EDITORIAL: Nominate businesses that deserve to be recognized
This contest is an important part of what we do, and in many ways gets to the heart of a healthy community, with the people themselves selecting the winners.
These are people who visit local businesses regularly and who have benefited firsthand from the good service or amenities the companies provide.
Healthy competition in a community can also foster positive outcomes like individual growth, innovation and a stronger sense of belonging. It encourages collaboration, promotes fair play and can lead to improved services or products.
The nomination round for this year's contest will run through May 12 at www.austindailyherald.com/contests. Then, the top five nominations in each category advance to the voting round, which will be available online May 28 through July 3.
Ballots will be available in the print publication on June 7.
One random participant's name will be drawn from the nomination round and one random participant's name will be drawn from the voting round to each win a one-year digital membership to the Herald.
Winners will be announced July 30.
We urge everyone to take part in this competition to honor those who deserve to be recognized with the Readers' Choice Award.
And share the word with your friends and family. The more who are involved, the better.
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Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
She's accused of fleecing $3.6 million from Jackson Foundation. Here is what we know
Charmaine Gatlin was on her way to becoming the top executive of Jackson Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Miami-Dade County's public hospital system. She received high marks on her evaluations as the nonprofit's chief operating officer and was described by her bosses as a 'highly ethical' leader. 'I always do things for the betterment of the foundation,' Gatlin wrote in her 2021 evaluation. Two years later, she said in another evaluation that she was 'refining and enhancing my skills so that I can lead as President/CEO when the time comes.' In late October, Gatlin's rising star imploded. She was put on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation 'related to potential misconduct' got underway. In early November, she was 'terminated for cause' by the Foundation's chairman. Her termination letter, obtained by the Miami Herald, did not elaborate. Her abrupt dismissal led to an FBI probe and a shocking revelation in May: Gatlin, 52, a Foundation executive over the past decade, was arrested on charges of fleecing $3.6 million from her former employer, fabricating fake invoices from vendors and receiving $1 million in kickbacks from them. She used the money to buy Louis Vuitton and Gucci goods, including a Vuitton bag for $4,350, and had a $15,617 rose gold golf cart delivered to her Weston home, court records show. Her alleged defrauding of the Jackson Health Foundation, however, extended well beyond Miami, according to an indictment. It stretched all the way to Atlanta, where an unnamed 'audiovisual company' and a 'co-conspirator' suspected of collaborating with Gatlin submitted $2 million in 'false and fraudulent' invoices to the Foundation for purported services that were instead provided to a civic organization in Georgia's capital, the indictment says. Atlanta connection While the indictment doesn't identify the company or the co-conspirator, the Herald has learned from multiple sources that Gatlin allegedly schemed with Yergan Jones, the CEO of American Sound Design in Atlanta. Public records obtained by the Herald show Jones' company submitted dozens of invoices to the Jackson Health Foundation that Gatlin approved between 2019 and 2024. The indictment alleges the company's invoices were for 'audiovisual services that did not occur' at Jackson Health System or the Foundation. Instead, the Herald has confirmed those services were provided by Jones' company to the civic organization in Atlanta, which is 100 Black Men of America, with chapters nationwide including South Florida. The indictment further alleges that half of the Foundation's $2 million payments to the audiovisual company were 'returned' by the co-conspirator, Jones, to Gatlin's personal bank account. And 'to conceal the kickbacks,' the indictment says, they 'created false invoices making it appear as though Gatlin did 'event management' for the audiovisual company events' at Jackson Health System or the Foundation. Both Gatlin's defense lawyer, David Howard, and Jones' defense lawyer, Hector Flores, declined to comment. Gatlin pleaded not guilty to multiple conspiracy and fraud charges in mid-June in Miami federal court. Jones did not respond to an emailed inquiry by the Herald, and he has not been charged in the case. David Zambrana, president and chief operating officer of Jackson Health System, recently told its governing board that Jackson 'terminated the employees believed to be involved' in Gatlin's alleged scheme. He did not say how many were fired nor did he identify them. Jackson Health System spokesperson Krysten Brenlla declined to provide more details, saying Jackson 'will not be commenting on ongoing criminal proceedings.' In a statement, the 100 Black Men of America said it was not aware of Gatlin's alleged false invoice and payment kickback scheme with Jones and his audiovisual company, including billing the Jackson Health Foundation for services that his firm instead provided to the Atlanta organization. Jones provided those services to the youth mentoring group for its annual conferences between 2019 and 2024 under a different audiovisual company, American Electronic Entertainment, aka, AEE Productions, 100 Black Men of America confirmed. In fact, 100 Black Men of America said it directly paid Jones' company more than $500,000 for his work, but the organization did not provide details of the payments. '100 Black Men of America, Inc. has no knowledge of Ms. Gatlin's alleged receipt of cash payments or fraudulent invoices being submitted by Ms. Gatlin or any other vendors in the indictment involving Jackson Health Foundation,' the organization said in the statement provided to the Herald, adding that 'Gatlin has never been paid by the 100 BMOA as a 'go-between' to then pay vendors for services provided to 100 BMOA.' Gatlin had worked for 100 Black Men of America from 2009 to 2014 before Jackson's Foundation hired her a decade ago. During her tenure at Jackson, she continued to work with the Atlanta organization as an unpaid volunteer. After the Foundation dismissed Gatlin last November, 100 Black Men of America hired her in January as a contractor for its annual conference in 2025 —but fired her in May when the organization said it learned about her indictment. 