information from the Emergency Room at HCH and from a doctor’s office. The defendants then allegedly sold the patients’ information to others, who used the information to fraudulently obtain credit cards and bank accounts in the names of the patients. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, defendant Alexis recruited and paid an HCH employee, identified in the complaint as ORR, to steal HCH Emergency Room patient information. Alexis also recruited and paid defendant Bowleg, who was employed at a doctors office in Aventura, to steal patient information from his job. The patient information was then transferred to defendants Andrulonis and Theodore, who used it to open bank accounts and to obtain debit and credit cards in the patients’ names, effectively stealing their identities. >>> Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Ferrer also thanked Holy Cross Hospital for its assistance and cooperation during this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Lanigan. A complaint is only an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
>>> 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
>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2010: Vice Chair Marcus in spotlight, dodges political purge, had $138,000 net worth through Dec. 09
Commissioner Karen Marcus, the body’s vice chair is in the spotlight this week and she has survived the political purge the past few years when it came to public corruption and a rendezvous with federal prosecutors that has sent a number of her past peers to prison. Marcus has been active in her commission District 1 and the Watchdog Report has not heard of anything negative concerning the elected leader over the years.
What do we know about her finances?
Marcus through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $138,000 and she lists $60,000 in household goods. Her home is valued at $242,000, a rental property is valued at $98,000, and her two cars are worth $8,500 and $9,000. Her liabilities listed are mortgages owed $99,247, and $200,000. Her income for the year was $96,956 as a commissioner, and $300.00 came in from the Palmer Water Control District.
>>> Commission web page: Commissioner Marcus serves as a member of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, representing District One. She has also served as President of the Florida Councils Association and was President of the Florida Association of Counties from November 2000 to June 2002. Commissioner Marcus has served on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council since first being elected to the County Commission. For many years, she chaired the School Advisory Council for Palm Beach Gardens High School, during the time her daughters attended the school, having graduated from there herself.
Since she has been in office, she has supported the acquisition of more than 1,430 acres of park and recreation property in District One alone. Through various funding sources, parks and beaches such as Ocean Cay, Diamond Head/Radnor, Riverbend Park and many others will be available for all of us to enjoy. Northern Palm Beach County has 22 parks and has more public beachfront property than any district in the entire county. Riverbend Park is considered the Ajewel@ of the County=s parks system and is located along Florida=s first nationally designated AWild and Scenic River@, in Jupiter Farms. The Park boasts 684 acres of natural beauty and historical sites and is now open seven days a week. In February, 2008, Palm Beach County purchased the 230 acre Hatcher/Halparin property, which is located immediately west of Riverbend Park in Jupiter Farms. A portion of the property will be used as a natural area preserve and storage for the treatment of stormwater, and the remaining property will being added to Riverbend Park. An advocate to protect Palm Beach County=s natural resources, Commissioner Marcus supported the acquisition of 29,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land to protect it from development. She helped garner the public=s support to approve a bond issue in 1991 to purchase environmentally sensitive land, and again in 1999 to preserve environmentally sensitive lands and agricultural property in the Ag Reserve. Commissioner Marcus received the Nature Conservancy=s distinguished Public Service Award and the Nature Conservancy=s Grassroots Leadership Award… http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district1/biography.htm
MONROE COUNTY
>>> PAST WDR: JULY 2010: State Rep. Saunders facing opposition in McPherson, legislator had $687,000 net worth through 2009
State Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Monroe County, is in the spotlight this week and he is the minority leader in the Florida House. He is facing three challengers in his race for House District 120, and the highest profile candidate is Republican Morgan McPherson, a former mayor of Key West. The attorney qualified to run again by getting voters signatures, and his district covers south Dade to Key West. >>> Editor’s note: Saunders won the election Nov. 2 getting 55 percent of the vote.
What do we know about Saunders finances?
Saunders through Dec. 2009 had a net worth of $687,000 and he lists $15,000 in household goods. His home and different properties are worth $410,000; $220,000, and $195,000. He lists liabilities of $83,000, and $70,000 and the lawmaker received $30,336 as a legislator, and $20,000 came in from his law practice.
