Watchdog Report Vol.24 Vol.36 October 22, 2023: EST:05.05.00 I go & cover news when you cannot a community education resource free
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No.36, October 22, 2023, Celebrating May 5the, 2000: 24-years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist for eight years weekly. 05.05.00, I go when you cannot, for almost 22-years & a trusted free community education resource & news service, without the attitude.
>>> 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.)
>> I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GIVING MY READERS THE SCOPE OF INFORMATION THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT : Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan. If I get a little help, I will be able to carry on another year and I know many citizens have many demands asking for help. Overall, I am a very low-cost solo operation covering all your major public institutions like none’ve before me for 23 years free weekly. Thank you and please help if you can? I also had a medical issue with my hand and should be back to normal next week. I was also hit with some very bad financial news last week, hardly sleeping now. Read editorial for update on my life.
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD & SEEN ON The STREET
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
The beach’s commission passed a ordinance potentially arresting homeless on the streets, or camping, and no longer need to be warned of arrest if they refuse shelter. The issue is apparently the number one complaint residents have, say commissioners and the county’s homeless trust is making progress.
In August of 2022 the number of homeless in the bi-annual count was 167 homeless counted on the beach. This year in August 2023, it was 152 homeless, a-15 percent reduction from last year. And the trust is buying or refurbishing more permanent housing rather than shelters to reduce this problem that most counties nationwide don’t have with much higher homeless populations.
>>> Horrific attack on Israel, by Hamas killing & hostages by hundreds, stunning the globes leaders governments instability around world not helping:
JHS/UM 2023 annual operating agreement drops to $72.12 million, was in 2016 $127.844, hard negotiations involve CEO Migoya, county mayor’s office in deal, wasn’t always that way in 2000, as I followed process and it just drooped off and suddenly came to board. The WDR brings the underside of our public institutions in a unique way, allowing me to become a “institution,” said CBS reporter Joan Murray, which surprised me at the time. Wish me well in these inflationary times and lets pray for Isael’s people under siege. UPDATE: A Chaba in Coconut Grove is building a Security entrance on Main highway in Coconut Grove The world is watching in horror after Hamas in a sneak attack of Israel that has killed hundreds and hostages involved is playing out on the world stage. It makes the WDR less relevant, in the scheme of things. Especially true with two regional wars now and potentially Iran entering the conflict and has the nation on high alert and stress is unlike any before for most Americans.
Personally, between health and finances with many of my past supporters retiring, yet. Miami is as dysfunctional as ever, and only the arrests of BSO officers for PPP fraud can focus it elsewhere suggested Miami city attorney Vickey Menendez, in a conversation Thursday at city hall.
State of Florida:
>>> Twelve commissioners removed by Gov. since 1997,one twice, will many more follow this clean-up of Miami politics?
Here is a list of all the Miami Commission removed or suspended from office since 1997.They are Miller Dawkins, Humberto Hernandez(twice),Art Teele, Angel Gonzalez, Johnny Winton, Michelle Spence Jones (later reinstated), Miriam Alonso, Pedro Reberado, Demetrio Perez, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, most recently. The public is wondering if others will be charged as well since Miami has the so called “friends and family plan” often referred to at city boards where people get a break at the boards on their fines or punishment. Forced out police chief Art Acevedo mentioned the interference and use of government against political enemies by commissioners and interfering with police operations like code enforcement.
The authorities from the Broward state attorney’s office to Miami-Dade County state attorney working together have delved deep into the city and some wonder if years of corruption will finally be weeded out in this minority majority community. All the candidates running against DLP say they will fight the corruption at City Hall, where cozy relations with lobbyist is the rule of the day, with many sayings what’s the problem everyone is doing it, which is so true and blatant.
The commission Saturday decided not to appoint and to have a special election but to Dist. 1 in the Nov.7 municipal election already scheduled. This choice gives the suspended commissioner a good chance at being reelected despite the pending charges and has happened before. Editor’s Note: Hope to be back next week depending on finances, for another year achieved. Since I just had a birthday this month.