'We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so until this matter is concluded,' the organization said. Atlanta lawyer Ronald Freeman, who represents Jones' company, AEE Productions, which provided services to 100 Black Men of America, said it was not the audiovisual company referenced in the Gatlin indictment. In a statement, he said: 'We remain confident that the legal process will fairly and accurately determine the facts.' Fraud and money laundering charges Gatlin, a University of Florida graduate with a bachelor's degree in French, was arrested on May 21 in a town near Savannah where she now lives. The indictment, filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young, charged her with a single count of conspiring with other individuals to commit wire fraud, 26 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. If convicted, the charges carry sentences that could send her to prison for years. Gatlin is accused of authorizing Jackson Health Foundation funds to pay not only Jones' audiovisual company in Atlanta but also a store that sold designer goods and an event planning company in South Florida that created videos, a website and other services for a family member's softball team in Broward County, the indictment says. She's also accused of using the Foundation's money to buy school supplies that were delivered to a church in Riceboro, Georgia, where she lives with her husband. After her arrest, Gatlin was granted a $30,000 bond. Court records show that one of the conditions of her bond was not to contact four contractors, including Jones, who 'were paid' by the Jackson Health Foundation based on 'purported invoices for goods and services approved by' Gatlin, according to the indictment. Trail of 'false' invoices By far, Gatlin's dealings with Jones dominated her alleged criminal activity, the Herald has learned from sources and court records. Jones' company, American Sound Design, submitted about 40 invoices to the Foundation that Gatlin approved between 2019 and 2024 for services that his firm says were provided to the Jackson Health Foundation, according to financial documents obtained by the Herald through a public records request. But Jones is better known as the president of AEE Productions, which on its website claims to have done business for major corporations, such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and Walmart, along with NASCAR and 100 Black Men of America. The Jackson Health Foundation was also one of its clients, according to a testimonial by Gatlin, the Foundation's former COO. 'Working with AEE Productions is always an exciting time for me. They listen to my ideas and help me create 'the wow' that I am looking for during each event,' reads an online testimonial by Gatlin on AEE Productions' website. 'I have been working with Yergan and his team for over 15 years and each event is better than the last one.' In the aftermath of her arrest, AEE's website is no longer active. Financial records obtained by the Herald show the Jackson Health Foundation received millions of dollars worth of invoices ranging from $5,900 to $81,500 each from Jones' company. American Sound Design claimed in those bills that it provided lighting, sound, staging and production management services for events at Jackson Health System or the Foundation, the invoices show. But the Gatlin indictment says that Jones' company, though not identified by name, never provided any of these services. And it's unclear from the indictment how many of these events hosted by the Foundation even took place. One American Sound Design invoice for $5,900 was billed to the Jackson Health Foundation for services that Jones' company purportedly provided at the Foundation's annual 'Guardian Angel' luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in November 2018. The event, which featured a runway fashion show and a performance by Grammy-nominated recording artist Flo-Rida, raised over $500,000 to support the pediatric neurosurgery program at Holtz Children Hospital, part of Jackson Health System. The Herald has confirmed the event happened. But the indictment says Jones' company provided no services. Another American Sound Design invoice for $30,250 was billed to the Foundation for a 'back-to-school block party' that was held at Gibson Charter School in the Overtown Youth Center in August 2019. Academica, which operates the charter school, did not respond to the Herald's attempts to verify if Jones' company provided services for the event. 'Future CEO' Gatlin, who was described as 'future CEO' in one of her earlier evaluations, managed the Jackson Health Foundation's day-to-day operations while it transitioned several years ago into its current leadership structure, where the president's job was split between Gatlin and co-president and chief development officer Flavia Llizo. In 2023, Gatlin had an 'extensive discussion' with Ana Milton and David Coulson, members of the Foundation's volunteer board, and was given a salary increase and bonus, according to her most recent evaluation. The Foundation's executive committee approved the raise. Gatlin's yearly salary as the Foundation's chief operating officer rose to about $300,000 in 2024. When Gatlin was put on administrative paid leave last fall, Llizo became the Foundation's CEO. Caution label for foundation After Gatlin's firing and the subsequent scandal, the Jackson Health Foundation now has a 'Proceed with Caution' label on the website of Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that rates U.S. charities on a variety of measures, including stability, efficiency and sustainability to help people with their donation decisions. The charity rater references Miami Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting as the reason for the warning. The month-long investigation and subsequent firing of Gatlin in November came after Jackson Health System discovered a 'misappropriation of funds' while 'restructuring' the Foundation's leadership last year to develop stronger oversight and accountability, according to Zambrana, president and COO of Jackson Health System. Zambrana told the Public Health Trust during its May 28 meeting that the health system had 'fully cooperated' with the investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office. New safeguards, including additional 'financial controls and administrative oversight,' are now in place over the Foundation and Jackson has 'terminated the employees believed to be involved,' he said. 'The allegations of money stolen from the public's health system are egregious, and we are all still reeling from the profound breach of trust and the impact it has on our team, our community and the many people who support Jackson,' Zambrana said, noting that 'integrity is non-negotiable.' 'We will not allow this incident to jeopardize its reputation or its momentum.'