Saunders
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> New lobbying regulations toughest in state, Supt. Carvalho never knew he had so many friends; they don’t come-up just to say hi
Alberto Carvalho, the district’s superintendent at a board workshop Wednesday said when it came to lobbyist regulations. The district in the past had “much looser [regulations on the books] than the county in the old days,” but said that has changed since the board adopted new rules a few months ago and “ours is the most restrictive in the state now,” he believes. The nation’s fourth largest public school district with a $4.3 billion budget spends hundreds of millions in tax dollars in the course of the year and now people representing firms wanting to do business with the district will be tracked easier. Carvalho said that in the past the number of lobbyist registered was only a half of page, versus at Miami-Dade where it is roughly 22 pages with both sides used. “The list now is getting longer and longer with the heightened requirements,” said the superintendent.
However, the devil has been in the details and soon to be board Member Raquel Regalado said “You may run into someone” in the public and it is “a fine line” and suggested their may need to be a “warning,” before sanctions and she did not want the rules to give “venders a chilling effect” with “vendors not wanting to bid,” she thought. Carvalho joked the punishment was “not decapitation the first time” and there are a couple of violation warnings before the tough sanctions set in. He said people approach him and want to be his friend. “It happens to me all the time” and it is not just to say hello. “Have you considered this,” they will say and told the board members after hearing their comments. “I am experiencing it everyday,” and they didn’t need to say much more because he knew how “dangerous” the past practice was.
What about Carvalho’s salary?
Carvalho’s yearly salary is $275,000, he put a $36,000 pop on his salary on hold, and his administrative cabinet “rejected” any increases he said last week. The superintendent has to deal with around 343,000 students, and the public schools are the largest employer in Miami-Dade with around 40,000 employees versus at the county with has 28,000 employees. The pay gap between his counterpart at the county, Manager George Burgess who gets $422,000 is considerable and his pay is about $45,000 less than his predecessor Rudy Crew. Further, Carvalho, the superintendent of the nation’s fourth largest school district saw the financial writng on the wall back in September of 2008 when he took over the district, and reductions and cuts back then have kept the school system better prepared when it came to budget cuts. However, he continues to warn the elected leaders that when the federal stimulus dollars are over, roughly in September, the district could very well “go off the cliff,” he said at a past public meeting.
>>> Press release: EXPERIENCED TEACHERS WANTED — Are you an experienced teacher? Do you want to work in a profession where the rewards are priceless? Miami-Dade County Public Schools has just the opportunity for you. Biology, chemistry, physics, and science teachers are needed at schools across the District. You must be highly qualified and have a valid State of Florida teaching certificate. Other requirements may apply. To learn more about how you can teach in Miami-Dade County Public schools, visit www.jobs.dadeschools.net and select Recruitment Information.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Does fate of Jackson’s international health marketing services lie in hands of BCC; meeting this week could provide answer
The Jackson Memorial Foundation’s international program that has been detailed in the press www.miamiherald.com and faced harsh scrutiny by some Miami-Dade county commissioners and the Office of Inspector General since some public money pays for some of the overall budget. This activity has had Jackson Memorial Foundation CEO Rolando Rodriguez in the spotlight, but he may find the light on him may get brighter, after a recent amendment to his contract would give him a one-year severance package if he was cut out of the equation, at the international marketing arm. Overall, the CEO makes around $250,000 he told the Watchdog Report a few years back, when I inquired, but he has been under the gun since then, and how some money was being spent for entertainment.
At the Nov.4 county commission meeting, Commissioner Natacha Seijas railed that no public money should go to the foundation executive, and referenced his use of a “Montblanc” pen versus an ordinary pen like the one she uses. “Not a single penny [of public money] should go to the international fund,” she bluntly said. The veteran Commissioner even questioned whether “Mr. Rodriguez is still employed and getting a paycheck?” Commissioner Rebeca Sosa also expressed she had “so many concerns” and was looking at ways to “stop some of the things that are going on.” And while Commission Chair Dennis Moss tried to rein in the discussion at the commission meeting, saying a committee meeting the next day would sort out some of these issues before the item comes back to the board on Nov. 16, he said. “There will be a full discussion of the issue but at the end of the day the majority rules down here… and at the next meeting a full discussion and any recommendations will be heard.”