>>> The state’s pilot plan to use radioactive waste as aggregate in roads, could impact the governor’s presidential campaign, as water quality concerns could torpedo idea with public, For more go to:https://www.npr.org/2023/06/30/1185280180/florida-roads-radioactive-desantis-signs-law
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> The new Miami-Dade County clerk needs to change its web page for lobbyists. The system asks you to log in and search by name versus a complete list you can scroll through. It was updated Sept. 17, 2023, and is terrible. The city of Miami has an easy way to see the lobbyist names….
>>> GOP Congressman Carlos Gimenez is said to be not going to run for mayor this cycle, after rumors in media suggested he might, staying in the house for now.
>>>> When it comes to ethics you cannot be a little bit pregnant: Press release: Ethics Opinion Regarding Prohibitions on Elected Officials’ Outside Employment to be Considered The Commission reviewed a draft opinion and agreed to consider at its next meeting a formal opinion regarding prohibitions on elected officials’ outside employment when the employment involves contacts with the official’s city. The matter will be brought back to the Commission as a proposed formal opinion after consulting with the requestor and the Miami-Dade County League of Cities. The Ethics Commission was created in 1996 as an independent agency with advisory and quasi-judicial powers. It is composed of five members, serving staggered terms of fur years each. Through a program of training, outreach and enforcement, the Commission seeks to empower the community and bolster public trust. UPDATE: on outside employment with 31 mayors working outside employment I suspect it will go nowhere.
Public Health Trust
>>> Residents forget not-for-profit hospitals spend millions in charity care Baptist Health South Florida provided $487 million alone recently, Nicolas Children’s also contributing, reduces pressure on JHS, which in past did over 500 million.
The WD has been trying to find how much charity care JHS the public hospital gets and gets half-cent of sales tax to cover some of that which includes county funding in maintenance of effort. However, other hospitals are on their own regarding charity care and Baptist Health South Florida recently reported $487.9 million and one included my self when In was septic and a flip-of the coin if I survived said surgeon Dr. Jorge Rabaza at South Miami Hospital, which I went to. Since I was known at Jackson, with Dr. Roldan as CEO and was covering the trust monthly and watched her interview for the job.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools:
>>> The increase of new immigrant students to 21,000 is further testing the nation’s third largest public district. Board chair Rojas. She said last year the number was 13,000 new students from other countries but this year it is the higher number, and opportunities like the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, should be offered to these newcomers ,perhaps not aware in their countries, suggested Rojas to her board.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>> The Miami commission has a host of boards to fill with citizens some of which need special skills. There are pages of openings in the recent agenda and limits public input on these important boards from the finance committee to the audit committee all of which are a firewall of good governance to the public.
What about Little Havana being a drug hotspot?
Also, the increased presence of police in little Havana has reduced the drug traffic that was on the upswing recently said a Little Havana resident Brenda Betancourt to the WDR recently. The police issued 133 narcotic search warrants recently, and it has helped.
What about the different commission races and how low will they go?
Many of the candidates say they will fight corruption, a common refrain never followed through over the years and the public wants a true champion not complicit in the activity, which has been hard to achieve. The Miami Mayor Francis Suarez calls his PAC The Good Governance Initiative, while the man is under multiple agencies investigation. Former Miami Commissioner Wilfredo Gort is vice-chair Ironically of the Miam-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust, and he is the appointment of The County’s League of Cities and will fight limiting outside employment, in my opinion.
Editorial
If you weren’t here in 2000 you would not understand why I started the WDR back then and would become a Miami Heald columnist independent over a 8-year period as well as 100 shows on WLRN on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper, since 2000, thank you. If you weren’t herein 2000 you would not understand why I started the WDR back then and would become Miami Heald columnist independent over a 8-year period as well as 100 shows on WLRN on Topical Currents hosted by Joe Cooper, and “ISSUES” ON PBS since 2000, thank you all. As I have gotten olde I am questioning why I used $300,000 plus of my own money to do the WDR weekly for 23-years, but someone had to step up after political operative Phil Hammersmith said to me “You [expletive] little people we are going to crush you, he said, and later passed. For more on my life here is a national story of how it all began and what I have been through and became a community project. 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. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
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. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport
Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan.
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents of public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.
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To contribute to the WDR send and make it payable to Daniel A. Ricker
Daniel A. Ricker
3109 Grand Ave.#125
Miami, Fla. 33133