Latest / Inside West Palm Beach / 2025 State Of The City Address from Mayor Keith A. James

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2025 State Of The City Address from Mayor Keith A. James · Inside West Palm Beach

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  Welcome to the City Center
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  podcast from West Palm Beach.
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  The following is Mayor Keith A. James'
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  address as delivered
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  during the State of the City
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  Breakfast, January 30, 2025.
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  And now, it is my distinct pleasure to
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  introduce a dedicated leader who has
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  played an instrumental
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  role in shaping the
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  city of West Palm Beach.
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  Mayor Keith James has been a tireless
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  advocate for our city,
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  working to foster growth, enhance
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  the quality of life, and ensure that West
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  Palm Beach remains a vibrant and thriving
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  community for residents,
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  visitors, and businesses alike.
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  Please join me in welcoming to the stage
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  the Mayor of West
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  Palm Beach, Keith James.
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  The Mayor is here.
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  Good morning.
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  Ooh, y'all look good out there.
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  I understand we have a sold-out crowd.
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  I told the two Michaels that all of you
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  are here because of them.
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  Anyway, before we get started, however, I
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  think we have all
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  heard about the unfortunate
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  incident that happened out of Reagan
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  Airport this morning.
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  A number of lies were lost, so we could
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  just have a short moment
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  of silence for the family
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  and friends of those who
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  did not survive, please.
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  Thank you very much.
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  Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce of
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  the Palm Beaches for
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  hosting this annual State
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  of the City Breakfast.
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  My sixth is Mayor of this great city.
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  Six times we've met to review where we
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  are and more
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  importantly where we are headed.
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  Thank you Chamber CEO Michael Zeph,
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  Chamber Board Chairman
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  Michael Davis, and the entire
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  Board of Directors of the Chamber of
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  Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
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  Since 1913, the Chamber has worked to
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  advance our community's
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  civic, economic, and commercial
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  interests.
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  West Palm Beach is indeed a better city
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  because of your efforts.
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  I want to extend my gratitude to all of
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  today's sponsors,
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  including the presenting sponsor
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  of Good Samaritan Medical Center.
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  Congratulations also
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  to the Gunster Law Firm.
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  After 100 years of providing legal
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  services in West Palm
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  Beach, thank you for your lasting
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  impact on our great city.
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  A special thank you is also owed to all
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  the servers working
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  hard behind the scenes.
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  Can you give them a
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  round of applause, please?
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  And I certainly owe a very special debt
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  of gratitude to my
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  partners in leadership, the
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  West Palm Beach City Commission, for
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  their immeasurable level
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  of service they provide
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  to the residents and businesses in our
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  city, beginning with
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  Commission President Kathleen
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  Ward of District 1, Commissioner Shalanda
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  Warren from District
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  2, Commissioner Kristie
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  Fox from District 3, Commissioner Joe
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  Paduzi from District 4,
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  and Commissioner Christina
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  Lambert from District 5.
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  They all certainly deserve all of your
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  applause and recognition.
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  But I would be remiss if I did not
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  acknowledge Congresswoman
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  Lois Franco, who is here with
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  us this morning.
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  Lois is my political mentor.
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  I would not be here if Lois hadn't made
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  that phone call in
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  December of 2010, saying that
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  I should run for city commission.
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  I tried my best to say no, but if you
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  know Lois, you know she
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  doesn't take no for an
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  answer.
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  But Lois, thank you for your life of
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  service and dedication to the city.
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  You were mayor, but you also have been a
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  tremendous friend to the
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  city during your service in
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  Washington, D.C.
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  So thank you, Lois, for
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  all that you do for the city.
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  And I want to give a special and
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  deserving acknowledgment to my life
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  partner and inspiration,
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  the First Lady of West Palm Beach, my
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  lovely wife, Lorna James.
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  She is being presented with a bouquet of
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  flowers, which is a surprise.
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  And I'm delighted to share that
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  presenting those beautiful
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  flowers is Camille, the owner
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  of Camille's Flowers and Gifts.
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  Thanks to a CRA initiative, Camille's is
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  open and doing
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  business at the Styx Promenade
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  in the historic Northwest neighborhood.
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  And to the 1,800 employees of the City of
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  West Palm Beach, thank
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  you, thank you, thank
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  you from the bottom of my heart for your
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  hard work and dedication
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  out on the front lines,
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  delivering the services and help that
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  people need every day.
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  You employees have done so much for so
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  many and remain the
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  unsung heroes in a story so
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  many others want to
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  learn, farm and emulate.
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  Yet as much as we have accomplished and
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  the list is long, the
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  mark of any great city,
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  our city, lies not in achievements made
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  today, but in our
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  aspirations for the many tomorrows
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  to come.
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  That graceness is submitted not just in
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  the courage to dream
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  big, but in the heart to
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  deliver big.
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  So everyone has an opportunity to be a
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  part of our success.
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  Everyone.
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  That is a greatness that's only achieved
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  when we work together.
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  Together we create safer neighborhoods
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  where families thrive.
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  Together we repair and revitalize our
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  streets, connecting
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  every corner of our city.
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  Together we fortify our city's
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  infrastructure, building a foundation for
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  generations to come.
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  Together we offer educational
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  opportunities, enabling our children to
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  reach higher heights.
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  This morning we will embark on a
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  conversation that I like to
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  say, if I had a title for this
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  State of the Union, and I know we don't
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  usually give them titles,
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  but it would be transformation
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  through togetherness and elevation
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  through collaboration.
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  I'm going to borrow a
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  little something from the church.
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  Turn to your neighbor and say, "Together,
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  transformation through
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  togetherness, and elevation
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  through collaboration."
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  Thank you.
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  As you say that, hopefully it
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  reverberates in your spirit.
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  But it's a vision that
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  speaks to our shared unity.
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  You know, we are five years into this
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  decade, a decade that
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  unfolded with a global pandemic
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  that brought uncertainty into people's
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  lives and changed the way
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  people see their government.
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  The last few years have brought a certain
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  amount of
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  unpredictability that has spread
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  across the country.
