Spotlight 95-250415

Good morning. What we’re covering in today’s Spotlight:

The Watchdog Report at 25
A Vacant Seat at Miami City Hall
Lifetime Term Limits for Miami Pols
New Rules for Construction Noise

Still Barking: A Watchdog at 25

Despite failing health and a shoestring budget, citizen journalist and Grove resident Dan Ricker has spent a quarter-century holding local government accountable, one meeting at a time.

By Mike Clary

For nearly 25 years, Dan Ricker has doggedly pursued his calling as citizen journalist, resolutely focused on local government and the politicians and bureaucrats who wield power over our lives.  

As it says on his business card for the Watchdog Report, of which he is the founder and publisher, “I go when you cannot.” 

What that means is that for a quarter of a century, Ricker – dressed in a suit, wearing a tie – has shown up for brain-numbing City of Miami budget hearings; zoning disputes before the Miami-Dade County Commission that drone on for hours; school board meetings that routinely stretch into the night; and countless discussions of the Public Health Trust purchasing subcommittee on the cost of everything from stethoscopes to bed pans.
   
Ricker not only sat through these meetings – indeed, thousands and thousands of meetings that would induce a stupefied glaze over the eyes of most journalists – but he paid attention.   

He recorded what was said at the meetings.  He took notes.  He interviewed participants. He wrote about what he saw and heard in the Watchdog Report and then distributed his newsletter to thousands of loyal followers. For free. 

City Commission Meets Thursday to Fill District 4 Vacancy

The City of Miami could have a new District 4 commissioner as early as this week. The City Commission will meet on Thursday at 10 a.m. to consider how best to fill the District 4 commission seat left vacant by the death last week of Commissioner Manolo Reyes. The commission could decide on Thursday to appoint someone to the vacant seat, or call a special election. Anyone interested in being appointed to the seat should attend the meeting, the City of Miami advised, and be prepared to fill out the required paperwork on the spot, if chosen. If someone is appointed to fill the seat, that person will need to stand for election in November if they want to keep the seat.

Miami City Commissioner Manolo Reyes Dies at 80

Reyes represented District 4 on the Miami City Commission, including Shenandoah, Flagami, and Coral Way.

By Don Finefrock

Miami City Commissioner Manolo Reyes has died at the age of 80 after being hospitalized earlier in the week. Reyes’ family announced his death Friday morning.

“With profound sadness we announce the passing of City Commissioner Manolo Reyes,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.

Reyes had battled cancer in recent years, and was increasingly absent from the dais during City Commission meetings in recent months. Earlier this year, he had announced his intention to run for mayor in the City of Miami in November.

A native of Victoria de Las Tunas in Cuba, Reyes left the island with his family in 1959. He studied economics at the University of Florida, and later served as the principal budget analyst for Miami-Dade Public Schools.

Lifetime Term Limits on Hold until April 24

The fate of the “lifetime” term limits proposed by Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo may depend on who fills the commission seat left vacant by the death of Commissioner Manolo Reyes.

Pardo asked his fellow commissioners on Thursday to push the proposal to the April 24 meeting after Commission Chair Christine King, the swing vote, said she would vote against the proposal as written.

“I don’t support lifetime term limits,” King said, presaging a 2-to-2 deadlock over the measure. Commissioner Reyes, who was hospitalized earlier in the week, missed the meeting. He died last week.

Commissioner Miguel Gabela indicated he would vote with Pardo to put the measure to voters in November.

If approved by voters, the measure would bar the city’s elected officials – including former mayors and veteran commissioners like Commissioner Joe Carollo – from returning to office after serving any part of two terms. Carollo is opposed. Read more about Pardo’s proposal on term limits here.

Construction Noise Ordinance Deferred

Facing strong pushback over controversial changes to Miami’s noise ordinance the Miami City Commission on Thursday deferred the item indefinitely.

District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo’s Pardo, who sponsored the legislation, requested the deferral after receiving strong pushback from constituents who complained the ordinance, as proposed, would allow construction crews to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., an hour earlier and an hour later than currently allowed.

In a Zoom meeting with constituents last week Pardo defended the changes, arguing that the extended hours would be a necessary component of a revamp of the city’s rules that allow contractors to apply for “after-hours” construction noise waivers.

In an Instagram post, Pardo said he plans to resubmit the legislation, including changes that would exempt single-family neighborhoods from the extended-hours provision.

Read more about Pardo’s proposal on construction noise here.