Mayor Keith James: Inclusive growth, public safety and housing top priorities as West Palm Beach attracts developers

Mayor Keith James said West Palm Beach has made measurable progress on violent crime, set a goal to create 1,400 affordable housing units by 2027 and is pursuing “inclusive growth” through public-private partnerships that have helped attract institutions such as Vanderbilt and health-care providers.

James, the mayor of the City of West Palm Beach, made the remarks in an interview on the City Center podcast. He said public safety and housing remain central priorities as the city adapts to rapid growth driven by new development and corporate relocation.

“Public safety is job number 1,” James said, summarizing what he called a fundamental accomplishment of his administration and a continuing priority. He told the host that violent crime has come down since the late 2010s, when the city recorded three consecutive years with 18 murders each year.

James described the city’s housing target as a measurable policy goal: “I established a goal of 1,400 units in 8 years of having 1,400 units of affordable housing, completed on the books. By the time I finish up my second term in 2027… I think we're about 72% of the way there.” He said the goal is intended to be “tangible” and to exceed what other local governments have “put on the books.”

On economic development, James attributed recent in-migration of companies and skilled workers to a convergence of public- and private-sector actors pursuing the same objective. He credited developer Stephen Ross and Related Companies with investing heavily in the city and said that private developers helped bring Vanderbilt’s graduate programs and health-care employers to the area. “I'm doing it because of your leadership,” James said he was told by Ross, paraphrasing an exchange at a project groundbreaking.

James acknowledged concerns that the city is growing “too far and too fast,” and said his role is to strike a balance: “You can't have Uber wealthy within blocks of abject poverty. That combination won't work.” He urged policies and ordinances that incentivize more affordable and workforce housing and said the city must broaden the benefits of growth across neighborhoods.

On talent retention, James said creating local higher-education and job opportunities is part of the strategy to keep young residents or draw them back after college: “We're also bringing educational institutions with Vanderbilt establishing a graduate MBA program… so the Vanderbilt might be an option for them if they grew up here.”

James also discussed political strategy in the federal context. Speaking to Black mayors and business leaders, he said cities should prepare data-driven “stress tests” on how federal policy changes could affect local budgets, services and economic development, and then use that data to engage local business allies rather than leading national opposition.

He recommended reframing program names when necessary to preserve support, citing diversity, equity and inclusion programs as an example: “Let's not call it DEI or call it something else that is more palatable to the taste.”

Looking ahead, James expressed confidence the city will meet its housing goal before his term ends and urged continued vigilance on public safety and inclusive job creation as West Palm Beach grows. “West Palm Beach is in very good hands, and West Palm Beach is headed in the right direction,” he said.

The remarks were made during a roughly 22‑minute recorded interview on the City Center podcast produced by the city communications department.