Watchdog Report Vol.24 No.28 August 20, 2023: EST:05.05.00 – I go when you cannot for 23-years free, a community education resource
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No.28, August 20, 2023, Celebrating May 5th,2000: 24 -years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald news & editorial columnist. 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 for 23 years free weekly. Thank you and please help if you can?
ARGUS REPORT: HEARD & SEEN ON The STREET
>>> Fake it till you make it when it comes to GOP debate stage for Mayor Francis Suarez, who considers himself a “unicorn candidate,” says “option” should be to bomb Cuba, not registering in national polls, people wonder if Miami all sizzle, given long colorful history around the nation.
The man claims to have made the GOP debate requirements, not confirmed by the party. He has an extensive record of lack of leadership, especially the commission which gives candidates opposition research a trove of negative examples of the turmoil of Miami politics. He says he’s a generational figure, and believes attacking Cuba “ should be an option,” citing past presidents actions Panama and other countries. He also believes what people do in off hours is there business. He told me this as a commissioner years ago at a restaurant in Coconut Grove having drinks but with a Miami police officer, why I remember this. However, the numerous investigations into him will emerge in the national press if his candidacy catches fire but for now it’s just embers. The man is considered a cheer leader of the city and cryptocurrency now in decline and he has a spoiled kid perception being the scion of the city’s first Cuban mayor growing up and revered by many exiles. Editor’s note I write about the man since I have known him since he first tried to get a slate for the local GOP executive committee back in 2004.He wanted to get his dad elected as the county’s party chair after the father lost a county commission race, back then and backed Coral Gables mayor Vince Lago years ago.
Two losers Florida education Commissioner Diaz & Dr. Dotres, both failed to show-up at townhall in Miami Garden’s, discuss recent dept. Education decisions: African American studies wording inflaming the community, demonstrations at school board meeting, will impact De Santos presidential campaign?
Florida education commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., skipped a packed community townhall last week in Miami Gardens. The past state legislator never showed and neither did district Supt. Dr. Jose Dotres. Diaz a strong supporter of charter and works at for profit Doral College ( had a net worth in 2022 of $668,521.in 2012 his net was – $11,346 and 2023 is not online yet) The man along with Antares Flores, R- Hialeah helped the school get accredited and has Diaz’s wife working there. Diaz pushed De Santis’s Woke agenda in the legislature last year. The governor doesn’t realize this posture will hurt him as a presidential campaign taking major hits in the national polls.
May we all pray for the Americans on Maui Hawaii where fire destroyed and took over 93 people in the past paradise island in the South Pacific. May aid come soon to the island and residents.
>>>> Miami-Dade County renters are in for a shock as landlords are getting hit with their new property taxes after a 12 percent rise in property values now becoming on land value. The county is proposing a 1 percent tax increase but is far outweighed by the land value, and I suspect in September renters losing their homes will rise at a rapid rate. Through rent increases to cover the large, combined taxing entities from the school board to the library system, plus the cost of insurance coverage, one Mc Mansion spikes all homes
STATE OF FLORIDA: Now we learn that taxpayers are paying $9 million for De Santos security while campaigning & probable pertains to Miami Mayor Suarez as well?
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Government internal hibernation till budget hearings in Sept now holding budget townhall meetings around the county to read budget click here: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/management/budget/home.page
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: District should consider having AED on playing fields & school nurses have Narcan for fentanyl overdoses, one life saved worth it
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
CITY OF MIAMI: Taxpayers racking up major legal fees, what is cost of mayor’s presidential campaign security, who paying?
EDITORIAL
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
SPONSORS
Summary of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust
PRESS Release: Meeting Held on July 20, 2023
MIAMI, FL (July 20, 2023) The Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust
held a public meeting on July 20, 2023. The following actions took place:
Former City of Miami Community Liaison Stipulates to Probable Cause Finding
C 23-05-02: Anabel Castillo, a former City of Miami Community Liaison in the Office of City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Prohibition on Outside Employment and the Exploitation of Official Position Prohibited sections of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. A COE investigation revealed that Ms. Castillo failed to file, under oath, an annual report indicating the source of her outside employment, the nature of the work being done, and any amounts or type of money or other consideration received as required by the Ethics Code. Specifically, Ms. Castillo failed to report that, in 2020 and 2021, she engaged in paid outside employment by working for two political action committees and for the 2020 Reinier Diaz de la
Portilla Campaign for Miami-Dade County Commissioner. Furthermore, Ms. Castillo exploited her city position by using a City of Miami vehicle to transport herself to and from campaign[1]related activity in the City of Miami Beach. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. Castillo will be issued a Letter of Instruction and will be required to pay a fine in the amount of $1,500.