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  It has been, and still is,
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  a difficult time for many.
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  The challenges of the last five years
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  have taught us that the
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  old ways of doing things
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  are no longer going to cut it.
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  As the politics of the world
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  changes, one thing is clear.
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  The role of municipal government is more
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  important than ever.
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  Cities will have to be nimble and
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  creative to address the
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  needs of their residents.
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  No matter the turbulence of the times, no
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  matter the political
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  atmosphere, cities must
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  always continue to deliver services.
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  Now everyone in this room knows that the
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  city of West Palm Beach
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  has turned challenges and
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  opportunities and that we have
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  experienced
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  record-breaking years recently.
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  People and businesses from across the
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  country and in some cases
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  around the world are now
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  focusing on West Palm Beach.
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  Watching us as we build coalitions,
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  studying us as we find
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  new ways to serve residents,
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  learning from us as we, by all measures,
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  set an example how to
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  effectively manage an innovative
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  city.
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  For all that we have endured, for all the
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  hard work that lies ahead, know this, our
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  city stands tall,
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  resilient, and thriving.
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  The state of our city reflects the
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  boundless potential of its people.
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  We are strong and getting stronger.
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  With the local economy on the rise, a
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  bustling business environment, vibrant
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  growth in infrastructure
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  and innovation, and a population that is
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  growing larger and
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  trending younger, it is
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  up to us to decide the city we want to be
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  in the decades to come for ourselves, for
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  our children, and for our grandchildren.
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  Do we want to be a city where everyday
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  people can't pay their rent?
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  Or will we continue finding innovative
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  solutions and breaking
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  ground on affordable housing
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  units?
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  Do we want to be a city that sees us as
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  challenges as one-dimensional?
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  Or will we continue to build coalitions
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  and partnerships to
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  pioneer new ways to solve
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  problems for our residents?
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  Do we want the dreams of up-and-coming
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  entrepreneurs to die on the vine?
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  Or do we want to provide skills training
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  and create a robust
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  entrepreneurial ecosystem
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  right in our own backyard?
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  The good news is it's entirely up to us
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  to create a strong,
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  competitive future that
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  lifts all boats.
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  The advances made in West Palm Beach are
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  far-reaching and
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  impressive, which is why this morning
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  I'm going to focus less on a checklist of
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  accomplishments and
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  more on the choices ahead.
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  Let's start with the economy.
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  A robust, fully-functioning economy is
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  one where people feel secure,
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  have access to opportunities,
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  and can achieve their dreams, whether
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  that's buying a home,
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  renting a place they love,
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  or pursuing personal growth.
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  But what does this look like in practice?
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  Let me share the story of someone who
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  rolled up her sleeves and
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  found that there's a place
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  for her in this city, too.
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  Her name is Valerie.
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  Only a few years ago, she began thinking
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  deeply about her place
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  in this world, curious
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  what someone like her could
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  offer a demanding society.
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  After all, Valerie grew up in an early
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  age in the foster care
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  system and felt that the
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  deck was simply stacked against her from
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  the very beginning of her life.
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  That was before she joined
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  my mayor's jumpstart academy.
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  Learning the basic skills of
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  entrepreneurialism and inspired by what
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  she learned, Valerie
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  hit the ground running.
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  Armed with the $5,000 grant from the
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  city, she bought the
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  tools and equipment needed
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  to ensure her poor maintenance business
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  not only survived, but prospered.
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  After graduating from the mayor's
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  jumpstart academy in just
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  a year's time, Valerie got
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  married, saved enough money to purchase
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  her own home, and
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  managed a successful, growing
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  business.
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  Valerie and other graduates of the
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  mayor's jumpstart academy
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  exemplify the philosophy
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  of paying it forward, coming back to
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  mentor new cohorts who
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  will pave the way for others.
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  As the saying goes, don't remove the
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  ladder once you're done with it.
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  Leave it for others to climb, too.
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  Here in West Palm Beach, we are working
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  to give Valerie and
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  others not just a ladder,
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  but the whole toolkit.
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  This is the power of a resilient and
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  innovative city, of an
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  economic ecosystem that empowers
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  everyone to be the best they can be.
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  Now none of this would have been possible
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  without the contributions to the mayor's
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  jumpstart academy from the Unum
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  Foundation, the related
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  philanthropic foundation, and
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  other donors.
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  So on behalf of Valerie and so many
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  others, you've helped
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  thank you donors for caring
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  enough to do more to
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  serve this community.
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  [applause]
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  Stories like Valerie's remind me that
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  economic opportunity
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  begins with a strong foundation,
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  whether that is skills training, support
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  systems, or the
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  resources to start a business.
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  But there's another critical foundation
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  to create an
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  environment where people thrive.
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  That's a place to go home.
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  For too many families, the dream of
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  stable housing feels out of reach.
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  The need for affordable housing touches
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  all corners of our country.
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  And in this city, we recognize that
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  waiting for others to
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  solve this pressing problem
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  simply is not an option.
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  When the African American Mayor's
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  Association visited West
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  Palm Beach this past December,
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  I shared with them a guiding principle of
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  my administration,
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  harnessing the power of
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  partnership and collaboration.
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  These are not just ideals.
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  They are the foundation of my vision to
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  drive transformative
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  changes in our city and to
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  create a community of
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  opportunity for all.
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  There's no secret when my administration
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  has set some aggressive
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  goals for the development
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  of affordable and workforce housing.
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  When I became mayor, I set a goal of 300
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  affordable and workforce housing units to
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  be completed or under development in the
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  ensuing three years.
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  We quickly surpassed
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  that goal in the first year.
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  As a result, last year I
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  raised the bar even higher.
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  So I announced that by the end of my
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  tenure as mayor in 2027,
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  we would have 1,400 new
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  affordable and workforce housing units
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  either completed or under development.
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  I'm proud to announce that we are on
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  track to exceed that goal as well.
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  [applause]
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  Since 2019, 815 housing units have been
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  completed or under development.
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  In the 2024 calendar year alone, 263
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  units came under construction and 269
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  went to pre-development
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  stages.
