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28 September, 2026 10 10 Comments

Hubris…

September 28, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 10 Comments

I wouldn’t know Delray’s CFO if I tripped over him.
I’ve never met him, I don’t watch city meetings and I have no idea what he’s about. So this isn’t personal.
But last week, my phone started pinging when Henry Dachowitz unleashed a diatribe that targeted the cost of our police and fire departments.

Curious, I went online where I saw an array of Delray police retirees—many my friends—express disgust at the comments. I saw that the county Police Benevolent Association had issued a statement condemning the CFO’s statements and I found a link to the remarks.
I clicked.
What I saw was despicable.

The first rule of governance is to know your place. That doesn’t mean you can’t speak out or offer ideas.
It does mean that you shouldn’t question your boss’s competence or question the governing body’s political will (courage) publicly, unless of course they are endangering lives or breaking laws. Supporting public safety is neither unlawful or dangerous.

If you want to go home and tell your wife that you work for a bunch of incompetent weaklings that’s one thing. Go ahead and vent.
But to put it on the record, broadcast it on YouTube and refuse to stop when the mayor tells you to is another matter.
You can’t unsay what he said. And I don’t know how he can continue to work productively with people he so clearly sees as lacking.
A few things stick out.
One is the contention that local elected officials support police officers and firefighters because the unions are strong and the officers and firefighters are popular in the community.
So what’s your point?

Are you saying the community is wrong to support public safety?
Have you considered that the businesses and taxpayers in this community made a choice long ago—long before you were hired-to invest in public safety?
So let me state clearly and unequivocally: that investment was made because this town was once a hotbed of drugs and crime.

In the 80s, the crime rate in this town was shocking. Some neighborhoods were open air drug markets. People from all over the region came here to buy crack.
Major drug dealers set up shop in the village by the sea. When the police pushed back, one infamous kingpin hung a pigs head on a street sign as a warning for cops to back off or else.
The traffic lights on West Atlantic Avenue were blinking yellow because it was too dangerous to stop at a light.
I can go on and on.

I know this to be true because I was there. As a newspaper reporter, I rode with the men and women of our police department. I saw firefighters pelted with bottles when they responded to fights that were breaking on our main street.

In the late 80s and early 90s and right through today, citizens and their elected representatives made a decision to create a safer community.
It’s an ongoing effort and struggle that requires an ongoing commitment and investment.
Delray is a safer place as a result. Not a perfect place, not a crime free place, but the progress has been real and palpable. You can feel it.
So to question that investment is a big deal.

Yes, the cost of government is an important topic. People are hurting because of inflation and everything should be looked at, including the cost of providing government services.
But to question the political will of elected officials, the financial acumen of your city manager, the judgment of the community and the difficulties faced by officers is another matter.
When I watched the video several thoughts flashed through my mind.
How dare you was the first.
I was also stunned by the hubris of a man who would say on the record that he had forgotten more than the collective experience on the dais.
Really?
That’s a heckuva claim.
Maybe it’s true. Maybe you are the Warren Buffett of municipal finance minds, but somewhere you could have used a Dale Carnegie course.

If you’re a genius, so what? What you said was disrespectful and ultimately doesn’t further debate.

If you sit on that dais how are you supposed to work with someone who so clearly doesn’t respect your judgement; someone who assumes you support police and fire because you fear the power of their unions.
Again, if you want a conversation about the cost of government services and what spending should be prioritized and what should be trimmed or eliminated bring it.
But how do you have that conversation now?
And to compare the work of NYPD officers with our officers serves what purpose ?
What exactly are we saying?
Why? What’s the purpose?

I’m not sure. But I do know the impact when you publicly question the worth of public servants.
It hurts.
And again I have to ask why?
The CFO may have a ton of experience somewhere else. But he makes a rookie mistake when he only looks at the cost not the benefits of an investment.
Providing top quality public safety is an expensive endeavor. Not only do you have to invest in training, equipment, technology and leadership development but you have legacy costs as well (pensions).
Delray is not the only city that has to figure it out.
We exist in a competitive landscape and if you want top talent you have to be competitive and stay competitive.
It’s not easy. But there’s no choice because these services are essential.
But here’s the flip side. There are benefits we derive. Some are measurable: crime stats and some aren’t (peace of mind, a feeling of safety in our homes, a knowledge that if my family is in trouble we can dial 911 and get quality help in minutes).