And while Jackson Memorial Foundation board Chair Alan Dimond, an attorney tried to mollify the commissioners at the Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Committee meeting Nov. 5 saying the organization is only trying to help the health trust and the injection of this public money helped prime the bigger financial pump of bringing paying international patients to the hospital complex for medical treatment. “[We] don’t want throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he said and the organization would make any documents available to the IG or others and they understood the need for “transparency.” However, Christopher Mazzella the county inspector general said when it came to the international arm, the “data was not accessible,” and future reports from his office will take to at least the end of the year or more and would be done in three phases while looking after the “broader view and performance” based on “competitiveness” and “best value” that he believes can only “be done by a competitive process,” said Mazzella.
Committee Chair Sally Heyman said, “Some commissioners [at the BCC meeting the day earlier] were so upset they wanted the department disbanded” and the county has a “vested interest here since $7.2 million” was in the county “budget we voted for” this past September for the activity. “How much money and what is the return” was the question Heyman said and commissioners need to know this information before they take any action. The former state legislator who recently was reelected unopposed said, “I still stand behind Jackson and its medical practitioners are second to none” and when she had a medical issue in Israel months ago. “I thought of getting back to Jackson [Memorial Hospital] for my medical treatment.” Commissioner Javier Souto closed the discussion saying, “I want the IG to continue his work and see what it brings,” said the reelected commissioner. The Foundation and its international marketing arm will be discussed this week by the board, it is expected to be quite a discussion among the body, that will have two new commissioners joining the discussion, and fireworks are expected. Editor’s note: Dimond had a editorial on the subject run in www.miamiherald.com Sunday, and here is the upcoming commission agenda item where there is 102603 a Resolution cosponsored by Commissioners Joe Martinez and Natacha Seijas: “RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO TERMINATE ITS AGREEMENT WITH FOUNDATION HEALTH SERVICES, INC., AND DIRECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST TO UNDERTAKE ALL EFFORTS TO: (I) DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DUE AND OWING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST FOR ANY UNAPPROVED OR IMPROPER EXPENDITURES AND TO RECOUP SUCH MONIES; (II) IDENITFY ANY FUNDS, EQUIPMENT, ASSETS OR PROPERTY DUE AND OWING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST AND RECOUP SUCH ITEMS; AND (III) TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE DIRECTIVES IN THIS RESOLUTION.” >> Forwarded to the BCC by BCC Chairperson due to lack of a quorum by Health, Public Safety & Intergovernmental Cmte www.miamidade.gov
 Heyman |
Sosa |
 Moss |
Souto |
 Diaz |
Seijas |
 Martinez |
>>> Zilber on Grove Playhouse board as well as important PHT
In a Oct.12 memo from George Burgess to county commissioners on the Coconut Grove Playhouse, and what its future plans might be since being closed in June 2006, with major debt obligations is a attached letter from the Coconut Grove Playhouse Board and one of the members is Martin Zilber, a PHT trustee. This is only important because when a trustee applies to the PHT board, they sign a document that state’s they will resign from any other county board since the PHT board is the ultimate public service slot. However, when Zilber, an attorney, was tapped five-years ago, he stayed on the county’s Cultural Affairs Council for another three years and it was not until he was up for renewal on the body, did the Watchdog Report make an issue of it, and he finally resigned, after a number of stories on the issue. At the time, I had people asking me if English was Zilber’s first language and how could he not understand the language he signed on the PHT application form and his constant use of his Blackberry at public meetings is a continuation of when he was a teenager and always talking on the phone. Editor’s note: this could be construed as not being a county board, but given Zilber’s past PHT attendance over the years, he may need to review his priorities and focus only on the health trust that blows through $4.5 million in cash a day and is fighting for its financial life.