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Can Airbnb stop your noisy Miami house party? What to know about restrictions
As Americans look to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with house parties, Airbnb is ratcheting up its 'anti-party' technology. The company is trying to curb potential noisy gatherings by cracking down on guests who book large accommodations before they throw a big summer party, a violation of terms. The company has a set of tech tools that help determine which users are at higher risk of throwing a party in the U.S.A. The current goal is to reduce the number of unauthorized and disruptive parties over the Fourth of July weekend. Customers flagged by the company could get blocked from using the Airbnb site. 'We are trying to find disruptors,' and keep them from using Airbnb for parties, Andy Gonzalez, policy lead for the Southeast, said in an interview with the Miami Herald. Airbnb's growth in South Florida — with Miami as a top 10 market, combined with the region's hot housing market in recent years — has led to challenges, according to local officials and affected residents. Rising home sales and mortgage payments, along with third-party investment firms buying residences, has led some owners to rent them out for short-term stays on Airbnb. And the proliferation of high-rises, many with absentee landlords, has also caused a jump in short-term renters and sometimes resulted in large noisy events like pool parties. Meanwhile, many condos in downtown and Brickell are allowing stays less than the 30 days required by Miami city law and many of the buildings' own bylaws. 'We ask all of our hosts to abide by local laws,' Gonzalez said. But the parties remain a problem in the region, officials say. Airbnb parties In Miami Beach, a task force has opened 760 investigations in the fiscal year 2024-25 into short-term rentals, according to data Commissioner Alex Fernandez shared with the Herald. In 2023-24, that number was 1,419, the third highest since 2014-15. Those numbers could be even higher if Miami Beach officials had waited to crack down, he said. Fernandez has sponsored several ordinances including one in March that requires a special event permit for 'large scale residential parties and events.' If a permit is denied, the event can be shut down immediately. 'We're protecting residents from clogged streets, blocked emergency access, and neighborhood disruption,' according to language with the ordinance. Events often use 'large and powerful commercial grade speakers, large commercial grade party and dance floor lightning, and commercial grade generators.' Miami Beach officials have also sought court injunctions against people violating city laws regarding short-term rentals. One tenant has received 42 citations in the past year alone for short-term rental or noise violations. Rentals for less than six months and one day are prohibited in all single-family homes in Miami Beach and in many multi-family buildings. 'It's great that Airbnb polices themselves but we're not going to rely on them,' Fernandez said in an interview with the Miami Herald. Miami Beach has over 5,800 registered short-term rentals. He estimates the actual number is twice that, 'a big segment underground.' 'A majority of our noise complaints are tied to illegal rentals,' he said. The city of Miami didn't provide data on short-term rentals to the Miami Herald. But city spokesperson Orlando Rodriguez told the Herald in an email: 'We are aware of the issue in Brickell and the rest of the city. All complaints follow the process: initiation, investigation, and adjudication if necessary.' Naked people in Shenanoah That's little comfort for Yvonne Bayona, president of the Miami Historic East Shenanoah Homeowner's Association. Living in a single-family home in the Shenanoah neighborhood, she said short-term renters have flocked to her neighborhood. Buses often arrive to drop off crowds attending parties at night. Underage children are at some house parties. She said drunk party-goers wander her streets. They randomly ring doorbells. Some strip naked. And Bayona's dogs are barking later and later at night. 'We've had a lot of problems' with short-term rentals, said Bayona, but 'things have been getting worse.' She now keeps cameras in her house and checks them frequently. How does the Airbnb party crackdown work? Airbnb has built technology that's 'designed to help identify and prevent certain attempts to book one-to-two-night stays in entire home listings that could be higher risk for a disruptive party.' The company has data showing that 'certain last-minute reservations have historically resulted in a disproportionate number of unauthorized parties.' Airbnb assesses type of listing, duration of stay, distance to the listing from the guest's primary location, and whether the booking is made last minute. The company also looks at guest history, and favors positive reviews. Customers booking entire homes at the last minute in the same area where they live will generate suspicion. Guests who make reservations in their own cities must acknowledge Airbnb's no-party policy and will see a warning that tells them if they break that rule, they face suspension or removal from the platform. Customers also get the warning when making reservations for others. There are additional criteria and methods but 'we don't want to give away all the secrets,' Gonzalez said. Airbnb has attempted to tackle these problems for years. In August 2020, the company announced a temporary ban on all parties and events in listing globally, a move that was made permanent in 2022. That same year, they rolled out the anti-party technology. In 2024, those tools deterred about 51,000 people across the U.S. from making bookings, the company said. In Florida, about 7,400 people were stopped. Only Texas had more, with 7,750. The city of Miami accounted for 470. The 2024 figure is an improvement from 2023 when the company said about 67,500 people nationwide were blocked, suggesting deterrence may be working. 