Dan Ricker's Watchdog Report picked up an interesting tidbit about lobbyists that would have otherwise gone unreported. The Miami Dade County Commission, last week after "... a lengthy discussion eventually settled on four lobbying firms with three getting $190,000 each (Alcalde & Fay, Patton Boggs, and Greenberg Traurig) and the fourth Akerman, Senterfitt & Edison will be paid $150,000 a year." (Why does the county need more than one law firm to lobby in DC? Never mind.)
The purpose of lobbying by the county in DC is to obtain as much funding as possible for Florida's most populous county while rewarding the maximum number of campaign contributors. The county commissioners, with a majority of Republicans, may not have gotten the message from Governor Scott: taking money from the federal government isn't a Tea Party kind of thing. But money precedes politics and the lobbying firms all bring something special to the table. Patton Boggs is a blue blood DC based firm, with deep ties to Congress and the Executive Branch, Alcalde & Fay (Sylvester Lukis) specializes in representing Florida, and Greenberg Traurig (Jack Abramoff, Marvin Rosen, Miguel De Grandy etc.) is the home-grown, land use and "environmental" practice black hat law firm, that sunk its roots in Miami Dade with its a la carte menu for converting zoning of farmland for suburbs to reward campaign contributors.
It is interesting that the fourth law firm, Akerman is being paid $40,000 per year less, inviting its own speculation.
Even more interesting is why GOP anchored, local law firm Cardenas Partners was "jettisoned after being ranked fifth though Commissioners Bruno Barreiro (Net worth $728,000) and Jose “Pepe” Diaz (Net worth $164,000) fought hard verbally to keep Al Cardenas in the mix." It is clear enough why Pepe Diaz fought hard for Cardenas: he received a ton of help from the law firm with Diaz' power play in the Florida Keys for Calusa Campground (see our archive, under Pepe Diaz). Barreiro? Maybe one of our readers can comment. According to Ricker, "... the attorney also ran afoul of Commissioner Natacha Seijas." Now there's a plump subject ripe for EOM's attention.
"Seijas told commissioners during the discussion she was offended when the former Florida Republican Party Chair under Gov. Jeb Bush, suggested to her the federal lobbying contract should just be “split five ways,” she told commissioners and she railed sternly that the comment crossed the line in her opinion." One thing you can be sure about Seijas: when she publicly says a comment crosses the line, you can be certain the line was drawn somewhere else, in the back hallway or in the office of Terry Murphy (her chief of staff).
The question: why is Seijas turning against Cardenas who represents the closest tie to Jeb! and by extension, to Marco Rubio and federal appropriations. It would be a worthwhile to find out what is the mind of the de facto chair of the county commission. Seijas is in a fight for her political life. She was deeply irritated a few weeks ago when fellow commissioners like Barreiro, Martinez and Diaz rejected her effort to block her upcoming recall from being tied to the same recall ballot as an unpopular mayor. Would rejecting Cardenas serve as a slap in the face of her fellow commissioners? Maybe.
But perhaps there is another reason. Cardenas, when patron Jeb! was governor, obtained the contract to privatize the services of the general counsel's office at the South Florida Water Management District. It was a critical juncture in the district's relationship with Miami-Dade County, and the county's consumptive use permit for new sources of fresh water to feed land speculators was under review. Seijas wields her supreme authority at the county through infrastructure including water and sewer. The District came down hard on the county for its incredibly wasteful water use policies. Seijas, in particular, was taken to the wood shed; an unprecedented event that caused amazement. The District told Seijas in no uncertain terms, she would have to change her ways if the county expected to receive any additional water allocations through its massive consumptive use permit.
Today, those arrangements-- that Cardenas represented-- are being unravelled by the Gov. Scott upheaval in Tallahassee. Scott and the right wing conservatives are poised to dismantle the influence of state agencies and undo past agreements on water supply. Perhaps it is wrong to attribute Seijas' scolding of Cardenas to confidence on her part that the keys to the county casino bank are turning back to her, but there is more to cutting out Cardenas from the lobbying work than politics. In the end, it is all about money.
