James record as Mayor 2020
January 23, 2023
March 6, 2020 When voting was over in 2018 and James was elected mayor a friend and I took a trip to the PBC Supervisor of Election Office and they couldn’t have been more generous with their time and patience. Here’s what we learned.
My district is 7058 and there are 2,363 registered voters. 154 went to the polls and 90 voted by mail. 2,119 people did not vote.
My friend is district 7130 and there are 2,473 registered voters. 177 went to the polls and 86 voted by mail. 2,210 people did not vote.
When we complain about bad government, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
April 2020: The city previously allowed residents two months April and May to prepare for the hurricane season and granted amnesty where the city would pick up yard waste at no extra cost to residents, and we pruned back trees to allow the hurricane winds to pass through with little or no damage, and many residents took advantage of the city’s “gift.”
Well Mayor Keith James decided the city was losing money and he eliminated the amnesty due to the Carona Virus.
Now neighbors are hesitant to trim back trees not knowing how they will pay for the special pickup. Thousands of people out of work through no fault of their own, with no paycheck, desperately trying to apply for unemployment benefit or waiting for a check from the Federal Government. Both are slow in coming. Folks are panicked about paying their rent, mortgage, car loans and utilities and now hundreds of dollars for the city to remove yard waste. After getting push back James decided a couple of weeks amnesty would be enough time and the “special” fee would resume.
Affordable Housing: Before passing this development, residents were told the city was desperate for affordable housing for low-income residents.
Below is what we received.
Broadstone Locklyn Apts. on Village Blvd.
The City of WPB has awarded most of our water views to developers so it only makes sense they must now spread out throughout the city.
The Family Church located at 3600 Village Blvd. has sold a large section of their property to Broadstone who plans to construct 6 buildings 4 stories high and consist of 280 rental apartments of studio apt’s 1, 2 and 3 bedroom and the rent from $1,775.00 to $2,375.00/ month. Construction finished and apts. remain empty.
New information below taken from Broadstone website Dec. 2022
2023 “Broadstone is offering “Now Leasing and Offering up to 6 weeks free* on Select Floorplans and Waived App & Admin Fees*! Starting at $2,393” Apt’s will remain empty.
Below both Resolutions on the Consent Calendar, where items are seldom discussed and voted on as a whole.
Resolution No. 111-20 “authorizing a letter of support to the Florida Department of Transportation for the Lane Elimination planned for the Broadway Improvements Project from 25th Street to 45th Street. Transportation staff is proposing to submit a Lane Elimination Application to the Florida Department of Transportation to eliminate vehicular travel lane(s) on Broadway from 25th Street to 45th Street.”
The city states: “As one of the highest traveled corridors in Palm Beach County, Broadway (State Road 5/ US Highway 1) is the ideal location for storefronts and businesses that will contribute to business expansion and commercial revitalization.”
The city is telling us Broadway is one of highest traveled corridors so why would they remove a travel lane?
Resolution No. 110-20 “approving the City’s intent to engage in mandatory conflict resolution procedures in an action filed against the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency regarding an amendment to its Long Range Transportation Plan that added a project extending and widening State Road 7.”
Ibis Country Club, located in District 4, is the reason the city has spent years and wasted millions of taxpayer dollars fighting the SR7 expansion. Why?
“At present, the community consists of 1,864 condo, attached, and single-family homes. There are 9,640 residents in Ibis Country Club.” They all have one thing in common. They vote, and they vote to protect a Mayor and City Commissioners who continue to fight the expansion. In other words Ibis picks City Commissioners in District 1,2,3 and 5. If you don’t understand, please read the first paragraph in the story. Disgraceful!
April 2020 Carona Virus:
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order in April that exempted firearms and ammunitions manufacturers from the state’s restrictions during the COVID-19 crisis.
Florida Governor’s Order Supersedes All Local Orders – Firearm Industry Can Remain Open Throughout Florida”
May 2020:
“The mayor of West Palm Beach, Fla., declared a state of local emergency on May 31 that banned the sale of firearms and ammunition as well as the right of citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection in public unless they are members of law enforcement.” James ignores DeSantis executive order.
