[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6219000,"mediaKeyId","3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d","parentId",3624174,"title","West Palm Beach mayor urges strategic federal engagement, recommends rebranding DEI to protect local programs","audioSeconds",281,"startMs",1021000,"endMs",1302000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d&start=1021&end=1302","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d/thumbnail_1021000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219000/Florida/West-Palm-Beach-mayor-urges-strategic-federal-engagement-recommends-rebranding-DEI-to-protect-local-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219000-28d3662616747d2a60d7788d0c1de7a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203192&Signature=Nhah58YhVsAoztuleW4yn2w0Q6FwylDooWELF4mxGWceDX6SATsHy~pm8jwOh~hwp9sn73faANCd1ZIL0WsDMfDNjHlkaDNvBpNMaQdMLsUb2aNmcoQK9VtbjTQzXhNoeFyKuvVwTJjiyUg6ssblRYASTPCaE8yHECd2TwzwVuciqLyr00ENfY5CYr5kxxlX-RClH4TOqO7JZjuT3VRLoxV57EOJc9UrR~v9qnv9t-TpW85wabkLraV-E2RcuVyw8MbxMvEiRzTfhECnofIK1YkWfCOzwGwXx~4xzVfBp-9O4xybhjk1gCrj7is2K2WO6i~WCj1DJG6oZi9vzVZrFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Palm Beach, FL","date","2025-06-02T17:33:08Z","article","Mayor Keith James urged a strategic, data-driven approach for city leaders engaging with the federal government and recommended pragmatic messaging changes for local diversity programs in light of shifting national politics.

Speaking on the City Center podcast, James said Black mayors should \"not be the face of opposition to this new administration\" and instead should conduct a stress test of how proposed federal policy changes could affect local grants and programs. \"We need to do that stress test and and have that data,\" he said, adding that mayors should present that data to local business leaders and ask for their help in advocating for their cities.

On program messaging, James suggested being pragmatic about terminology: \"Even though we may feel, strongly feel that, DEI diversity, equality, and inclusion programs are important, let's be realistic and change the name. I mean and and, you know, let's not call it DEI. Call it something else that is more palatable to, to to the taste.\" He framed this as a pragmatic step to maintain programs' benefits without becoming embroiled in national political fights.

James also referenced the city's geographic proximity to Mar-a-Lago and said that access to national leaders can be an opportunity to advance local priorities; he said the city supplies water to Mar-a-Lago and cited interactions with the White House as an avenue to raise local issues.

Discussion only: the mayor recommended a tactical approach to federal engagement and messaging; he did not commit the city to renaming any specific program or to particular lobbying actions in the interview.

What to watch: whether the city pursues formal stress-testing of federal-policy scenarios or alters the branding of local programs publicly.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Metrics and Milestones: A Conversation With Mayor Keith James","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Keith James said Black mayors should use data and choose allies when engaging the federal government, and suggested renaming diversity-equity-inclusion programs to make them more politically palatable while protecting local initiatives.","taxTitle","Events, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",80519,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219005,"Mayor credits private developers and investors for West Palm Beach growth, cites Vanderbilt and Cleveland Clinic",198,484000,682000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d&start=484&end=682","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d/thumbnail_484000.jpg","/articles/6219005/Florida/Mayor-credits-private-developers-and-investors-for-West-Palm-Beach-growth-cites-Vanderbilt-and-Cleveland-Clinic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219005-04d6f3feba4f3b9f530c4ffe694fe313/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203192&Signature=kti7uvtGoh0pX7JI3P5t6X7Lf15AdOTuCMikV5fQvdP8obkvq0Cxk7cbOj3O2IhsF8rAYYtk9UcmFnH3VxHi6WR9zlgzNSn3ppPSX7Pw2BsxKevSWri2s1M8zj~8I1plOtENhwydYHRIOOzjjFAjQvM6vrcvVf0Rbn1yaUhpQU8LteMA~EQ-Ya6VYfYo6IeT0mMR5djluSAogmFASpTLe8u7vRfX1FrR97dRsbNUuB446SCUoV2LuyxV5UH0evk4NUwhBQU1BeUsffzuet2gnxfzhf-s14jN1FINewF7mzuQGHJD9j321xR~xU-ioVxSqYZ5ZnsLoOFPsqxFX40PFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Keith James credited a convergence of city leadership and large private investors with recent growth in West Palm Beach, saying that the cooperation has helped attract institutions and companies that provide jobs for residents.

On the podcast James recounted meeting Stephen Ross of Related Companies at a groundbreaking and quoted Ross as saying, \"I'm spending money in your city like a drunken sailor.\" James said that remark illustrated the scale of private investment and, he added, that Ross told him the investments were motivated in part by the city's leadership and vision. \"He says, I'm doing it because of your leadership,\" James said.

James said private partners have helped attract higher-education and health-care institutions to the city, citing Vanderbilt's planned graduate programs (MBA, engineering, cybersecurity and financial services concentrations) and the Cleveland Clinic as examples. He framed those arrivals as part of a strategy to bring jobs to the city so that \"young people may go off to get their undergraduates someplace else, but at least the Vanderbilt might be an option for them if they grew up here.\" He also said developers are being asked to help \"build a community\" and not only construct buildings.

Discussion only: the mayor described private investment and institutional commitments as drivers of local economic growth; he did not announce specific incentive packages, tax abatements, or contract awards on the podcast.