>>> Press release: Next Thursday, Jackson South Community Hospital is hosting a ceremony celebrating the opening of Miami-Dade’s newest emergency room. The new Jackson South ER will officially open to the public on Monday, Nov. 22. You are invited to the ceremony at 6 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 18th. We hope you can be there.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> Will Commissioner Gort be the likely new chair? Sarnoff becomes just another commissioner
Commissioner Wilfredo “Willy” Gort will likely be the new chair of the commission and Mayor Tomas Regalado told the Watchdog Report when I asked him about whom the new chair now held by Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whom he picked at a time there was only Sarnoff and newly elected Commissioner and Vice Chair Frank Carollo. He said he would make that choice after the elections Nov. 2, but sources are saying Gort will be tapped for the post that controls much of the agenda the commissioners consider, but not much more in overall power. Sarnoff and Carollo had to wait for their fellow brethren last year to get on the body that saw the suspension or removal of two Miami commissioners and a protracted period of elections and run-offs, and finally the commission appointment of Richard Dunn to fill the District 5 seat after Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones was suspended a couple of times by Gov. Charlie Crist and is awaiting her trial on public corruption at the beginning of the year.
Gort a former Miami commissioner termed out in 2001 ran for mayor back then and was part of a pack of ten candidates but did not make the runoff election that had Mayor Manuel Diaz winning the prize, when he defeated former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre in the runoff. Gort a financial advisor and bond salesman got his undergraduate degree later in life and is very proud of that achievement. He knows Miami inside and out and was the chair of a city charter review committee that first met in his office conference room, but after I objected to the location in the late 1990s, these meetings were moved to the chambers, and eventually televised. I remember because I spoke first at the podium, when the cameras were actually turned on, that this was the first time Miami residents would be hearing the discussion. Further, Gort and I debated along with attorney Tucker Gibbs on WLRN Channel 17 hosted by Oscar Baisman back then with Gort supporting the proposed charter change that would have forced then Mayor Joe Carollo to have to run again if it had passed. On the show, he said it was not a “coup” and Gibbs and I argued against the new legislation. Gort has mellowed since then and could be seen working the halls of county hall periodically over the years and was part of a pool of finance professionals used by the county.
What about Manager Migoya?
Miami Manager Carlos Migoya is saying sayonara after taking the helm of the city from former Manager Pete Hernandez on a temporary basis at the beginning of the year and he is a former banker that has worked for free. Mayor Tomas Regalado is looking for a replacement and the banker is expected to stay through the year said Regalado to www.cbs4.com
>>> 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 (Net worth $1.8 million), 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
>>> Ceremonial vice mayor post rotates every three months, but are new cards really necessary since only one Mayor Bower
Commissioner Michael Gongora is the new vice mayor of Miami Beach, a title that rotates every three months among the five-member commission and in the past, only Commissioner Jerry Libbin had new cards made with his new official title, but Gongora may have joined that bandwagon as well, and rotating commissioners to the post need to keep their egos in check. The issue may appear small since the title is ceremonial; there is in fact only one Beach Mayor, Matti Herrera Bower. And when I mentioned to her that I was doing a story on the role of the vice mayor, she wanted to stay out of any debate among commissioners on this subject, which was a diplomatic answer. However, given all the challenges the city and residents face with the down economy, commissioners should keep their perspective and eye on the prize, being the best-elected leader they can be for the residents that voted them into a position of power.
What about Bower in 2011?
The mayor also told the Watchdog Report Friday that she would seek another term next year in Nov. 2011. and was still enjoying being at the helm of the city, while she had lunch with a recently elected mayor in one of the small municipalities that borders the city.
>>> Commissioner Libbin speaker at Tuesday Breakfast Club
Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin will be the guest speaker at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, Nov. 16, 8:30AM – 10:00AM, David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach. >>> Since 1996, the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club has been gathering every Tuesday at 8:30AM at a local Miami Beach restaurant for informal, non-partisan discussions of issues – political, governmental, etc. It is not affiliated with any other organization. We are currently meeting at David’s Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, between Lincoln Road Mall and Macy’s (formerly Burdine’s). There is plenty of parking at that hour in the adjacent municipal parking lot. One orders from the menu or simply has coffee. Guest speakers range across the political, governmental, business, and social issues spectrum. Sessions are open to everyone. Simply show up. www.mbtmbc.com . To be placed on mailing list contact TuesdayMorningBreakfastClub@Yahoo. com.