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  This progress reflects not only our
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  commitment, but also the
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  strength of our partnerships
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  with the private sector.
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  There's even more than that.
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  Each of those 815 units created since
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  2019 represents a
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  family holding onto the basic
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  desires that we all have, that we could
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  tuck our children in at
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  night knowing they are
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  fed and clothed, that there is a roof
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  over their head and
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  they are safe from harm.
• 1:16:11
  Our collaboration with the private sector
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  has given us projects such as the Spruce,
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  an 8111 South Dixie,
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  which broke ground last year.
• 1:16:20
  The Spruce, the single largest private
• 1:16:22
  investment in Northwood Village's
• 1:16:24
  history, is a groundbreaking
• 1:16:26
  development that will add 117 affordable
• 1:16:29
  and workforce housing units to our city.
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  This transformative project is powered by
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  an unprecedented,
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  innovative, philanthropic
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  funding model designed to redefine
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  affordability and address
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  our community's housing needs.
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  And the 8111 South Dixie project will
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  bring to life a site that
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  has been vacant for over
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  a decade by delivering 90 affordable and
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  workforce housing units.
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  These developments exemplify the power of
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  dynamic public-private
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  partnerships made possible
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  through city-supported tools such as
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  density bonuses, grant funding, tax
• 1:17:07
  increment financing,
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  and other strategic incentives.
• 1:17:12
  By aligning resources and vision, we have
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  created a framework that attracts private
• 1:17:17
  sector investment while advancing our
• 1:17:20
  shared commitment to progress.
• 1:17:23
  I want to extend my gratitude to our
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  private sector partners
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  for not only recognizing the
• 1:17:28
  potential of West Palm Beach, but also
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  embracing our vision of
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  transformative, inclusive growth.
• 1:17:37
  Their collaboration has been instrumental
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  in bringing these
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  ambitious affordable housing
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  projects to life.
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  Equally important to housing
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  affordability is the community's safety.
• 1:17:51
  You know, I study linguistics, and it is
• 1:17:56
  amazing to me how sometimes
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  the most simple statements
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  can be the most powerful and can pass
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  from generation to generation.
• 1:18:03
  When I was a young kid, my grandfather,
• 1:18:06
  who had a sixth-grade
• 1:18:07
  education, used to tell
• 1:18:09
  me from time to time, "Keep the main
• 1:18:12
  thing the main thing."
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  That sounded pretty good, and it guided
• 1:18:17
  me as I went through life.
• 1:18:19
  I had occasion to turn on the TV
• 1:18:21
  recently, and I saw a young
• 1:18:24
  African-American gentleman.
• 1:18:26
  I think he was about 25 or 26.
• 1:18:27
  He was being interviewed by the media,
• 1:18:30
  and he said those
• 1:18:31
  exact same words, "Keep the
• 1:18:32
  main thing the main thing."
• 1:18:35
  Now, it turned out that young man was
• 1:18:39
  Jaylen Hertz, who
• 1:18:40
  happens to be the quarterback
• 1:18:41
  for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• 1:18:46
  It also turns out that the Eagles are
• 1:18:50
  going to the Super Bowl next week.
• 1:18:55
  Yes, I did just insert the Philadelphia
• 1:19:00
  Eagles into my State of the City speech.
• 1:19:02
  I'm so proud of myself.
• 1:19:05
  Fly Eagles, fly.
• 1:19:09
  All right, but there is a connection.
• 1:19:12
  There is a connection.
• 1:19:15
  The statement, "Keeping the main thing
• 1:19:17
  the main thing," is
• 1:19:20
  exactly what I try to do
• 1:19:22
  as mayor.
• 1:19:23
  As you all know, since my first day as
• 1:19:25
  your mayor, I've
• 1:19:27
  stated that public safety is
• 1:19:29
  job number one.
• 1:19:32
  Why is that important?
• 1:19:34
  Because if people live in fear and dwell
• 1:19:36
  on fear, nothing else we do matters.
• 1:19:41
  The main thing is public safety.
• 1:19:44
  In West Palm Beach, we recognize that a
• 1:19:46
  safe environment
• 1:19:47
  encourages families to settle
• 1:19:49
  down, helps businesses flourish, and
• 1:19:52
  motivates a community to
• 1:19:53
  replace fear with freedom.
• 1:19:57
  My administration's commitment to public
• 1:19:58
  safety is unwavering.
• 1:20:01
  The most recent public
• 1:20:02
  safety numbers bear that out.
• 1:20:05
  This past year, our city made significant
• 1:20:07
  strides, including a
• 1:20:08
  12 percent decrease in
• 1:20:10
  overall crime.
• 1:20:11
  That isn't just a statistic.
• 1:20:14
  It represents safer neighborhoods for our
• 1:20:16
  families and our children.
• 1:20:19
  Our neighborhoods themselves are
• 1:20:20
  experiencing a drop in residential and
• 1:20:22
  commercial burglaries,
• 1:20:24
  a drop in auto burglaries and auto theft,
• 1:20:26
  and a decrease in weapons offenses.
• 1:20:30
  Violent crime continues to trend downward
• 1:20:31
  in our city as well.
• 1:20:34
  In 2023, we saw an 8.2 percent reduction
• 1:20:37
  in violent crime, and in
• 1:20:38
  2024, we saw an impressive
• 1:20:41
  14 percent reduction in violent crime.
• 1:20:45
  Additionally, you could clap for that.
• 1:20:48
  That's good news.
• 1:20:53
  To address quality of life concerns, our
• 1:20:57
  police department
• 1:20:57
  conducted 14 prostitution
• 1:20:59
  operations in 2024,
• 1:21:01
  resulting in 111 arrests.
• 1:21:05
  These trends are the direct result of the
• 1:21:07
  investment we are
• 1:21:07
  making in our public safety
• 1:21:09
  professionals.
• 1:21:11
  This past year, we approved a new
• 1:21:12
  contract with the Fraternal Order of
• 1:21:14
  Police that included
• 1:21:15
  22 percent pay increases for officers,
• 1:21:19
  sergeants, and lieutenants,
• 1:21:20
  as well as increased pension
• 1:21:27
  contributions and additional
• 1:21:28
  benefits to police employees.
