The mayor discussed several initiatives the city is working on, including public safety, affordable and workforce housing, homeless outreach and the police department. During his address, the mayor said his administration's commitment to public safety is unwavering and provided statistics to support his statement. Last year, WPTV reporter Kayla McDermott covered West Palm Beach police's efforts on an undercover operation they had been working since October that led to more than a dozen arrests as part of a crackdown aimed at getting drugs off the streets in the city.
The mayor added that the police department conducted 14 prostitution operations last year that netted arrests. According to the mayor, the city has nearly tripled its goal of affordable and workforce housing units. The mayor said 1, new units will be added by the end of his tenure in In the calendar year alone, units came under construction and were in the predevelopment stages," James said. In August , WPTV reported that West Palm Beach officials announced the completion of the first new affordable downtown apartments in the last three decades.
However, in November , West Palm Beach was named the third worst metro area in the United States for pending home sales, according to a Redfin report, due to surging homeowners association fees and insurance costs. In addition to public safety and affordable housing, the mayor touched on the issue of homelessness and the city's efforts to help those without a place to call home.
Understanding that the government alone cannot provide the answer. Instead, it requires all of us working together. In December , WPTV reporter Todd Wilson uncovered the growing concerns of residents and a nonprofit about the increasing homeless population in West Palm Beach and the lack of resources. WPTV also reported on neighbors, business owners and other community members voicing concerns about homelessness during a community meeting in September and the need for solutions to homelessness in downtown West Palm Beach.
The mayor addressed some of these concerns Thursday during his speech, stating that the Homeless Outreach Team has engaged with over 2, homeless individuals, connecting hundreds with new housing, families and mental health services. The mayor also said during his speech that he remains committed to ensuring the West Palm Beach Police Department meets the highest standards. When standards were not met, the mayor said he took decisive action to restore trust in the community by replacing the police chief.