CITY OF CORAL GABLES
>>> Gulliver Academy gets go ahead for major expansion after homeowner agreement, animated conversation on commission
Who knew an issue with Gulliver Academy located on Old Cutler would spawn such contention, though the commission Tuesday voted to approve an expansion and change in the schools Master Plan with the city. The school will also have police in the morning when students arrive and in the afternoon, a requirement the commission added, but the conversation on the dais was brisk and concerns about student safety were asked. The issues of schools in the area is constantly percolating with local residents and villages where these are located down Old Cutler Road and at this commission hearing residents, and attorneys voiced their pro or against the modification of the school’s master plan, that includes an agreement with a abutting home owners association. The Watchdog Report last week contacted the commissioners and Mayor Donald Slesnick, II asking about the final decision and Commissioner Maria Anderson wrote, “It passed as per the agreement and the Commission added an extra police officer at dismissal,” wrote the veteran commissioner first elected in 2001. The vote on the commission was 3 to 1 Tuesday with only Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, Jr., the only dissenting vote. The commission will take a final vote Dec. 14 and for more on the issue go to www.miamiherald.com
>>> Press release: CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS: BUY ONE, GET TWO FREE TICKETS FOR MIAMI HURRICANES vs. VIRGINIA TECH GAME -Special offer available to Coral Gables residents for November 20th college football game-
It’s great – to be – a Coral Gables resident… especially when you can get free tickets for a Miami Hurricane football game! Coral Gables residents will have a chance to buy one ticket (per resident) and receive two free tickets for the “Coral Gables Day” game between the Canes and the Virginia Tech Hokies scheduled for Saturday, November 20. Game time is still to be determined. The football showdown will take place at Sun Life Stadium, 2269 N.W. 199th Street in Miami Gardens. Thanks to a recently approved 20-year Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami, this special buy-one, get-two-free offer is available to Coral Gables residents only, with proof of residency at the time of purchase. This promotion is good for all available seating excluding suites and club seating. The Development Agreement, approved by the City Commission, stipulates that Coral Gables residents will receive this offer once a year and other special benefits such as free admission tickets for UM men’s and women’s basketball and men’s baseball games. More information on upcoming offers will be made available as arrangements are finalized. >>> Tickets will go on sale on Monday, November 8th and must be purchased in person at the Hurricane Ticket Office located at 5821 San Amaro Drive, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. This promotion is not available for online or phone ticket purchases. These special tickets will be available at the Ticket Office until Friday, November 19. For more information, call 305-284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES.
CITY OF DORAL
>>> Press release: City of Doral Presents the Mayor’s State of the City Address
The Honorable Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez invites Doral residents and business owners to attend the annual Mayor’s State of the City Address on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at 6:30 p.m., at the Miami Free Zone, 2305 NW 107th Avenue, Doral, FL 33172. – This momentous occasion, sponsored by the Miami Free Zone, Municipal Procurement Services, and Baptist Health South Florida, will not only serve to inform residents of the current condition and future plans of our prospering city but it will also showcase some of Doral’s most talented community members in an exciting line-up of performers, including Dr. Rolando Espinosa’s Orchestra, Doral Academy Preparatory Drum line and Cheerleaders, Doral Academy Elementary Choir and the City of Doral Singing contest winner Vanessa Echevarria. WHAT: Mayor’s Annual State of the City Address WHEN: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. – WHERE: The Miami Free Zone, 2305 NW 107th Avenue, Doral FL 33172, WHO: The Honorable Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez – Members of the City of Doral Council – Members of the Community.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
>>> The Urban Environment League Invites You to a Panel Discussion -November 17th -6 pm – Cocktail Meet-Up With Cash Bar -6:30 pm – 3 Course Dinner: Economics vs Visual Pollution: Mega Ad Towers and Public Media in Miami-Dade’s Future
The recent proposal for mega media towers raise questions about the public process, economic benefits and limits of signage in our area. Speakers: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez; Eston “Dusty” Melton, Consultant;
Mark Siffin City Square/Mega Tower Developer; Moderator: Gregory Bush -The Rusty Pelican on Virginia Key, $25 – Dinner 6:30 pm (tax & tip included) Program only at 7:00 pm FREE! Use Paypal at: www.urbanenvironmentleague.blogspot.com or bring a check or cash, RSVP A MUST: uelinfo@bellsouth.net – Phone: 786-472-0011
>>> Downtown Bay Forum luncheon Dec. 1, noon – Marriot Hotel – Speaker, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and moderated by Daniel Ricker, publisher of the Watchdog Report. For more information go to www.downtownbayforum.com
>>> Mango Strut meetings – Mini-Mango Rally/Meeting -Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm The Grove Spot, 3324 Virginia St, Coconut Grove >> Mini-Mango Rally/Meeting -Wednesday, November 24th at 7pm, The Grove Spot, 3324 Virginia St, Coconut Grove >> Mango Mixer/Meeting with the Coconut Grove Jaycees (The Original Mangoheads) Wednesday, December 1st at 7pm
Monty’s, 2550 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove. The Strut will be held Dec. 26 on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove.