From my perspective as a nearly 40 year resident, the Delray Beach Police Department are the unsung heroes of our community. Without safety, you can’t get investment. Without safety, you can’t have quality of life. The work these men and women did over the past 40 plus years brought this city back from the brink. They have enabled immense value to be created.

Those benefits need to be in the discussion before you label a service too expensive. The Delray PD turned this town around. Period. End of story.
I am not saying that these departments are above scrutiny. They aren’t. They can’t be. But I am saying a honest discussion begins with an acknowledgement of costs, benefits and value.
Department heads are there to provide expert analysis. They are not there to play politics. In other words, stay in your lane. That cuts both ways, elected officials are there to set policy not administer the day to day.
What I and many others heard last week was a political speech.
That’s a no-no.
If your morals and sensibilities are violated you have a choice—you can always leave.
But you can’t undermine. You can’t decide to only embrace and implement the policies you agree with.
If you want to be a politician, run for office.
If you want to tell everyone how smart you are and that you are surrounded by people without the political will to do the right thing well that’s your right but don’t be surprised if that attitude bites you hard.

21 September, 2026 0 Comments

A Two-Fer: Housing Thoughts & Old School Square

September 21, 2026 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

These sure are interesting times.

Recently, I celebrated my 39^th year as a resident of the Sunshine State.

Back in 1987, I was a kid fresh out of college seeking solace from the harsh winters I experienced going to school on Lake Ontario where it would sometimes snow in May.

Florida in the 1980s was affordable paradise.

I rented a two-bedroom apartment with a “Florida” room and tons of amenities for $600 a month. In 1988, when I bought my first home in Delray Beach, we spent $69,000 for a new townhouse off Barwick Road. That price included all the upgrades that were offered. Insurance was nominal (this was pre–Hurricane Andrew) auto insurance was less than half what I paid in New York, and there was no income tax.

Palm trees, warm breezes, year-round tennis and my childhood best friend living across the line in Broward made me a happy camper. I quickly fell in love with my new home.

After all, what’s not to like? (Heat, Humidity, Hurricanes—the three H’s –didn’t factor into my thinking at the time, Happy hour, Home fries at Poppie’s and Har-tru tennis courts did.)

But over time that affordability has eroded.

We’re not alone, but the situation in Boca-Delray is particularly acute especially when it comes to the cost of housing.

Insurance is no longer cheap. Auto insurance is very high, and the overall cost of living makes this a place where it’s hard to make ends meet unless you’ve been here a long time and already have a home, make a lot of money, have a lot of money, win the lottery or live on a friend’s couch.

Personally, I don’t know too many people who could afford to buy the house they are living in if they had it to buy it today.

Yet the notion of homeownership is a key to the American Dream.

As America marks its 250^th birthday, perhaps it’s a good time to assess the state of the American Dream.

I think a corollary to homeownership is the power that Americans possess to create communities. Typically, that was made possible by the ability of Americans to tax themselves to fund local infrastructure and services.

According to a recent Wharton business school article: “After World War II, states legislated for, and localities implemented, master land-use plans that created an economic boom without rising home prices. We became a nation of homeowners as the homeownership rate went from less than half to two-thirds of American households. Although lagging other groups, a majority of minority households also became homeowners by the end of the 20th century. Nearly 90% of Americans achieved the American Dream of homeownership at some point in their lifetimes.”

That system allowed young people to become independent at a young age, typically starting their own households in their 20s or early 30s at the latest. Today, the median first-time home buyer is in their 40s, middle aged before they get their starter home.

Wow.

Just absorb that for a moment.

Since 2022, housing costs for new homes have more than doubled. In my neighborhood, they’ve quadrupled since we moved there in 2003.