• 1:21:32
  Prioritizing public safety is helping us
• 1:21:34
  retain dedicated
• 1:21:36
  individuals and invest in advanced
• 1:21:38
  technology.
• 1:21:41
  Our investments in public safety are
• 1:21:42
  comprehensive and wide-reaching.
• 1:21:46
  Our fire department responded to over
• 1:21:48
  30,000 calls last year
• 1:21:50
  and transported over 13,000
• 1:21:53
  patients to the hospital.
• 1:21:56
  Last year, our fire department invested
• 1:22:03
  in a new tiller, or
• 1:22:05
  ladder truck, as it's commonly
• 1:22:07
  referred to, and provided specialty
• 1:22:09
  driver training to over 36 firefighters.
• 1:22:12
  You may have noticed this truck as you
• 1:22:13
  were walking in this morning.
• 1:22:16
  How is it Fire Station
• 1:22:17
  One in our city's downtown?
• 1:22:19
  This state-of-the-art lifesaver has
• 1:22:21
  amazing navigation capabilities.
• 1:22:24
  It can even do a U-turn and a cul-de-sac.
• 1:22:28
  No other fire department itself would
• 1:22:29
  have a truck like this.
• 1:22:37
  That's the difference between saving
• 1:22:39
  lives and possibly not,
• 1:22:42
  but between a city that's
• 1:22:43
  good and one that's great.
• 1:22:46
  Over and above that, though, cutting-edge
• 1:22:48
  equipment alone won't build a safer and
• 1:22:51
  healthier community.
• 1:22:52
  We know that.
• 1:22:54
  The most critical ingredient is listening
• 1:22:56
  to and hearing directly from residents, a
• 1:22:59
  sentiment my
• 1:22:59
  administration takes very seriously.
• 1:23:02
  Last month, through direct engagement
• 1:23:04
  with our neighborhoods, our police
• 1:23:06
  department initiated
• 1:23:07
  Not On Our Block, an operation resulting
• 1:23:11
  in the arrest of 16
• 1:23:12
  individuals with a significant
• 1:23:14
  criminal history.
• 1:23:16
  These career offenders were dealing drugs
• 1:23:17
  near community parks
• 1:23:18
  where our children play.
• 1:23:20
  Well, not anymore.
• 1:23:22
  Do not expect to break the law and put
• 1:23:24
  our children's future
• 1:23:25
  in jeopardy and get away
• 1:23:26
  with it.
• 1:23:27
  Not as long as I'm
• 1:23:28
  mayor of this great city.
• 1:23:35
  Through community engagement and working
• 1:23:36
  together, we have made
• 1:23:37
  our neighborhoods safer.
• 1:23:40
  To demonstrate this commitment, look no
• 1:23:42
  further than our Juvenile
• 1:23:43
  and Community Engagement
• 1:23:44
  Unit, which has excelled in strengthening
• 1:23:46
  public safety and community trust through
• 1:23:49
  diverse outreach initiatives.
• 1:23:51
  Our impactful programs, including youth
• 1:23:53
  engagement, support for vulnerable
• 1:23:55
  populations, and collaboration
• 1:23:57
  with local organizations highlight their
• 1:23:59
  exceptional commitment to fostering
• 1:24:01
  inclusivity and positive
• 1:24:02
  relationships across the community.
• 1:24:05
  The community has to see the men and
• 1:24:08
  women in blue as
• 1:24:10
  allies and not adversaries.
• 1:24:14
  Now, I realize that not all
• 1:24:16
  success comes without setbacks.
• 1:24:18
  My administration is committed to
• 1:24:20
  ensuring that our police
• 1:24:21
  department adheres to the
• 1:24:22
  highest standards.
• 1:24:24
  Last year, I learned that those standards
• 1:24:26
  simply were not being met.
• 1:24:29
  This past October was brought to my
• 1:24:31
  attention that members of
• 1:24:32
  the police department's top
• 1:24:33
  command staff were allegedly involved in
• 1:24:36
  financial and proprieties.
• 1:24:38
  Additionally, there was an incident
• 1:24:40
  involving West Palm Beach
• 1:24:41
  police officers in Borton
• 1:24:43
  Beach that reflected a gross disregard of
• 1:24:47
  professional judgment.
• 1:24:50
  These events demonstrated that the
• 1:24:51
  leadership of the
• 1:24:52
  department was not aligned with its
• 1:24:54
  mission.
• 1:24:56
  Restoring trust demanded decisive action.
• 1:25:00
  So I took that action by
• 1:25:01
  replacing the then police chief.
• 1:25:04
  I share with you a reminder of these
• 1:25:06
  setbacks because I
• 1:25:07
  sincerely believe public safety
• 1:25:10
  begins with public trust.
• 1:25:14
  In spite of any setbacks we may have
• 1:25:15
  encountered, the success of these
• 1:25:17
  departments has been
• 1:25:18
  no accident.
• 1:25:20
  It's a result of a collaborative,
• 1:25:21
  partnership-driven approach to ensuring
• 1:25:24
  the safety of our residents.
• 1:25:27
  These partnership-driven strategies are
• 1:25:29
  reinforcing our desire to
• 1:25:30
  establish public trust as our
• 1:25:33
  guiding vision for the future.
• 1:25:37
  One example of how we are utilizing the
• 1:25:39
  power of collaboration
• 1:25:40
  is how we are addressing
• 1:25:41
  mental health challenges in this city.
• 1:25:44
  To meet these difficulties head on, we
• 1:25:45
  partnered with the Health
• 1:25:47
  Care District of Palm Beach
• 1:25:48
  County to launch a
• 1:25:49
  groundbreaking pilot program.
• 1:25:52
  This initiative provides critical
• 1:25:54
  assistance to individuals
• 1:25:55
  who do not meet the threshold
• 1:25:56
  for a Baker Act intervention, but they
• 1:25:58
  still require some support.
• 1:26:01
  To date, 55 people received the help they
• 1:26:03
  need through this pilot program.