May 31,2020 (Sunday) “West Palm Beach declares State of Local Emergency.”
A cop (Derek Chauvin) murdered a black man (George Floyd) by placing his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes as he begged for air.
There was a peaceful protest on Clematis St. when James at 8:00 PM, signed a Declaration of State of Local Emergency (curfew) at the request of Police Chief Adderley. The curfew was to be enacted from 9:00PM until 6:00AM. At this point the Mayor and Police Chief were the only two with knowledge of the curfew.
Police officers addressed the crowd on Clematis St; by a megaphone and an armored vehicle that looked like a tank and told peaceful protestors to disperse because of a curfew that had been imposed with no time to advertise the curfew. Two people knew, James and Adderley.
“But then things turned destructive. Protesters torched a Geek Squad van outside the Best Buy store on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. The Target store nearby had some of its windows broken out.”
The problem was on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd; not on Clematis St. where a peaceful protest was taken place.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/west-palm-beach-declares-state-of-local-emergency
“Business owner blames police for escalating violence on Clematis Street.”
“Several downtown business owners are waking up to shattered windows after a tense confrontation between protesters and police Sunday night.
Windows at Subculture Coffee, Rush Bowls, and Miracle Leaf in the 500 block of Clematis Street were shattered Monday morning.
The tense confrontation followed a day of mostly peaceful protests in West Palm Beach.”
Police tried to get the crowd to disburse after announcing a 9 p.m. curfew.
When some people did not immediately leave, witnesses said, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
Downtown business owner Rodney Mayo said it didn’t have to go that way. He believes that’s when the damage happened to his business.
“Right after that when the shields (went up) and they escalated it right after that,” he said. “It was completely unnecessary.”
Deputy Chief Rick Morris released the following statement: Please read the link below for Morri’s statement.
“Rodney Mayo says officer pepper spraying protesters led to Sunday’s confrontation with police.
Cell phone video from several sources shows the moment some claim sparked the confrontation between West Palm Beach Police and protesters Sunday night.
As people ran, some grabbed road barriers and signs and began tossing them into the street. Police said others threw rocks and bottles at officers.
Restaurant owner Rodney Mayo, who was in the crowd, said if not for the pepper spraying, that wouldn’t have happened.
“That was the catalyst that started it, yeah, I don’t think it would have escalated, because that’s when everybody started running because they got sprayed with mace,” said Mayo.
Mayo said police should have been more patient, but instead barely gave people a warning before firing foam bullets and dispensing smoke and tear gas.”
As WPBF 25 News first reported Tuesday, Adderley acknowledged they did use one tear gas dispenser after denying it Monday. He said that was a mistake that happened when an officer picked up the wrong canister, and he and other top officers weren’t aware of its use until Mayo pointed it out.”
June 2020 Peace Cookout for Police & Protesters
In an attempt to bring peace between Police and Protesters Rodney Mayo provided food, tents, tables, chairs and a band. Everything WPB demanded before the permit was issued.
There were invited speakers and one young man impressed me. His name is Ricky Aiken and he established “Inner City Innovators”
“Inner City Innovators was born from a need. A deep need to help the youth of communities, centered in the neighborhoods of West Palm Beach, Florida. With a rising crime rate, and shootings happening right and left, Executive Director, Ricky Aiken, saw that the time for change wasn’t two years or ten years into the future, it was now.”
James canceled the permit for the Peace Cookout. At the last-minute Lake Worth generously offered to host the event.
Aug.2020 PSC Contract, the story that keeps on giving.
Below are excerpts from a story in the PB Post.
“Investigator’s recommendation found probable cause that Mayor Keith James “misused his position to urge the award of a no-bid security contract to a company operated by one of his friends.”
“If James is found to have violated state ethics law, he could face fines of as much as $10,000 per violation or removal from office.”
“Shortly after taking office in April 2019, the mayor canceled a bidding process initiated by his predecessor”
“A rival of PSC, Giddens Security Corp. of Jacksonville, sued the city, alleging favoritism, and filed the ethics complaint.”