Mortgage rates have gone from 3 percent to around 7 percent and rents have skyrocketed. Miami just passed New York City to become the most expensive big city to live in.

All this adds up to a very tough climate for people to live the dream. (Inflation, high health insurance rates, spiking food prices and expensive gas and electricity doesn’t help).

Economists are calling these factors the “Great Postponement” meaning young people are delaying key life decisions like marriage, having kids etc., because they just can’t get traction.

It’s interesting that housing and taxation are twin topics of concern these days, because they are linked.

Florida voters will decide in November whether to severely cut back on property taxes by increasing exemptions.

As a former elected official who worked on 7 budgets (which by law must be balanced, unlike our friends in Congress) I struggle with how this is all going to shake out especially since more than half of city budgets are devoted to police and fire services.

Yet, I understand the public’s need for relief. And I also understand that tax revenues, tied to rising property values, have made city budgets very large indeed.

Add a general lack of trust in government at all levels and it becomes a toxic stew.

Still, I think we should be careful what we wish for; and let’s be clear–this isn’t a tax cut, it’s a tax shift and we may end up paying more in assessments and fees because the need for public safety, roads, water, drainage etc. isn’t going away.

I noticed that the City of Delray Beach went on social media recently to thank taxpayers for the services they fund.

Cities are not supposed to advocate for ballot issues—but they are allowed to educate. I thought the post was interesting—but a strategic misstep. It just didn’t sound right, and it was met with a slew of comments complaining about spending and poor service delivery. Fair or unfair, it felt like the post invited a barrage of negativity.

Yes, government can always tighten its belt. Yes, services can always be improved. Government should be accountable for every dollar spent.

But that’s a different conversation from what I’m seeing. Granted, I’m not sure social media is a good gauge of public sentiment but there does seem to be a belief that either these services will magically pay for themselves or that we don’t need them.

On TV news, I keep seeing people saying that since their kids are no longer in school, they don’t want to pay school taxes. Well, don’t we have an obligation to invest in our future? Aren’t these kids our kids too? Don’t we owe them an education? Didn’t we help pay for your kids’ schooling?

The most disturbing thing I’m seeing is the lack of regard for home rule from our friends in Tallahassee. Since when does some legislator hundreds of miles from Delray or Boca know better than us how to run our cities?

Now if you don’t like the way your city is being led, run for office or vote for someone else who might do a better job but to cede control over your budget, land use decisions and other things seems to be fundamentally anti-Democratic.

One size usually doesn’t fit all. What works for West Palm Beach may not fly in Boca Raton. Cities and their stakeholders should have the right to create their own vision for what they want to be.

Regardless, we do have to tackle affordability, especially housing.

One out of three young adults ages 24-35 are living with their parents, according to the latest stats I could find — a return to the historic high point during the pandemic and earlier during the Great Depression.

The median age for a first marriage has risen by nearly a decade since the 1970s, and the average age for a first birth continues to increase. Just a generation ago, becoming a first-time parent after age 30 was viewed as unusual. Today, it’s common.

So, what can we do?

Tools include zoning reforms, allowing accessory dwelling units, allowing higher density development (never easy politically) and hopefully lowering interest rates if economic conditions allow for it. Taming inflation would also help, also easier said than done despite the promises of politicians on both sides of the divide.

In the next few weeks, I will be speaking with some affordable housing experts about ways our philanthropy might get involved. I’ll let you know what I learned.

Meanwhile, buckle up. The next few months and years promise to be very interesting.

We need a national commitment to make sure our children can achieve the American Dream. A hand up, not a handout as they say.

Editor’s Note: And now for something different. I’ve rarely turned over this space to another voice, but when my friend former Commissioner Jim Chard asked if he could talk to you about the future of Old School Square, I said yes. On Tuesday, September 22, the Commission will be talking about the future of Old School Square. So this is certainly timely. Jim, take it away.

Restoring the Cultural Vibrancy Delray Once Had

By Jim Chard

Introduction

This study takes a deep dive into what has happened to Old School Square. It examines why the campus was shut down, what the citizens lost, and how we might possibly return to a vibrant cultural center at the heart of Delray.

