Standing Strong for Our City:
A Message from Mayor Keith A. James
In these uncertain federal budgetary times, West Palm Beach continues to be resolute and a community of opportunity for all.
Meet Mayor James
Mayor James is the City's first African-American "strong mayor," whereby the Mayor is the City's Chief Executive Officer directing the administrative structure, and the City's fourth African-American Mayor.
Prior to being elected Mayor in 2019 and re-elected unopposed in 2023, Keith James served as the District 4 City Commissioner from 2011 to 2019, serving as President of the Commission twice. During this time, Mayor James helped create West Palm Beach's strategic plan, finance plan, water plan and mobility plan. Mayor James has been a part of the leadership that has led West Palm Beach from the depths of the recession to the booming metropolis we have today.
Mayor James has been a a leader in economic and social innovation in Florida, working to ensure residents have access to housing options for all income levels and jobs in diverse economic sectors. His 300-in-three initiative to create 300 units of affordable housing within the first three years of his administration, quickly blossomed into 600-in-three. Through innovative initiatives and incentives to both for-profit and non-profit developers, Mayor James was able to expand his administration's goal to 1,400-in-eight. This formula for providing affordable housing units has garnered national and international attention.
2026 State of the City Address
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Vanderbilt University Commits
to West Palm Beach Campus
Under the guidance of the Office of Mayor Keith A. James, the City has worked with Vanderbilt University to establish a new campus in the heart of West Palm Beach. At a news conference on Monday, January 12, 2026, Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier announced they had reached a funding milestone and have committed to making the graduate school campus a reality.
Mayor Keith A. James, Featured Panelist
at Harvard University's Bloomberg Center for Cities
(Photo courtesy Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University)
As Mayor, I know that climate disruption is not a distant challenge. It is unfolding in real time. At Harvard’s Bloomberg Center for Cities, I joined the “Rethinking Urban Governance for Climate Mobility” panel to discuss how communities can prepare for this reality.
I shared why leadership must do more than theorize: we must anticipate, collaborate, and build resilient systems now. By embracing adaptive and inclusive planning, we can safeguard our communities and protect the future we share.
Monde Economique sits down
with Mayor Keith A. James
"Mayor Keith James, elected to lead West Palm Beach in 2019, has transformed the face of a once-battered city into a model city for the United States.
And for the world."
(Screen capture from Monde Economique feature of West Palm Beach and influential Mayor Keith A. James)
Mayor Keith A. James recently sat down with Swiss business and economics reporter Sabah Kaddouri of Monde Economique to discuss the emergence of West Palm Beach as "Wall Street South," and a "Community of Opportunity for all."
Monde Economique is a trusted magazine for corporate executives, senior managers and key decision makers that is based in Geneve, Switzerland. Her complete article can be found here(PDF, 738KB)
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Metrics and Milestones:
A Conversation with Mayor Keith A. James
The past six years has been a tumultuous time for the City of West Palm Beach. From the dark days of the pandemic to overwhelming optimism about the future, West Palm has prospered like no other. Today, we talk with Mayor Keith James about how the City got here, how 2025 is shaping up, and what he sees is in store for this “city on the move.”
Learn About Mayor James' Vision for
The City of West Palm Beach
Through His 2025 State of the City Address
Tackling Affordable Housing in the City of West Palm Beach
Leveraging philanthropic private equity to ease the affordable housing crisis.
Newsweek columnist Arick Wierson recently explored the impact of philanthropic private equity investment in residential projects as a way to ease the affordable housing crisis in West Palm Beach and throughout the United States. Mr. Wierson sat with Mayor Keith A. James recently to discuss how the City is leveraging private investment dollars to provide affordable housing in new residential projects. His Newsweek article can be viewed here.
Commitment to Education
A cornerstone of Mayor James' Administration is his commitment to education and advancing the needs of students within the City of West Palm Beach. His annual Education Grants for elementary schools within the City, and the City's participation in the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) are among his initiatives aimed at improving the standards for the City's youth.
Mayor James also takes time to meet with students and answer their questions. Owen, a home-schooled elementary student, recently sat with Mayor James for an interview for a school project.
Learn more about Mayor James