Showing posts with label Dan Ricker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Ricker. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Carlos Migoya wants the Public Health Trust Post. By Geniusofdespair
According to the Ricker Report and Miami Today, Former Miami City Manager Carlos Migoya said he is considering taking the job vacated by Enedia Roldan. I wonder what George Burgess thinks of his competition? Out of the two, I vote for Migoya. He would stand up to Governor Deadhead Scott and the County Commissioners. Burgess would just try to broker a deal...as always. Apparently in Miami Dade County, you need NO hospital experience to run a hospital empire.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Get well and speedy recovery, Dan Ricker! by gimleteye
Ace civic journalist, Dan Ricker, is recovering from major surgery at home we just learned. Ricker, an intrepid observer of the local scene, is publisher and editor and writer of the Watchdog Report. Among his invaluable contributions: the mysteries of Jackson Hospital and the Public Health Trust. Dan was alone in calling early warnings and attention to this keystone institution's impending financial disaster. In a conversation today, Dan noted his illness and first-hand experiences with our health care system's failures. It is shameful that a first-world nation, with first-world medical care, can save uninsured patients and kill them with costs. Maybe Dan will tell his story once he has recovered. Meanwhile, the Ricker Report is on hold. Wish Dan well at: watchdogreport1@earthlink.netSunday, April 12, 2009
Dan Ricker warns Sunshine Law Violators: "I Am Not A Potted Plant". By Geniusofdespair
Straight from The Watchdog Report (To Subscribe email: watchdogreport1@earthlink.net):
"The Watchdog Reporter is not a potted plant and elected leaders need to realize that if they are going to have conversations with each other, concerning policy issues in front of me. In the future, I will take out my video recorder and record the events. At the Miami-Dade commission meeting Tuesday commissioner Natacha Seijas had extended conversations from the dais with both Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Audrey Edmonson, and at one point Seijas had her hand covering her mouth so you could not even see what she was saying and if elected leaders hate the Florida Sunshine Amendment so much and feel it must be flaunted, then resign."
"The Watchdog Reporter is not a potted plant and elected leaders need to realize that if they are going to have conversations with each other, concerning policy issues in front of me. In the future, I will take out my video recorder and record the events. At the Miami-Dade commission meeting Tuesday commissioner Natacha Seijas had extended conversations from the dais with both Commissioners Barbara Jordan and Audrey Edmonson, and at one point Seijas had her hand covering her mouth so you could not even see what she was saying and if elected leaders hate the Florida Sunshine Amendment so much and feel it must be flaunted, then resign."
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Complete Waste of Time on July 18th. By Geniusofdespair
According to the Watchdog Report by Dan Ricker:
"The County Commission is having a Special Commission Meeting on July 18 to discuss recommended changes to the Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter that includes recommendations from both a county charter review committee and an ethics commission task forces recommendations." Here is the link to the 42 page Charter Review Final Report.
It might be good fun to watch it on TV to see how they weasel out of making any substantive changes that were recommended by the Task Force. I am so sure nothing much positive will happen: I promise not to call Natacha "Vile" ever again if it does.
The executive summary of recommendations follows:
The Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force (CRTF) has accomplished its charge, and adopted
its eighteen (18) final recommendations regarding the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter.
This Final Report describes the process of the Task Force deliberations, summarizes factual
investigations and provides a brief synopsis of the rationale for the final recommendations.
Following the conclusion of this report, dissenting opinions are provided.
October 31, 2007 Final Recommendations
In its October 31, 2007 Initial Report, the Task Force made the following recommendations:
1. The Public Safety Director should remain an appointed position. However, the Task
Force recommended that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether they
wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that: the Public Safety Director (i.e.
Sheriff, Police Chief) shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at
the expiration of each term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be
vetoed by a super majority (two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Public
Safety Director could be removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple
majority vote of the County Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a
super majority (two-thirds) vote. Once appointed, that person shall carry out the
functions of the office independent of the Mayor and County Commission except for
funding and budgeting matters. (Motion passed: 10-5)
2. The Supervisor of Elections should remain an appointed position. However, the Task
Force recommended that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether they
wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that: the Supervisor of Elections
shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at the expiration of each
term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be vetoed by a super majority
(two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Supervisor of Elections could be
removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple majority vote of the County
Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a super majority (two-thirds) vote.