• 1:26:06
  As this initiative evolves, we aim to
• 1:26:07
  someday establish a
• 1:26:08
  one-stop facility to address
• 1:26:10
  a range of quality of life issues.
• 1:26:12
  Thank you, County, for donating some
• 1:26:14
  money to that effort.
• 1:26:16
  By offering comprehensive support, we
• 1:26:17
  create lasting positive
• 1:26:19
  impacts that improve individual
• 1:26:21
  lives and strengthen
• 1:26:22
  our community as a whole.
• 1:26:25
  I recognize that public safety isn't only
• 1:26:27
  measured in the number
• 1:26:28
  of units that we could
• 1:26:30
  put on the street or the amount of money
• 1:26:31
  we invest in police and fire.
• 1:26:34
  But it's by how you feel while enjoying
• 1:26:37
  the many amenities our city has to offer.
• 1:26:41
  I will do everything in my power.
• 1:26:44
  The city will do everything in its power
• 1:26:46
  to make sure that
• 1:26:47
  experience is joyful and fulfilling.
• 1:26:51
  Now, every day I see with my old eyes and
• 1:26:55
  I hear directly from
• 1:26:56
  residents about homelessness.
• 1:26:59
  It is an issue that can't be remedied
• 1:27:00
  simply by changing policy.
• 1:27:03
  It requires a level of empathy,
• 1:27:06
  understanding that the
• 1:27:07
  government alone cannot provide
• 1:27:10
  the answer.
• 1:27:12
  Instead, it requires all
• 1:27:13
  of us working together.
• 1:27:16
  We must ask ourselves and each other,
• 1:27:18
  what kind of people do we think we are?
• 1:27:23
  Let that answer be a people
• 1:27:25
  that helps the least of us.
• 1:27:28
  That's what members of our homeless
• 1:27:29
  outreach team exemplify
• 1:27:31
  each and every single day.
• 1:27:34
  When I first came into office, we had one
• 1:27:35
  person on the homeless outreach team.
• 1:27:38
  Within my first term of office, we
• 1:27:40
  increased that number of
• 1:27:41
  one to ten full-time employees
• 1:27:45
  whose job it is to go out each and every
• 1:27:47
  day and interact with
• 1:27:48
  the homeless where they
• 1:27:49
  are because people are
• 1:27:51
  homeless for different reasons.
• 1:27:54
  Drug abuse, mental health issues, or
• 1:27:57
  sometimes they are just hit
• 1:27:58
  upon an economic disconnect
• 1:28:01
  in their life.
• 1:28:02
  But we can't address their individual
• 1:28:04
  problems unless we interact with them.
• 1:28:06
  We have ten full-time employees whose job
• 1:28:09
  is to go out and
• 1:28:12
  interact with the homeless.
• 1:28:19
  In the same way that we provided Valerie
• 1:28:21
  with the tools for her small business to
• 1:28:23
  succeed, we gave MJ a second chance to
• 1:28:27
  pursue an opportunity.
• 1:28:29
  Originally from Gainesville, Florida, MJ
• 1:28:31
  had dreams of breaking
• 1:28:32
  into the Miami entertainment
• 1:28:34
  industry.
• 1:28:36
  But like so many people, she faced some
• 1:28:38
  challenges when she went down to Miami.
• 1:28:41
  Soon she had to begin the long journey
• 1:28:42
  from Miami back to her hometown.
• 1:28:46
  Having spent her last nine, MJ's journey
• 1:28:48
  from Miami to Gainesville was cut short.
• 1:28:51
  Unfortunately she soon found herself in
• 1:28:53
  downtown West Palm Beach,
• 1:28:55
  homeless and short on hope.
• 1:28:58
  A medical emergency brought MJ to JFK
• 1:29:00
  Medical Center where she
• 1:29:02
  met members of our West Palm
• 1:29:03
  Beach Homeless Outreach Team.
• 1:29:05
  Working closely with our police
• 1:29:06
  department and hospital
• 1:29:07
  social workers, our homeless
• 1:29:09
  outreach team members
• 1:29:11
  quickly devised a solution for MJ.
• 1:29:14
  They contacted a local shelter in
• 1:29:15
  Gainesville, made the necessary
• 1:29:17
  arrangements, and MJ was
• 1:29:19
  safely returned to her hometown.
• 1:29:22
  Now MJ didn't choose homelessness.
• 1:29:25
  Circumstances that became overwhelming
• 1:29:27
  forced her into a life of homelessness.
• 1:29:31
  The scope of the homeless
• 1:29:32
  situation is substantial.
• 1:29:35
  It's huge.
• 1:29:36
  But that doesn't discourage me as the
• 1:29:38
  mayor of this city from
• 1:29:39
  confronting this challenge
• 1:29:40
  head on.
• 1:29:42
  But we're making some progress.
• 1:29:45
  While the progress
• 1:29:45
  seems slow, make no mistake.
• 1:29:49
  Progress is not about
• 1:29:50
  speed, it's about direction.
• 1:29:53
  I'd like to celebrate our homeless
• 1:29:54
  outreach team for another effective year.
• 1:29:59
  Their tireless efforts result in a
• 1:30:00
  successfully housing or sheltering 302
• 1:30:04
  chronically homeless
• 1:30:05
  individuals, reconnecting 75 individuals
• 1:30:08
  through the city's
• 1:30:09
  Homeward Bound Program, providing
• 1:30:11
  156 homeless individuals critical mental
• 1:30:15
  health and substance abuse services, and
• 1:30:17
  overall conducting 2,743 engagements
• 1:30:20
  through city parks,
• 1:30:22
  neighborhoods, and other targeted
• 1:30:24
  locations.
• 1:30:26
  Our work to combat homelessness is the
• 1:30:28
  base of a broader vision
• 1:30:29
  to increase our safety,
• 1:30:31
  strengthen businesses, and create a city
• 1:30:34
  where everyone has a place to call home.