Implications: James said the combination of jobs, education and health care creates a \"critical mass\" that can attract and retain talent, supporting the city's broader goal of inclusive growth.","Mayor Keith James told the City Center podcast that a convergence of public leadership and private investment — including Related/Stephen Ross — helped attract projects such as Vanderbilt and Cleveland Clinic and is creating jobs that may encourage young people to stay or return to West Palm Beach.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219009,"Mayor: violent crime has fallen after West Palm Beach's 'job number one' focus on public safety",86,283000,369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d&start=283&end=369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d/thumbnail_283000.jpg","/articles/6219009/Florida/Mayor-violent-crime-has-fallen-after-West-Palm-Beachs-job-number-one-focus-on-public-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219009-d059a965a26879907bf58b99fb038384/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203192&Signature=OWe1zjiQ5Z7hge077N9Lmj03CYNClfYHg9ZP-CYrcK~lYC9KwBHDw04rMs7zFc3ts3jX9sSJXG5GSsX-OwyOXlvzsh9BKujf7pr0wPknnu82Mpyoqf5lCuSnQpKI5bRt9OD-FHDHtQvRB~8KpY1Ty8IQqTJRy1ERugMKdmWiu73k4IKhJpbwRfU5ZNWit9SK8sGYBzJLpSV0HjtL2-9IfVVclB1~4zoKuzrSVlnAUj2dtWofz7kBQPEXXgUCCVQGBq4gfTGfR8BBByY15uDEC5vwlTZsvl-9GkinbtXBvrBvslty3gfRb~43sxDaZDpJjY9iJuIm9ERPLH8qo8irpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Keith James said public safety remains the administration's top priority and that violent crime in West Palm Beach has fallen significantly since he ran for office.

\"Public safety is job number 1,\" James told the City Center podcast. He recalled that \"when I was running, West Palm Beach had 3 years, 3 consecutive years, where in each of those years, there were 18 murders. 18 murders.\" He added that while progress has been made, the work is not finished: \"If we have 1 more murder, that's 1 too many.\"

James linked safer streets to the city's broader growth strategy, saying residents and potential employees will not stay in a city where they do not feel secure. He said continuing to make the city \"feel safe and secure\" requires vigilance and intentional policy choices, but did not announce any new policing budgets, ordinances, or specific programs during the interview.

Discussion only: the mayor presented descriptive figures on past homicide counts and characterized crime trends as improving; no formal action or vote was reported on the podcast.

What to watch: James framed public safety as an ongoing priority linked to housing, economic development and quality of life; he said maintaining progress will require continued attention by city leaders.","On the City Center podcast, Mayor Keith James said violent crime has \"gone down significantly\" after the city prioritized public safety; he recalled a period when the city recorded three consecutive years of 18 murders and warned that continued vigilance is necessary.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":93,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219014,"West Palm Beach mayor says city is about 72% toward 1,400-unit affordable housing goal",84,453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d&start=369&end=453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624174-397e0f63aa334bbe6da1b01e7b357a8d/thumbnail_369000.jpg","/articles/6219014/Florida/West-Palm-Beach-mayor-says-city-is-about-72-toward-1400-unit-affordable-housing-goal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219014-28caef0eb111ecdcaadc15adf27abcfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203192&Signature=Og~9kBYAPBkvGV1AZbCHCMa4lbr4qWz~HU44Cc~joZV6bYlUllsVpzumJ0CgfMmwnhfU80a39ci7Ii6f7KOEzp4L0Iwm2pBLJ0viNeP83xbkuVgeM3rmwVFTQwBVKXI9~1Pb1E-KlvnGPvLiFV~Qvp5V9b2mdj8VSpLeeBPdzcxqWszv5wUr5YkVo6ChkddQP9b334s2R9uKrnHzHcQ61aW-uxCyAsFNw4~CN41-DlAeUrmQ1HZW9aqz3LR9ULwEpS7ZdfoeJZUN~kqUnUJIEk3jEuiJuC32R4uTT7yYu80oyF1BEw6PCzdD~bYkL~lS~6OWweTwF8zgYDZdvc~ABQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Keith James said West Palm Beach has reached about 72% of a goal to produce 1,400 affordable housing units over eight years and expects the city to exceed that target by the end of his second term in 2027.

The goal was part of James’s administration strategy to keep West Palm Beach affordable as demand rises, the mayor told the City Center podcast. \"I established a goal of 1,400 units in 8 years of my having 1,400 units of affordable housing, completed on on the books, by the time I finish up my second term in 2027,\" James said. \"I'm happy to say I think we're about 72% of the way there.\"

The mayor linked the housing effort to broader growth pressures: as job and development activity increases, he said, simple supply-and-demand dynamics have pushed prices up. \"If you put more and more demand for housing there, the prices will go up,\" James said, urging continued use of city policies and ordinances to \"incentivize the developers to give us more affordable and workforce housing.\"

James also compared the city's written commitment to other jurisdictions, saying the 1,400-unit target \"is more than any other municipality has put on the books, and it's more than the county has put on the books.\" He framed the target as a tangible metric that his administration can track and expand on, but did not provide a line-item funding breakdown during the interview.

Discussion only: the city has relied on policy incentives and partnerships with developers to meet the target; James described progress but did not announce a new ordinance or a specific funding appropriation during the interview.

What happens next: James said he is confident the city will exceed the 1,400-unit goal by 2027 and that city leaders will continue to pursue policies to expand affordable and workforce housing.","Mayor Keith James told the City Center podcast the city has completed roughly 72% of a 1,400-unit affordable housing target set for his second term, and he said he expects the city to exceed the goal by 2027 amid rising housing demand.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Palm Beach mayor urges strategic federal engagement, recommends rebranding DEI to protect local programs

Mayor credits private developers and investors for West Palm Beach growth, cites Vanderbilt and Cleveland Clinic

Mayor: violent crime has fallen after West Palm Beach's 'job number one' focus on public safety

West Palm Beach mayor says city is about 72% toward 1,400-unit affordable housing goal