Once appointed, that person shall carry out the functions of the office independent of the
Mayor and County Commission except for funding and budgeting matters. (Motion
passed: 10-5)
3. The position of Property Appraiser become an elected position. (Motion passed: 12-4)
4. The Task Force recommends that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether
they wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that County Commissioners shall
receive a population based salary provided by Florida’s Statutory formula (approximately
$91,995); Commissioner’s terms in office shall be limited to two, four-year terms; and
Commissioners shall be prohibited from having outside employment. (Motion passed:
14-0)
The Task Force further recommends that the Home Rule Charter not be amended with respect
to the following issues:
5. The Tax Collector remain as an appointed position. (Motion passed unanimously: 14-0)
6. The manner in which the Board of County Commissioners is currently comprised shall
remain as is, with 13 single-member Commission Districts. (Motion passed: 14-1)
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008 Page 1
January 29, 2008 Final Recommendations
Since the release of its Initial Report, the Task Force continued its work, and on January 17,
2008 adopted the following additional final recommendations. The Task Force further
recommends that:
7. The County Commission appoint an independent Task Force to prepare and submit a
comprehensive plan in 2009 for countywide incorporation, accomplished through
annexation and/or incorporation, subject to amendments or changes by two-thirds vote
of the County Commission, and that such plan be placed on the ballot for all citizens to
vote on at a general election in 2010. (Motion passed: 9-5)
8. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to empower future Charter Review Task Forces to place proposed Charter
amendments directly on the ballot, if the proposed Charter amendment is approved by a
two-thirds vote of the Task Force members present; and to provide that the appointment
process for future Task Force members be the same as contained in Sections 1 and 2 of
the resolution creating the current Charter Review Task Force, with the exception that
the provision allowing Commissioners to appoint themselves to the Task Force be
deleted. (Motion passed: 9-5)
9. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the time period to collect signatures for proposed Charter
amendments and citizens’ initiatives be extended to 120 days and that proposed Charter
amendments must only be placed on the ballot during a general election. (Motion
passed: 14-0)
10. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to require the County Commission to hold a public hearing on any citizen
initiated changes to the Home Rule Charter on the date the County Commission sets the
election date on the proposed Charter amendment. A public hearing shall also be
required for any Charter amendment initiated by the County Commission. (Motion
passed: 14-0)
11. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether of the Home Rule Charter should
be amended to provide that the County Commission hold a public hearing on the
proposed initiative at the time a citizen initiative petition is presented to the County
Commission for possible passage or repeal of an ordinance. (Motion passed: 14-0)
12. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the County Commission shall adopt no resolutions or
ordinances regulating the citizen petition procedures as defined in the Home Rule
Charter. (Motion passed: 14-0)
13. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to reflect that the certification and petition gathering provisions contained in
Article 8 of the Home Rule Charter should also govern citizen initiative petition
procedures to amend the Home Rule Charter. (Motion passed: 14-0)
14. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the Clerk of the Court, rather than the County Commission,
approve as to form any citizen initiative petition. (Motion passed: 14-0)
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008 Page 2
15. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that bid protests shall be heard by hearing officers charged with
making final determinations based on findings of facts and conclusions of law; that the
appeal process shall be governed by the rules of procedure set forth in State of Florida’s
Administrative Procedure Act; and that the findings of the hearing officer would be final,
subject to appeal by a disappointed bidder to the County Commission solely on an
abuse of discretion standard. (Motion passed: 8-6)
16. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that any Comprehensive Development Master Plan application
requesting that the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) line be moved must be
approved by a vote of at least ¾’s of the County Commissioners then in office; that every
five years an independent body shall be constituted to conduct a comprehensive and
holistic study as to where the UDB line should be drawn; and that if a change in the
location of the UDB line is recommended by such independent body and such change in
location is approved by a simple majority vote of County Commissioners present, such
recommendations must be submitted for approval by the electorate in the form of a
referendum. (Motion passed: 9-5)
17. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that all zoning applications, including variances and setbacks, be
heard first by the Community Councils with any appeals from those decisions being
heard by hearing officers charged with making final determinations based on findings of
fact and conclusions of law, that the appeal process shall be governed by the rules of
procedure set forth in the State of Florida’s Administrative Procedure Act and that the
findings of the hearing officer would be final subject to appeal to the County Commission
solely on an abuse of discretion standard. (Motion passed: 14-0)
18. That the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether Section 9.07 of the Home
Rule Charter shall be amended in the following manner (Motion passed: 17-0):
A. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by a resolution adopted by the
Board of County Commissioners or by petition of electors numbering not less
than ten percent of the total number of electors registered in Dade County at the
time the petition is submitted to the Clerk. Initiatory petitions shall be certified in
the manner required for initiatory petitions for an ordinance.
B. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by initiatory petitions of electors
shall be governed by the following procedure:
1. The person proposing the amendment shall submit to the Clerk a
proposed petition, in the form specified in section (2) below, and
proposed ballot language, including a title. The Clerk shall without delay
approve as to form a petition for circulation in one or several copies as
the proposer may desire.