• 1:30:39
  That vision has mirrored first in our
• 1:30:41
  investments in
• 1:30:41
  infrastructure and public services, which
• 1:30:44
  lead to groundwork for a connected,
• 1:30:46
  sustainable, and thriving
• 1:30:48
  future, and second in a city
• 1:30:50
  that emphasizes economic development as a
• 1:30:53
  catalyst for progressive growth.
• 1:30:56
  You don't have to look forward to seeing
• 1:30:58
  the investments we're
• 1:30:58
  making in our city's
• 1:30:59
  infrastructure.
• 1:31:01
  Last year, our City Engineering
• 1:31:02
  Department completed 35
• 1:31:04
  capital projects with a total
• 1:31:06
  value of $30.1 million and invested $2.3
• 1:31:10
  million to repave our
• 1:31:11
  sidewalks and upgrade
• 1:31:13
  pedestrian safety throughout our city.
• 1:31:17
  In the Roosevelt Estates Neighborhood
• 1:31:18
  alone, a neighborhood in the
• 1:31:21
  historically black community
• 1:31:23
  in our city that had been ignored, quite
• 1:31:25
  frankly, for years, in
• 1:31:27
  that neighborhood alone, they
• 1:31:28
  received $4.8 million in infrastructure
• 1:31:31
  investments that included
• 1:31:32
  improvements to the sanitary
• 1:31:34
  sewer and drainage system, as well as
• 1:31:36
  road and sidewalk repaving with
• 1:31:38
  additional infrastructure
• 1:31:39
  improvements to come in 2025.
• 1:31:43
  That is inclusivity,
• 1:31:44
  ladies and gentlemen.
• 1:31:50
  We also continue prioritizing climate and
• 1:31:52
  sustainability as a matter of conscience,
• 1:31:55
  as well as common sense.
• 1:31:57
  Each day, literally 375 employees of the
• 1:32:00
  Public Utilities Department
• 1:32:01
  work to ensure the delivery
• 1:32:02
  of safe drinking water to our city
• 1:32:04
  residents and the
• 1:32:05
  customers we serve in the town of
• 1:32:07
  Palm Beach and South Palm Beach.
• 1:32:10
  And I'm pleased to announce that we've
• 1:32:12
  sourced water to supply our
• 1:32:14
  growing city and customers
• 1:32:15
  drinking water for the next 50 years.
• 1:32:19
  Yes?
• 1:32:22
  Some of y'all may be
• 1:32:22
  here and get thirsty.
• 1:32:24
  The Flooding and Aquifer will serve as a
• 1:32:26
  new underground source
• 1:32:27
  of water for West Palm
• 1:32:28
  Beach.
• 1:32:29
  With that achievement, we're
• 1:32:30
  investigating new water treatment
• 1:32:32
  possibilities for the
• 1:32:34
  city's water supply.
• 1:32:40
  As our population grows, we need to
• 1:32:43
  ensure that we make our city more
• 1:32:44
  connected, exploring
• 1:32:46
  ways to move people and not just cars.
• 1:32:50
  You see, I know that at times traffic
• 1:32:51
  congestion gets bad.
• 1:32:53
  Believe me, I get the
• 1:32:54
  emails, I get the phone calls.
• 1:32:57
  But the only thing that concerns me is
• 1:32:59
  that there are senior
• 1:33:00
  citizens in some of our neighborhoods
• 1:33:02
  who don't have access to a vehicle,
• 1:33:04
  making it nearly
• 1:33:05
  impossible for them to pick up their
• 1:33:06
  prescription medications
• 1:33:07
  or go to the grocery store.
• 1:33:10
  So we need to think about their
• 1:33:12
  transportation needs as well.
• 1:33:13
  So through initiatives like our Ride WPB
• 1:33:15
  Mobility Pilot Program, we
• 1:33:18
  are officially moving thousands
• 1:33:19
  of people across our city.
• 1:33:22
  A while back, I heard the story of Ms.
• 1:33:24
  Soles, who lives on Tamron Avenue.
• 1:33:26
  She's extremely grateful to know that she
• 1:33:28
  can call to get a
• 1:33:30
  ride to Publix to pick up
• 1:33:31
  her necessities and sometimes even pick
• 1:33:34
  up a couple lottery tickets.
• 1:33:37
  She obviously hasn't won because I
• 1:33:38
  haven't gotten that call yet.
• 1:33:39
  But anyway, because of Ride WPB's
• 1:33:42
  success, I'm happy to share
• 1:33:44
  that we will be advertising
• 1:33:46
  a proposed permanent transportation
• 1:33:48
  system, one that will
• 1:33:49
  significantly expand access
• 1:33:51
  to transportation and mobility to over
• 1:33:53
  95,000 people across our city.
• 1:33:58
  And with the – yeah, that's a big deal.
• 1:34:02
  Those are people who don't have to use
• 1:34:04
  cars to get to where they need to go.
• 1:34:07
  And with the completion of our bike
• 1:34:08
  infrastructure projects, we're not only
• 1:34:11
  enhancing our city's
• 1:34:12
  mobility, but also creating connections
• 1:34:15
  that bring areas
• 1:34:16
  outside of downtown closer to
• 1:34:19
  the heart of our city.
• 1:34:21
  Now, ladies and gentlemen,
• 1:34:22
  some would say, "Why bikes?
• 1:34:24
  Why bikes?"
• 1:34:24
  Bicycles are an equity issue.
• 1:34:30
  There are some people who don't have
• 1:34:31
  cars, but they need
• 1:34:32
  bicycles to move from their
• 1:34:34
  house to work and back.
• 1:34:37
  So we cannot ignore the fact that an
• 1:34:40
  efficient, effective bicycle
• 1:34:43
  infrastructure helps the
• 1:34:45
  inclusivity it helps equity in our city.
• 1:34:55
  To ensure we are implementing the safest
• 1:34:57
  infrastructure possible that
• 1:34:58
  encourages more users, we are
• 1:35:00
  updating our bicycle and mobility plans.
• 1:35:04
  Our city is taking significant steps
• 1:35:05
  toward achieving a
• 1:35:06
  transportation mode of shifting
• 1:35:09
  away from single-occupant vehicles.