Former Manager of Little Haiti Cultural Center Stipulates to Probable Cause Finding
C 23-28-06: The former manager of the City of Miami’s Little Haiti Cultural Center, Sandy Dorsainvil, stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Miami-Dade County Prohibition on Outside Employment section of the Miami[1]Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance.
A COE investigation revealed that Ms. Dorsainvil failed to file, under oath, an annual report, indicating the source of her outside employment and any amounts or type of money or other consideration received as required by the Ethics Code. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. Dorsainvil will be issued a Letter of Reprimand
and will be required to pay a fine in the amount of $500.
Former City of Miami Beach Supervisor Stipulates to Probable Cause Finding
C 23-22-06: Former City of Miami Beach Department of Public Works Control Room Supervisor, Montrice Nichole McClain, stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered
into a settlement agreement for violating the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. A COE investigation revealed that Ms. McClain failed to file, under oath, an annual report indicating the source of her outside employment and any amounts or type of money or other consideration received as required by the Ethics Code. Ms. McClain also violated the Miami[1]Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance by utilizing City of Miami Beach resources in furtherance of her outside employment activities. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. McClain will be issued a Letter of Instruction and will be required to pay a fine in the amount of $1,500.
Complaints Filed Against Miami-Dade County Mayor Found Not Legally Sufficient
C 23-23-04: A complaint filed against Miami-Dade County Mayor, Danielle Levine Cava, was found Not Legally Sufficient, and dismissed. The complaint alleged that Mayor Levine Cava violated the County Charter’s Citizens’ Bill or Rights, County Code of Ordinances, state and federal law, and the United States Constitution when she allegedly abused her public position by failing to protect a then County employee from losing his County job. A separate complaint, C 23-25-05, also filed against Miami-Dade County Mayor, Danielle Levine Cava, was found Not Legally Sufficient and dismissed. This complaint alleged that Mayor Levine Cava violated sections 1,2, and 5 of the County.
Charter’s Citizens’ Bill or Rights, state law, and the United States Constitution when she allegedly failed to train or supervise, the acts or omissions of County employees.
City of Miami Community Liaison Stipulates to Probable Cause Finding
C 23-07-02: Julio Guillen, a City of Miami Community Liaison in the Office of City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Prohibition on Outside Employment section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. A COE investigation revealed that Mr. Guillen failed to file, under oath, an annual report indicating the source of his outside employment, the nature of the work being done, and any amounts or type of money or other consideration received as required by the Ethics Code. Specifically, Mr. Guillen failed to report that, in 2020 and 2021, he engaged in paid outside employment by working for two political action committees and for the 2020 Renier Diaz de la Portilla Campaign for Miami-Dade County Commissioner. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Mr. Guillen will be issued a Letter of Instruction and will be required to pay a fine in the amount of $500.
Lobbyist Stipulates to Finding of Probable Cause
C 23-21-04: Lobbyist Melinda Gentile stipulated to a finding of Probable Cause and entered into a settlement agreement for violating the Principal and Lobbyist Registration section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics Ordinance. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ms. Gentile will be required to pay $500 in investigative costs and the Complaint will be dismissed with a Letter of Instruction.
Hearing Dates Re-set for Case Involving City of Miami Commissioner
C 22-52-09: The Ethics Commission re-set the contested hearing dates for a complaint filed against City of Miami
Commisioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla. The new hearing dates are January 31 – February 2, 2024. The Ethics Commission previously unanimously found Probable Cause that Commissioner Diaz De la Portilla, violated the Exploitation of Official Position Prohibited section of the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and Code of Ethics
Ordinance.
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>> Miami Northwestern Senior High, known as the Bull’s, added its 19th Florida state championship for Track & Field events, as well as many being good students as well, honored at school board recently.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST:
CITY OF MIAMI: Courts uphold commissioner redistricting map, Carollo gets home in district but may have a lien on it. With the court’s support commissioners could become out of control, feeling invincible on dais.
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report published 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. 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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FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu
THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov
To contribute to the WDR send and make it payable to Daniel A. Ricker
Daniel A. Ricker
3109 Grand Ave.#125
Miami, Fla. 33133