2. The petition shall be printed in 14-point font and contain the following
information: (a) the title and text of the proposed amendment, printed in
English, Spanish and Creole; (b) a statement in each petition circulator's
own handwriting, setting forth his or her own name, both in printed and
signature form; (c) the residence address of the circulator; (d) dates
between which all the signatures on each individual petition were
obtained; and (e) a sworn statement that the circulator personally
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008
circulated the petition and witnessed each signature as it was being
written.
3. Initiatory petitions shall be certified in the manner required for initiatory
petitions for an ordinance.
4. The Board of County Commissioners shall call an election to be held
within 60-120 days of the date that a certified petition is presented to the
County Commission. Such election shall be called in conjunction a
countywide with the next scheduled general election. ;however, if no
countywide election is scheduled to occur within 60-120 days or
presentation, a special election on the position shall be called.
C. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by the Board of County
Commissioners at any time. Elections on charter amendments proposed by the
Board shall be held not less than 60 nor more than 120 days after the Board
adopts a resolution proposing any amendment.
D. The result of all elections on charter amendments shall be determined by a
majority of the electors voting on the proposed amendment.
E. All current ordinances and resolutions regulating initiative petitions shall be
repealed.
Official minutes of all CRTF meetings and public hearings are available at
www.miamidade.gov/charterreview .
"The County Commission is having a Special Commission Meeting on July 18 to discuss recommended changes to the Miami-Dade Home Rule Charter that includes recommendations from both a county charter review committee and an ethics commission task forces recommendations." Here is the link to the 42 page Charter Review Final Report.
It might be good fun to watch it on TV to see how they weasel out of making any substantive changes that were recommended by the Task Force. I am so sure nothing much positive will happen: I promise not to call Natacha "Vile" ever again if it does.
The executive summary of recommendations follows:
The Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force (CRTF) has accomplished its charge, and adopted
its eighteen (18) final recommendations regarding the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter.
This Final Report describes the process of the Task Force deliberations, summarizes factual
investigations and provides a brief synopsis of the rationale for the final recommendations.
Following the conclusion of this report, dissenting opinions are provided.
October 31, 2007 Final Recommendations
In its October 31, 2007 Initial Report, the Task Force made the following recommendations:
1. The Public Safety Director should remain an appointed position. However, the Task
Force recommended that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether they
wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that: the Public Safety Director (i.e.
Sheriff, Police Chief) shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at
the expiration of each term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be
vetoed by a super majority (two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Public
Safety Director could be removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple
majority vote of the County Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a
super majority (two-thirds) vote. Once appointed, that person shall carry out the
functions of the office independent of the Mayor and County Commission except for
funding and budgeting matters. (Motion passed: 10-5)
2. The Supervisor of Elections should remain an appointed position. However, the Task
Force recommended that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether they
wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that: the Supervisor of Elections
shall be appointed by the Mayor for a period of four (4) years, at the expiration of each
term subject to re-appointment; that the appointment can be vetoed by a super majority
(two-thirds) vote of the County Commission; that the Supervisor of Elections could be
removed by the Mayor subject to the consent of a simple majority vote of the County
Commission; or by the County Commission subject to a super majority (two-thirds) vote.