• 1:35:14
  By prioritizing connectivity, we're
• 1:35:16
  creating a thriving,
• 1:35:18
  inclusive city with safe streets
• 1:35:20
  and enhanced mobility.
• 1:35:23
  Early this year, we found ourselves at a
• 1:35:25
  junction of possibility.
• 1:35:29
  With the county as our partner, we
• 1:35:31
  created a ripple effect
• 1:35:32
  that will benefit this city
• 1:35:34
  for generations to come.
• 1:35:36
  And today, I want to reinforce the
• 1:35:38
  essential and critical
• 1:35:39
  nature of that choice, and while
• 1:35:41
  supporting Vanderbilt University by
• 1:35:42
  donating our respective
• 1:35:43
  lands was and is the right
• 1:35:46
  choice and a transformational
• 1:35:47
  opportunity, an investment
• 1:35:49
  in our future that will yield
• 1:35:50
  far more than any
• 1:35:51
  short-term financial gain.
• 1:35:54
  Vanderbilt's programs in artificial
• 1:35:55
  intelligence, data science, and business
• 1:35:59
  are not just educational
• 1:36:00
  offerings.
• 1:36:01
  They are the foundation of what once
• 1:36:03
  tomorrow's workforce will be built.
• 1:36:05
  The Innovation Hub Vanderbilt Proposers
• 1:36:07
  will contribute to the
• 1:36:08
  ecosystem of collaboration
• 1:36:10
  for which we have laid the groundwork,
• 1:36:13
  bringing our local
• 1:36:13
  entrepreneurs together with cutting-edge
• 1:36:16
  academic research.
• 1:36:19
  Imagine a future where underserved
• 1:36:22
  communities are uplifted
• 1:36:23
  through the initiatives that
• 1:36:24
  Vanderbilt University will
• 1:36:26
  bring to Palm Beach County.
• 1:36:29
  Welcome Vanderbilt.
• 1:36:39
  Consider the economic growth and the
• 1:36:40
  thriving workforce that we
• 1:36:41
  result from that partnership.
• 1:36:43
  But Vanderbilt isn't the only renowned
• 1:36:44
  institution with its eyes on our city.
• 1:36:47
  Cleveland Clinic will be the first
• 1:36:48
  non-profit research
• 1:36:50
  hospital and the first new hospital
• 1:36:52
  in our downtown area in over a century.
• 1:36:56
  Cleveland Clinic's expansion into West
• 1:36:57
  Palm Beach will
• 1:36:58
  transform care for our community
• 1:37:00
  through a new hospital and outpatient
• 1:37:02
  clinic providing a
• 1:37:03
  broad range of specialties.
• 1:37:06
  Aiming to meet the present and future
• 1:37:08
  needs of our community,
• 1:37:10
  our philanthropic community
• 1:37:11
  is raising millions of dollars to invest
• 1:37:14
  in services for our
• 1:37:15
  children, a direct investment
• 1:37:18
  in the future.
• 1:37:20
  Let me give you a few examples.
• 1:37:23
  Take the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
• 1:37:26
  Recently the museum broke ground on a
• 1:37:28
  $115 million expansion
• 1:37:30
  with nearly $100 million
• 1:37:32
  raised through the private sector.
• 1:37:35
  The project will double the size of the
• 1:37:36
  campus and expand
• 1:37:37
  student engagement from 150,000
• 1:37:40
  to 350,000, 70% of those being minority
• 1:37:44
  population and 50% of those being Title I
• 1:37:47
  students, reflecting
• 1:37:48
  a bold commitment to STEM
• 1:37:50
  education and equity in our city.
• 1:38:00
  The new Boys and Girls Club in Dreher
• 1:38:01
  Park is another example
• 1:38:02
  of transformative work
• 1:38:05
  and a collaboration between the
• 1:38:06
  philanthropic sector
• 1:38:07
  and the youth of our city.
• 1:38:10
  To be built on city designated land, the
• 1:38:12
  $13 million project will
• 1:38:14
  serve approximately 800
• 1:38:15
  children a year, ages 6 to 18.
• 1:38:19
  Remarkably, 100% of that $13 million was
• 1:38:23
  raised through charitable donations.
• 1:38:26
  The facility will provide academic
• 1:38:27
  support by certified
• 1:38:28
  teachers, mental health and hunger
• 1:38:31
  relief programs, as well as career
• 1:38:33
  readiness programming.
• 1:38:36
  Their location provides for extraordinary
• 1:38:38
  opportunities with the Cox Science Center
• 1:38:40
  for STEM programming and
• 1:38:42
  teen employment opportunities.
• 1:38:45
  Then there's the park, a
• 1:38:48
  former municipal golf course.
• 1:38:51
  The foundation that was established in
• 1:38:52
  connection with the park
• 1:38:53
  raised over $55 million to build
• 1:38:56
  a world class golf course.
• 1:38:59
  But it's not just
• 1:39:00
  golf, ladies and gentlemen.
• 1:39:01
  They have a program called The Path.
• 1:39:04
  The Path supports families with after
• 1:39:06
  school programs, homework
• 1:39:08
  assistance, financial literacy
• 1:39:10
  workshops and more, turning recreational
• 1:39:13
  spaces into hubs for
• 1:39:16
  community development.
• 1:39:18
  We remain focused on
• 1:39:19
  students even after high school.
• 1:39:21
  The Related Together initiative launched
• 1:39:24
  with an $8.2 million commitment,
• 1:39:27
  guarantees tuition-free
• 1:39:29
  post-secondary degrees for high school
• 1:39:31
  graduates with a focus on
• 1:39:32
  students from the historic
• 1:39:34
  northwest, Coleman Park and Pleasant City
• 1:39:36
  communities through a
• 1:39:38
  partnership with Palm
• 1:39:38
  Beach State College.
• 1:39:46
  After omitting this effort, the emerging
• 1:39:48
  Scholars Summer Academy engaged over 250
• 1:39:52
  middle and high school students in
• 1:39:53
  planning their
• 1:39:54
  educational paths, fostering a sense
• 1:39:56
  of belonging and preparing them for high
• 1:39:59
  wage and high demand careers.