'These parties remain extremely rare,' Airbnb says, with less than 1% of reservations in 2024 leading to allegations.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Developers agreed to terms of Miami mega mall deal. Now they want to change it
For the unsuspecting taxpayer, the different messages coming from Miami-Dade County's elected officials couldn't sound more dissonant: You have the mayor calling for budget cuts and warning about times of financial austerity. Then you have a commissioner proposing to allow property tax dollars to be used to help develop a mega mall. The developers of American Dream Miami, planned near Hialeah, understood the county's approval of the project in 2018 also came with a subsidy ban on the planned retail theme park. Now that the project is at least five years behind schedule — and Miami-Dade County has sued over the delays — there's a proposal to water down that ban. Developer Triple Five is also in court with a Miami Lakes developer over control of land located at Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 75. Asking for the county's help sounds like a Hail Mary to push through a project that's looking less feasible by the minute. Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez's proposal would allow the county to divert property taxes to cover about $60 million in local road construction and other infrastructure costs that otherwise would be the developers' responsibility, the Herald reported. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava supported the item as a way to expedite the construction of roadways in the area even if the mega mall doesn't get built. The proposal was placed on the County Commission's Tuesday agenda at the last minute but a vote was deferred to mid July. Some commissioners balked at the argument put forward by Bermudez linking the approval of his subsidy-cap legislation to another vote that was also on the agenda to accept $5 million from the developer to settle the county's lawsuit. The latter was also postponed. Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez said it was a 'bad look' that 'you guys are saying you'll only come to this agreement if we get this,' the Herald reported. Commissioner Oliver Gilbert said he opposes letting Triple Five tap into property taxes to offset its development costs, saying, 'I don't see how that's a good deal for the people.' It is not. Bermudez called his legislation 'an opportunity to right a wrong,' the Herald reported. That's because some of South Florida's largest malls successfully lobbied the commission to impose the subsidy ban on American Dream when it was approved. Miguel Díaz de la Portilla, a Triple Five lobbyist and former county commissioner, equated that to 'interference from some mall owners who don't want competition.' Díaz de la Portilla said the company could attract $350 million in road construction dollars to Northwest Miami-Dade if it can tap into county money first. We don't disagree entirely with Bermudez and Díaz de la Portilla. There's no doubt that the subsidy ban was a political move, at least in part, to stifle competition. Alas, in 2018, Triple Five agreed to cover the $60 million roadway costs or persuade state or local governments to fund them. It's hard not to read this latest move as a desperate attempt to change the terms of the deal, especially given Triple Five's legal and financial issues elsewhere. An American Dream mall opened on state-owned land in New Jersey in 2019 with help from more than $1 billion in state and local aid, according to Surrounding municipalities have sued, accusing the developer of owing a combined $13 million in negotiated payments to them since the mall's opening. Triple Five has denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the mall didn't have to start making the payments because it hasn't reached 100% occupancy and so was not completely open. In March, a local judge rejected that argument, ruling in favor of one of the municipalities, reported. Miami-Dade County is under increased financial pressure from the drying up of pandemic federal funding and the costs associated with spinning off county departments such as police into independent offices. Levine Cava's administration says the county faces the worst budget shortfall since the 2008 Great Recession. With so many needs and an unpredictable next few budget years, is this the time to ask the county to allow a developer to access property tax dollars for a private project? The answer should be no. Click here to send the letter.