Once appointed, that person shall carry out the functions of the office independent of the
Mayor and County Commission except for funding and budgeting matters. (Motion
passed: 10-5)
3. The position of Property Appraiser become an elected position. (Motion passed: 12-4)
4. The Task Force recommends that the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether
they wish to amend the Home Rule Charter to provide that County Commissioners shall
receive a population based salary provided by Florida’s Statutory formula (approximately
$91,995); Commissioner’s terms in office shall be limited to two, four-year terms; and
Commissioners shall be prohibited from having outside employment. (Motion passed:
14-0)
The Task Force further recommends that the Home Rule Charter not be amended with respect
to the following issues:
5. The Tax Collector remain as an appointed position. (Motion passed unanimously: 14-0)
6. The manner in which the Board of County Commissioners is currently comprised shall
remain as is, with 13 single-member Commission Districts. (Motion passed: 14-1)
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008 Page 1
January 29, 2008 Final Recommendations
Since the release of its Initial Report, the Task Force continued its work, and on January 17,
2008 adopted the following additional final recommendations. The Task Force further
recommends that:
7. The County Commission appoint an independent Task Force to prepare and submit a
comprehensive plan in 2009 for countywide incorporation, accomplished through
annexation and/or incorporation, subject to amendments or changes by two-thirds vote
of the County Commission, and that such plan be placed on the ballot for all citizens to
vote on at a general election in 2010. (Motion passed: 9-5)
8. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to empower future Charter Review Task Forces to place proposed Charter
amendments directly on the ballot, if the proposed Charter amendment is approved by a
two-thirds vote of the Task Force members present; and to provide that the appointment
process for future Task Force members be the same as contained in Sections 1 and 2 of
the resolution creating the current Charter Review Task Force, with the exception that
the provision allowing Commissioners to appoint themselves to the Task Force be
deleted. (Motion passed: 9-5)
9. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the time period to collect signatures for proposed Charter
amendments and citizens’ initiatives be extended to 120 days and that proposed Charter
amendments must only be placed on the ballot during a general election. (Motion
passed: 14-0)
10. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to require the County Commission to hold a public hearing on any citizen
initiated changes to the Home Rule Charter on the date the County Commission sets the
election date on the proposed Charter amendment. A public hearing shall also be
required for any Charter amendment initiated by the County Commission. (Motion
passed: 14-0)
11. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether of the Home Rule Charter should
be amended to provide that the County Commission hold a public hearing on the
proposed initiative at the time a citizen initiative petition is presented to the County
Commission for possible passage or repeal of an ordinance. (Motion passed: 14-0)
12. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the County Commission shall adopt no resolutions or
ordinances regulating the citizen petition procedures as defined in the Home Rule
Charter. (Motion passed: 14-0)
13. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to reflect that the certification and petition gathering provisions contained in
Article 8 of the Home Rule Charter should also govern citizen initiative petition
procedures to amend the Home Rule Charter. (Motion passed: 14-0)
14. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that the Clerk of the Court, rather than the County Commission,
approve as to form any citizen initiative petition. (Motion passed: 14-0)
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008 Page 2
15. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that bid protests shall be heard by hearing officers charged with
making final determinations based on findings of facts and conclusions of law; that the
appeal process shall be governed by the rules of procedure set forth in State of Florida’s
Administrative Procedure Act; and that the findings of the hearing officer would be final,
subject to appeal by a disappointed bidder to the County Commission solely on an
abuse of discretion standard. (Motion passed: 8-6)
16. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that any Comprehensive Development Master Plan application
requesting that the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) line be moved must be
approved by a vote of at least ¾’s of the County Commissioners then in office; that every
five years an independent body shall be constituted to conduct a comprehensive and
holistic study as to where the UDB line should be drawn; and that if a change in the
location of the UDB line is recommended by such independent body and such change in
location is approved by a simple majority vote of County Commissioners present, such
recommendations must be submitted for approval by the electorate in the form of a
referendum. (Motion passed: 9-5)
17. The electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether the Home Rule Charter should be
amended to provide that all zoning applications, including variances and setbacks, be
heard first by the Community Councils with any appeals from those decisions being
heard by hearing officers charged with making final determinations based on findings of
fact and conclusions of law, that the appeal process shall be governed by the rules of
procedure set forth in the State of Florida’s Administrative Procedure Act and that the
findings of the hearing officer would be final subject to appeal to the County Commission
solely on an abuse of discretion standard. (Motion passed: 14-0)
18. That the electors of Miami-Dade County be asked whether Section 9.07 of the Home
Rule Charter shall be amended in the following manner (Motion passed: 17-0):
A. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by a resolution adopted by the
Board of County Commissioners or by petition of electors numbering not less
than ten percent of the total number of electors registered in Dade County at the
time the petition is submitted to the Clerk. Initiatory petitions shall be certified in
the manner required for initiatory petitions for an ordinance.
B. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by initiatory petitions of electors
shall be governed by the following procedure:
1. The person proposing the amendment shall submit to the Clerk a
proposed petition, in the form specified in section (2) below, and
proposed ballot language, including a title. The Clerk shall without delay
approve as to form a petition for circulation in one or several copies as
the proposer may desire.
2. The petition shall be printed in 14-point font and contain the following
information: (a) the title and text of the proposed amendment, printed in
English, Spanish and Creole; (b) a statement in each petition circulator's
own handwriting, setting forth his or her own name, both in printed and
signature form; (c) the residence address of the circulator; (d) dates
between which all the signatures on each individual petition were
obtained; and (e) a sworn statement that the circulator personally
Charter Review Task Force Final Recommendations – January 29, 2008
circulated the petition and witnessed each signature as it was being
written.