• 1:40:02
  These efforts showcase the power of
• 1:40:05
  collaboration, innovation and
• 1:40:08
  investment in our community.
• 1:40:10
  I guarantee you that of all those donors,
• 1:40:12
  I'm sure many of you
• 1:40:13
  are here in this room
• 1:40:14
  for any of those
• 1:40:15
  projects I just identified.
• 1:40:18
  You didn't do it for
• 1:40:18
  your kids or your grandkids.
• 1:40:22
  You invested in the future of the
• 1:40:25
  children in the city
• 1:40:27
  for generations to come.
• 1:40:29
  And I thank you.
• 1:40:32
  When we come together to support
• 1:40:41
  education and opportunity,
• 1:40:42
  we lay the foundation for
• 1:40:43
  a remarkable future
• 1:40:44
  for generations to come.
• 1:40:46
  Clearly our story is attracting the
• 1:40:48
  highest in excellence and
• 1:40:50
  is uplifting the best our
• 1:40:51
  community has to offer.
• 1:40:53
  But I wanted to take it a step further
• 1:40:55
  and ensure that we as a
• 1:40:56
  city are intentional about
• 1:40:57
  how we market ourselves.
• 1:41:00
  Recently my team welcomed the Chief
• 1:41:01
  Marketing Officer to help tell our story.
• 1:41:04
  And what are we learning?
• 1:41:06
  As our new tagline states, and you'll be
• 1:41:08
  hearing more about it
• 1:41:09
  later, there is more to West
• 1:41:10
  Palm Beach.
• 1:41:12
  But don't just take my word or our word,
• 1:41:15
  this month it was
• 1:41:15
  announced that West Palm Beach
• 1:41:17
  is a top winner in the prestigious 2025
• 1:41:20
  Trip Advisor Traveler's
• 1:41:21
  Choice Best of the Best
• 1:41:22
  Awards for Destinations.
• 1:41:31
  This award is the highest honor Trip
• 1:41:32
  Advisor bestows and serves
• 1:41:34
  as a testament that there
• 1:41:35
  is more to see and more
• 1:41:36
  to do in West Palm Beach.
• 1:41:39
  Our city offers exceptional experiences
• 1:41:41
  to every visitor, and
• 1:41:42
  that recognition underscores
• 1:41:43
  the unique charm and vibrant spirit that
• 1:41:46
  makes our city a top
• 1:41:47
  destination for travelers from
• 1:41:49
  around the world.
• 1:41:50
  But it's not just visitors
• 1:41:51
  who are telling our story.
• 1:41:53
  The public art popping up around our city
• 1:41:55
  is also telling our story.
• 1:41:58
  Take Fred Everesley's incredible work
• 1:41:59
  Portals, for example.
• 1:42:02
  Located in Julian Able Park, Portals
• 1:42:04
  creates a dynamic
• 1:42:05
  intersection between history and
• 1:42:06
  art, embodying the way to the past while
• 1:42:09
  envisioning the possibility of tomorrow.
• 1:42:13
  This installation accomplished through
• 1:42:14
  collaboration with the public
• 1:42:15
  and private sector pays homage
• 1:42:17
  to the architect Julian Able, an
• 1:42:20
  African-American architect
• 1:42:21
  who designed the first Church of
• 1:42:23
  Christ scientist.
• 1:42:25
  But because he was black, he couldn't put
• 1:42:27
  his name on the plants.
• 1:42:30
  Nearly a century later, Portals breathes
• 1:42:32
  new life into this
• 1:42:33
  historic site, honoring the
• 1:42:34
  past, but points a
• 1:42:36
  steadfastly toward a bright future.
• 1:42:40
  As our city grows, we have unique
• 1:42:41
  opportunities to work with
• 1:42:43
  our private sector partners to
• 1:42:45
  broaden public access to the arts and
• 1:42:47
  attract more
• 1:42:47
  internationally recognized artists.
• 1:42:51
  So as I close, ladies and gentlemen, I'm
• 1:42:54
  proud to report that our
• 1:42:55
  city, your city, is stronger,
• 1:42:59
  healthier and more
• 1:43:01
  prosperous than ever before.
• 1:43:03
  For my part, I commit to continue doing
• 1:43:05
  those things that make us
• 1:43:06
  proud to stop things that
• 1:43:08
  aren't working and launch those that do.
• 1:43:12
  The people I meet in our community know
• 1:43:14
  that hard work and
• 1:43:15
  collaboration make us not just
• 1:43:17
  a better city, but better people.
• 1:43:20
  We are connected as one, bound by the
• 1:43:24
  shared success of our city.
• 1:43:26
  Our city is living proof that hope is
• 1:43:29
  alive, that humanity
• 1:43:31
  thrives, and that opportunity
• 1:43:33
  for all is within reach.
• 1:43:35
  That is what great cities do.
• 1:43:38
  As your mayor, I will continue to work to
• 1:43:41
  ensure others see us
• 1:43:42
  as we truly are, a city
• 1:43:44
  defined by our commitment to live well,
• 1:43:48
  lead boldly, and do what's right.
• 1:43:52
  Today we celebrate what makes our city
• 1:43:53
  extraordinary and its people remarkable.
• 1:43:57
  Let us seize this great
• 1:43:58
  moment, born of great opportunity.
• 1:44:01
  Together we create safer neighborhoods.
• 1:44:04
  Together we connect
• 1:44:06
  every corner of our city.
• 1:44:09
  Together we fortify a strong foundation.
• 1:44:13
  Together we offer a future
• 1:44:15
  of boundless possibilities.
• 1:44:18
  This is our time.
• 1:44:20
  Let's lead with vision.
• 1:44:22
  Let's move forward with purpose.
• 1:44:24
  And together let's
• 1:44:26
  build the future we deserve.
• 1:44:27
  That's my goal.
• 1:44:28
  I hope it is yours too.
• 1:44:30
  Thank you to everyone here.
• 1:44:31
  I appreciate you.
• 1:44:32
  God bless you.
• 1:44:37
  Thank you.