>>> Press release: THE MARGULIES COLLECTION AT THE WAREHOUSE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC NOVEMBER 10TH, 2010 TO APRIL 30TH, 2011 WITH NEW EXHIBITION – The collection visiting hours are every Wednesday – Saturday from 11:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. – Extended hours during Art Basel and Art Miami: Tuesday, November 30th through Saturday December 4th 9 am- 4 pm, Sunday December 5th 9 am – 2 pm
AFRICA: Photography and Video – JENE HIGHSTEIN: Large Stone Carvings
MICHELANGELO PISTOLETTO: Broken Mirror Painting -CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS 1980-2010: Selections from the Margulies Collection including Vincent Desiderio, Oliver Dorfer, Jonathan Meese, Tal R, Christian Eckart, John Torreano, Massimo Antonaci and Fabian Marcaccio -BRIAN ALFRED: Digital Animation -NEW SCULPTURE: Chris Astley, Martin Boyce, Huma Bhabha, Mark Dion, Max Frisinger and Will Ryman – PERMANENT LARGE SCALE SCULPTURE: Magdalena Abakanowicz, Williem de Kooning, OlafurEliasson, Antony Gormley, Michael Heizer, Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt, Joan Mirό, Isamu Noguchi, George Segal, Richard Serra and Tony Smith >>> About the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse – The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse is a not-for-profit institution in Miami dedicated to the presentation of exhibitions and educational initiatives that explore contemporary art. Since its inaugural exhibition in 1999, the Warehouse has presented seasonal exhibitions of sculpture, photography, and video and installation art from the renowned collection of Martin Z. Margulies. The Warehouse is operated and funded by the Martin Z. Margulies Foundation, a thirty year resource for the study and enjoyment of the visual. The longtime curator of the collection is Katherine Hinds. Visitors are welcomed at the door for the price of a donation to the Lotus House Shelter for Homeless Women and Children. Adults $10.00, Miami Dade students are free of charge. For further information please call 305-576-1051 or visit our website at www.margulieswarehouse.com
EDITORIALS
>>> Release of 3,301 Miami-Dade employees’ salaries over $100,000 causes a stir, other public servants get less, performance must be the litmus test for pay
The recent release of Miami-Dade County employees making over $100,000 a year, all 3,301 of them is a revelation but understandable when you look at the culture, and while some may deserve this pay, it is the employees that get it but don’t perform to these pay levels that has to be adjusted. Over the years, I have written often about the fact that with now 28,000 employees, 30 percent of the public servants work like dogs, many times long into the night. Another 50 percent of the employees are what I call standard issue bureaucrats but about 20 percent “are just doing my time until my retirement,” a phrase I have heard fairly often over the past 14 years. Further, while people can argue that this pay is necessary to get the best administrators and attorneys to run the $7.3 billion government behemoth. One has to look at what we pay other public servants at both the state and federal level.