3. Initiatory petitions shall be certified in the manner required for initiatory
petitions for an ordinance.
4. The Board of County Commissioners shall call an election to be held
within 60-120 days of the date that a certified petition is presented to the
County Commission. Such election shall be called in conjunction a
countywide with the next scheduled general election. ;however, if no
countywide election is scheduled to occur within 60-120 days or
presentation, a special election on the position shall be called.
C. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by the Board of County
Commissioners at any time. Elections on charter amendments proposed by the
Board shall be held not less than 60 nor more than 120 days after the Board
adopts a resolution proposing any amendment.
D. The result of all elections on charter amendments shall be determined by a
majority of the electors voting on the proposed amendment.
E. All current ordinances and resolutions regulating initiative petitions shall be
repealed.
Official minutes of all CRTF meetings and public hearings are available at
www.miamidade.gov/charterreview .
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Orchid and Onion Award Presentation. by Geniusofdespair
The Urban Environment League held it's annual award presentation last night. Onions (the bad award) were awarded to Related Group, for the proposed Mercy Hospital Towers. Also getting onions: Commissioners Joe Martinez, Natacha Seijas, Javier Souto, Rebeca Sosa, Bruno Barreiro, Barabra Jordan, Dorrin Rolle, Audrey Edmonson and Pepe Diaz for voting to move the Urban Development Boundary. Mayor Manny Diaz got an onion but I am not sure why. Councilman Micahel Pizzi was honored with an orchid for his community activism. Former Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer jointly presented the award to Pizzi with Redland Community Councilwoman Pat Wade. I took some bad phone photos of the event. A lot of other people got awards, hit read more at the bottom for the list and for two more bad phone photo:
Best Opening - Virginia Key Trust
Long Haul Environmentalist - Harvey Ruvin
Voting to Hold the Line:
Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Commissioner Sally Heyman
Commissioner Carlos Gimenez
Commissioner Katy Sorenson
Commissioner Dennis Moss
Superb Activists:
Elvis Cruz
Councilman Michael Pizzi
Public Space Champion - Steve Hagen
Creative Redevelopment Initiatives - Scott’s Project Charette
Emerging Green Builders - Sonia Succar Ferre, USGBC
Public Servant of the Year - Mayor Shirley Gibson
Conservation Organization - Tropical Audubon Society
Dogged Reporting Dan Ricker - The Watchdog Report
Best Teamwork - Miami Neighborhoods United
Best Plan - Miami-Dade Parks Master Plan
Champion of the River - Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
Profile in Courage - Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Best Opening - Virginia Key Trust
Long Haul Environmentalist - Harvey Ruvin
Voting to Hold the Line:
Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Commissioner Sally Heyman
Commissioner Carlos Gimenez
Commissioner Katy Sorenson
Commissioner Dennis Moss
Superb Activists:
Elvis Cruz
Councilman Michael Pizzi
Public Space Champion - Steve Hagen
Creative Redevelopment Initiatives - Scott’s Project Charette
Emerging Green Builders - Sonia Succar Ferre, USGBC
Public Servant of the Year - Mayor Shirley Gibson
Conservation Organization - Tropical Audubon Society
Dogged Reporting Dan Ricker - The Watchdog Report
Best Teamwork - Miami Neighborhoods United
Best Plan - Miami-Dade Parks Master Plan
Champion of the River - Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
Profile in Courage - Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Marco Rubio: from Dan Ricker's Watchdog Report By Geniusofdespair
I found this juicy piece on Rubio very interesting, thank you Dan Ricker:
"The Watchdog Report decided to review Rubio’s campaign reports from 2006 when he last ran and he is termed out in 2008. In the reports he received ten $500.00 checks from U.S. Century Bank affiliates for the checks all had the same listed address in the disclosure form. His total funds raised for the campaign was $233,316 and his expenses for the campaign was $233,621. His bill for accounting of these funds was $10,500 (said) state campaign documents." (We, and the Miami Herald, previously reported on the loan US Century gave to Rubio which he says he "forgot" to report - see our Rubio file).
"The Watchdog Report decided to review Rubio’s campaign reports from 2006 when he last ran and he is termed out in 2008. In the reports he received ten $500.00 checks from U.S. Century Bank affiliates for the checks all had the same listed address in the disclosure form. His total funds raised for the campaign was $233,316 and his expenses for the campaign was $233,621. His bill for accounting of these funds was $10,500 (said) state campaign documents." (We, and the Miami Herald, previously reported on the loan US Century gave to Rubio which he says he "forgot" to report - see our Rubio file).