“I do believe that the mayor misused his position, tried to benefit his friend, by setting in motion that an existing contract be eliminated and that they rapidly do a consolidation, and that he failed to disclose that it was his friend,” said one ethics commissioner.
“It seemed like this mayor is a little bit out of control,” said another.
Giddens had a contract with the city and it covered from city hall and the main library to Northwood Village, the water and wastewater plants, and city operations center.
I sat in the Commissioners Chambers and listened to a Giddens employee, with tears running down her cheek, speak out and the PB Post ran a story and below are excerpts.
Valerie Jones described herself as “one of those homeless people” who lived in Currie Park. A year ago, she landed a full-time job with Giddens Security. Now she patrols the park.
On Monday night, she stood before West Palm Beach’s mayor and city commissioners and implored them to rescind the no-bid contract they gave without notice to another firm.
“I don’t want to be homeless again,” she told them. “I need my job.”
Mayor Keith James responded to Ms. Jones comment, with the disguesting comment.
“So, for Mr. Giddens to encourage you all to come up and pull at our heartstrings, in my view, is quite disingenuous”
Sept. 2020 Car Allowance
Car Allowance. Years ago a former commissioner complained about the paperwork involved in receiving reimbursement money he spent on gas in his private vehicle used for city business. So a resolution was passed and they voted themselves $500.00/month. My surprise was 4 other city officials who also received the benefit. So we have 9 people receiving $6,000.00/year= $54,000.00.
Mayor James did not receive the Car Allowance. As City Commissioner he received a total of $48,000.00 over 8 years. The shocker was when I discovered the city purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV Full Size 4×2 which is assigned to James. The taxpayers also pay for his car insurance and gas. It’s good to be king.
Another surprise was discovering Gregory Key, Special Assistant to the Mayor, was driving a city owned 2019 Ford Explorer SUV Mid-Size and again the taxpayer is on the hook for car insurance and gas. It’s good to be prince.
Negotiations with Police & FireFighters for a new 3-year contract:
When first elected Mayor James was like Santa Clause at Christmas time handing out promotions and pay raises like the well would never go dry. Traveling from city to city along with his Police Security Detail spending thousands more.
The Carona Virus struck hurting the economy and the well started drying up. If James handled the city’s finances in a responsible manner from day 1 WPB outlook may not seem so dire that the only alternative the city could see was eliminate blue collar workers.
Residents protested and the city found another way. Fight the firefighters (IAFF) and police (PBA) union and deny them a decent wage.
I sat in the room listening to the negotiations when James entered the room, bellowing, “I told you last week you had my final offer, why are we here to negotiate again?” Bully
I have no reason to believe Mayor James and City Administrator Faye Johnson have negotiated in “good faith” when they tell city employees and the public that if the fireman get raises city workers will get laid off.
James and Johnson declared an impasse in negotiation and it was sent to a Special Magistrate for a decision.
Both the Police and Fire Fighters are unhappy with the city’s impasse. James and Johnson has nearly destroyed the 2 most valuable assets the city has, cops and firefighters. They deserve better and so do the residents that depend on them.
Homelessness:
“Public Hearing and Second Reading of Ordinance No. 4919-20 amending the City’s Code of Ordinances to prohibit certain conduct that threaten the aesthetic beauty and public health and safety in the Cities Downtown and Northwood Area.”
4919-20 is James’s solution and residents witnessed his frustration while attempting to bully the commissioners into approving the Ordinance.
James started by stating “This ordinance is not a criminalization of homelessness,” and repeated his statement several times. The Ordinance carries a penalty of a $500.00 fine or 60 days in jail.
“Officials in West Palm Beach are hoping a continuous loop of the children’s songs “Baby Shark” and “Raining Tacos” played throughout the night will keep homeless people from sleeping in a waterfront park.” Sun Sentinel story below.
1,433 Comments. Read how residents feel about homelessness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8eL0xMGpc
James, a Harvard graduate and attorney, who should have known better thinks he can do as he pleases with no push back. Well, the Southern Legal Council did push back. Read the letter below.
The end