President Barack Obama is paid $400,000, has another $50,000 yearly expense account, $100,000 in a tax-free travel allowance, and roughly $19,000 for entertainment, and this compensation package was first instituted in 2001 after passing congress and being signed by then President Bill Clinton in 1999. And in Florida Gov. Charlie Crist makes, $132,191 as the state’s governor and that pay range applies to the other cabinet members, and while Florida Supreme Court judges get around $156,477, these salaries are no way near what is being paid to top county employees in South Florida.
Here in Miami-Dade, you have County Manager George Burgess making $422,118, strong Mayor Carlos Alvarez is getting $315,000, even a long serving commissioner aide is getting $135,000, and it seems the concept of public service has gone out the window when it comes to this compensation. County employees do have cache in the community, are given respect by residents since they are part of local government, but the money makes it seem like that is not enough, though it is for Crist and so many other public servants at all levels. Now that this information is out in the community, residents and taxpayers are making their own decisions on the matter, but if there ever was a time to double down and work harder and smarter, it is now. For being a public servant or elected leader also means the job is not a right, but a privilege, something that seems to have gotten lost over the past decades with some people in public service.
>>> PAST WDR: NOV. 2004: Congratulations Miami Commissioners, you finally get a raise
Tuesday’s elections in the city of Miami in the midst of a fierce thunderstorm with extensive lightning that brought out only 9% of the voters, did allow all the city’s charter items to pass, including paying commissioners $58,000. However, while the city’s leadership can say it is a victory; it was not a mandate with such a low voter turnout. Over the years in the community, numerous items have passed or failed because of low voter turnout and one of the best was in the mid 1990s when only 3% of the county’s voters went to the polls to change the name of Dade County to Miami-Dade County.
Further, in the case of Miami the effort was given some juice when commissioners approved $250,000 for the campaign but yet did not list any counter arguments in the flyers sent to residents. The flyers, written about in last week’s Watchdog Report stated if you wanted responsible government and responsible use of public lands. Voters had to vote yes.
The flyers were written in such a way that a no vote could mean the end of the city and a political apocalypse. The elected Miami leaders should be proud of what they were able to accomplish given a little luck but they should temper their glee, for when only 9% of a city’s voters turned out, any legislation passed should be taken with a grain of salt and definitely is not a mandate.
Commissioners deserved the raise since the job is practically a full time one and it will be interesting to see if they spend more time doing it. However, for now, the Watchdog Report offers a toast to the commission raise from $5,000. However, with it, the community’s bar of expectations for commissioners has risen and the city’s taxpayers hope leaders do not disappoint them now that they are getting fair pay.
>>> PAST WDR: SEPT. 2003: It is some ones money, government leaders and their administrations should remember that!
At the city of Miami Beach Special Commission meeting last week, one commissioner discussing the BayLink project said that how they voted was no problem since it was not the city’s money. Well commissioner, it is someone’s money and elected leaders and their administration should remember that fact.
The most egregious example of that thinking occurred back in 1999 at county hall when during a commission meeting former county aviation director Gary Delappa told county commissioners that concerning a $1.2 billion overrun and change in scope and plans at Miami International Airport that they needed not to worry since “its not county money.” At the time, the Watchdog Report publisher spoke as a citizen and said that I came from the private sector and if it had been me, I would have been on my knees begging to keep my job. Months later at a Metropolitan Planning Organization, when Delappa kept making the reference that it was not county money that had been lost. Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez finally cut him off saying, “Well Gary it is someone’s money and you had better find out whose it is.”
Public money is everyone’s money and be it federal, state or local tax dollars that money belongs to all of us and elected officials and their administrations should always remember that important fact. At a time, that security costs are going thought the roof, the frugal use of our tax dollars is even more critical and elected leaders must lift the bar in their stewardship of public funds and being more accountable for how this money is spent under their watch. The public puts their trust in their governments and elected officials should remember that if voters are not to remind them later at the polls.
LETTERS
>>> One reader on U.S. Sen. elect Rubio’s comment that Republican victory not a “mandate”
I hope that Marco Rubio knows he was not given a mandate by the votes. Half plus others did not want him to win. He only won because of the split of Crist/Meek voters. At least he is correct in saying Republicans have been given a second chance, not a mandate.
Merri Mann
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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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Copyright © of original material, 2010, Daniel A. Ricker
>>> 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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