Monday, July 02, 2007
Niesen Kasdin and Dan Ricker, polar opposites by gimleteye
Someone please open the windows.
Niesen Kasdin did not "preside over Miami Beach during its remarkable revitalization", as he writes in today's Miami Herald.
Kasdin is a lobbyist for developers. As a former mayor of Miami Beach, he was in the right place at the right time when entrepreneurs and activists with vision grasped the historical and cultural attractiveness of the Art Deco District.
Which leads me to the Ricker Report, by Dan Ricker. Give Dan credit: in his own way, the Watchdog Report, he’s trying to open the windows in Miami and Miami-Dade.
Dan writes: “In a community that spent $50 million over five-years fighting public corruption, and funded five community periodicals $20,000 each that did not exist, the Watchdog Report has survived on a gross income of $48,000, which is less than an entry position in the county’s transit department."
What Kasdin actually presided over was the failure to adequately protect South Beach from zoning changes and permitting that have taken years to materialize but now evidence in the way South Beach ressembles another taudry sea-side destination.
Dan Ricker doesn't focus much on the litany of problems that developers have created in Miami-Dade County. He does, though, offer occasional tidbits like one from this week's edition:
“… one representative of the building industry told the Watchdog Report that “what the state legislature did” by cutting property taxes is disproportionately impacting developers as municipalities try to offset the reduced revenue coming in after the property tax cuts and it was unfair. They noted the state leaders wanted to see waste and fat cut from the municipal budgets but the opposite in many ways is happening as cities study ways to increase fees to cover the funding shortfall rather than trim positions and services.”
Wasn't it Kasdin's clients from the building industry who primarily pushed the Republican legislature to “cut property taxes” in order to jump-start dead housing markets?
Now they are crying foul, because they got what they wanted? (All along, eyeonmiami has said that the Florida legislature and special session would deliver nada in terms of relief for builders now facing the worst collapse in housing since the 1920’s—mostly because of greed and avarice.)
Kasdin is way off-base in his assessment of downtown's budding roses. He's well paid to offer such well rounded views.
The Miami Herald owes its readers a counterpoint, in the interest of balance and fairness.
Dan, on the other hand, deserves financial support. If the Miami Herald believes enough in Dan to print his words occasionally, it should just hire him and provide a decent living wage.
Or maybe, lobbyists should be required to disclose all fees paid by clients and a tax levied on their gross income to be paid into a charitable foundation for award by an independent board comprised of citizens with no axe to grind, to be paid to community activists and independent (ie. no profit) news organizations like the Ricker Report.
After all, what activists in Miami-Dade County mostly do is gin up fees for lobbyists.
It’s a pretty damn lonely job Dan is doing. He writes, “There appears to be an urban myth that I have a trust fund, and it came up again at Thursday’s commission meeting when a long time friend and senior city executive told a reporter when she asked how I lived. He with a big grin on his face said I “had a trust fund.” In his case we will not be speaking in the future but as I have written before, as has been covered in multiple profiles of me in newspapers. I live off the community and money from residents that think having someone out in the community is important and it is an insult to me after a decade, for this to keep coming–up and is a major misconception the community has."
"When I first started watching government I planned to do this for only a short time, maybe six-months but as public institutions continued to unravel, scandals were coming from all directions, it seemed important to have someone in the field for the press does not cover all the thousands of public meetings held every year and it seemed someone needed to do it."
"Besides the decade of my life, I have also used all the personal money I had saved, about $425,000 over the years and that is no small contribution in my attempt to keep the public informed and it is for this reason. I bristle when some well paid government employee, with great health and retirement benefits makes a snarky comment because there is a big difference between feeling someone’s pain versus actually living it, and I hope some of my readers keep that in mind.”
In the last edition, Dan notes “As part of an ongoing public awareness initiative, Robert Meyers, Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, will appear on Topical Currents, WLRN 91.3FM, on July 16th from 1 PM-2 PM. He will discuss the issue of ethics in general, the work of the EIA Task Force and recent legislation that has empowered the Commission to review complaints from County employees who have blown the whistle on corruption and believe they have become targets of retaliation as a result. Mr. Meyers will be joined on the program by Elizabeth Hernandez, Coral Gables City Attorney and Chair of the EIA Task Force, and Watchdog Report publisher Daniel A. Ricker.”
Put it on your calendar and by all means, call-in: let Mr. Myers know what you feel about the effectiveness of the Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission and its multi-million dollar budget.
Niesen Kasdin did not "preside over Miami Beach during its remarkable revitalization", as he writes in today's Miami Herald.
Kasdin is a lobbyist for developers. As a former mayor of Miami Beach, he was in the right place at the right time when entrepreneurs and activists with vision grasped the historical and cultural attractiveness of the Art Deco District.
Which leads me to the Ricker Report, by Dan Ricker. Give Dan credit: in his own way, the Watchdog Report, he’s trying to open the windows in Miami and Miami-Dade.
Dan writes: “In a community that spent $50 million over five-years fighting public corruption, and funded five community periodicals $20,000 each that did not exist, the Watchdog Report has survived on a gross income of $48,000, which is less than an entry position in the county’s transit department."
What Kasdin actually presided over was the failure to adequately protect South Beach from zoning changes and permitting that have taken years to materialize but now evidence in the way South Beach ressembles another taudry sea-side destination.
Dan Ricker doesn't focus much on the litany of problems that developers have created in Miami-Dade County. He does, though, offer occasional tidbits like one from this week's edition:
“… one representative of the building industry told the Watchdog Report that “what the state legislature did” by cutting property taxes is disproportionately impacting developers as municipalities try to offset the reduced revenue coming in after the property tax cuts and it was unfair. They noted the state leaders wanted to see waste and fat cut from the municipal budgets but the opposite in many ways is happening as cities study ways to increase fees to cover the funding shortfall rather than trim positions and services.”
Wasn't it Kasdin's clients from the building industry who primarily pushed the Republican legislature to “cut property taxes” in order to jump-start dead housing markets?
Now they are crying foul, because they got what they wanted? (All along, eyeonmiami has said that the Florida legislature and special session would deliver nada in terms of relief for builders now facing the worst collapse in housing since the 1920’s—mostly because of greed and avarice.)
Kasdin is way off-base in his assessment of downtown's budding roses. He's well paid to offer such well rounded views.
The Miami Herald owes its readers a counterpoint, in the interest of balance and fairness.
Dan, on the other hand, deserves financial support. If the Miami Herald believes enough in Dan to print his words occasionally, it should just hire him and provide a decent living wage.
Or maybe, lobbyists should be required to disclose all fees paid by clients and a tax levied on their gross income to be paid into a charitable foundation for award by an independent board comprised of citizens with no axe to grind, to be paid to community activists and independent (ie. no profit) news organizations like the Ricker Report.
After all, what activists in Miami-Dade County mostly do is gin up fees for lobbyists.
It’s a pretty damn lonely job Dan is doing. He writes, “There appears to be an urban myth that I have a trust fund, and it came up again at Thursday’s commission meeting when a long time friend and senior city executive told a reporter when she asked how I lived. He with a big grin on his face said I “had a trust fund.” In his case we will not be speaking in the future but as I have written before, as has been covered in multiple profiles of me in newspapers. I live off the community and money from residents that think having someone out in the community is important and it is an insult to me after a decade, for this to keep coming–up and is a major misconception the community has."
"When I first started watching government I planned to do this for only a short time, maybe six-months but as public institutions continued to unravel, scandals were coming from all directions, it seemed important to have someone in the field for the press does not cover all the thousands of public meetings held every year and it seemed someone needed to do it."
"Besides the decade of my life, I have also used all the personal money I had saved, about $425,000 over the years and that is no small contribution in my attempt to keep the public informed and it is for this reason. I bristle when some well paid government employee, with great health and retirement benefits makes a snarky comment because there is a big difference between feeling someone’s pain versus actually living it, and I hope some of my readers keep that in mind.”
In the last edition, Dan notes “As part of an ongoing public awareness initiative, Robert Meyers, Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, will appear on Topical Currents, WLRN 91.3FM, on July 16th from 1 PM-2 PM. He will discuss the issue of ethics in general, the work of the EIA Task Force and recent legislation that has empowered the Commission to review complaints from County employees who have blown the whistle on corruption and believe they have become targets of retaliation as a result. Mr. Meyers will be joined on the program by Elizabeth Hernandez, Coral Gables City Attorney and Chair of the EIA Task Force, and Watchdog Report publisher Daniel A. Ricker.”
Put it on your calendar and by all means, call-in: let Mr. Myers know what you feel about the effectiveness of the Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission and its multi-million dollar budget.
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