Once upon a time many years ago, Delray was a cultural center

The Crest Theater went dark on August 10th, 5 years ago. Not only the theater but many other cultural activities including an art school and concerts were terminated. In a surprise move, the City Commission voted to terminate the contract with the Old School Square Center for the Arts without cause. And without a replacement strategy.

It is long past the time for the contentious groups to put down their pitch forks and implement a plan to return Delray to its position as a beacon of culture in South Florida.

This study will explore what we have lost as a community, reveal the roadblocks to returning to its former glory, and put forth a modest proposal to return the Old School Square campus in the center of Delray to its former glory.

Starting with a small group of visionaries in 1970s, the cultural center was built piece by piece over 30 years. By the early 2000s Delray had an active theater and lecture hall, a jewel of a museum, an amphitheater for concerts, a prestigious art school, and a lively community center in the Vintage Gym. The cultural campus at the center of Delray catalyzed the rebirth of downtown and energized civic renewal. With the exception of the Cornell art museum, none of the other cultural venues have approached their former prominence.

The campus was active 365 days per year, with some evenings offering activities in all the buildings and spaces. Old School Square (OSS) at its height offered more than 3,000 activities per year.

Despite the termination of the OSS lease, the not-for-profit which founded and built Old School Square has not gone away. It is raising funds and offering grants all dedicated to teaching the value of arts and culture to our children including grants for school art supplies, scholarships for students, and the 6×6 art sale and show.

After all this time the key question is how to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Where does the money come from? Who or what manages, schedules, recruits, and delivers all these activities. Previously 75 to 80% of the annual costs were paid by the not- for-profit. Now the City (i.e., taxpayers) carries 100% of the cultural center expense: maintenance, programming, operations. Some of the costs are buried in the Parks and Public Works budgets, others consist of grants to the Downtown Development Agency. This strategy is not viable particularly with the current threat of a drastic reduction in property tax revenues.

The City owns the problem since they terminated the contract and repossessed the buildings. It’s past time for the City Commission to recognize its responsibilities and begin to rebuild what we once had.

Cornucopia of Culture and Entertainment

This section is written to briefly mention a few of the activities we no longer have or are a shadow of their former selves. Old School Square was a magical place for events in the heart of the City – St Patrick’s Day, First Night, 100-foot Christmas Tree (including staffing) and Hannukah candles, and the Delray Affair. A few of the many examples are listed below:

Speakers and Lecturers, some humorous, some musical, some thought provoking (Barbara Bush, Sandra Day O’Connor)
Town Hall meetings educating all of us on issues that matter to Delray

(High Cost of Free Parking, Comprehensive plan)

Extensive education programs for children and adults

Arts and culture were provided to public school children that were no longer available at school.

Community gathering space, common ground to celebrate or to mourn

(student rally after mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School)

Concerts in the Crest Theater and the Amphitheater

(Jimmy Buffet, Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra)

Partnerships in the community

(Delray Art League, Orchid Show, first All America City award, Delray Beach Historical Society)

Festivals found an inviting, affordable venue at Old School Square

(Roots Cultural Festival, open air art festivals, art of John Lennon and Yoko Ono))

Education

(Full school – both day and night, National Water Color Society, League of Historic American Theaters)

Lecture Series – nationally recognized figures spoke with Delray residents

General Alexander Haig– Sec of State, Bob Scha effer, Jane Russell

Theater Productions

(Quest Black Theater group – Raisin in the Sun, Ain’t Misbehavin, Broadway’s Q Street)

Cabaret Theater – patrons could gather at tables, enjoy a refreshing beverage and almost

reach out and touch the stars (Chita Rivera, Ann Hampton, Liz Calloway)

Concerts at the Crest

(Jennifer Holiday, Lea Salonga)

Minority Representation

(Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tina Turner Review, Copeland Davis)

Fund Raising and Programming Metrics

To give a sense of the activities available at OSS, here is the programming for a typical year

5 lectures per year

5 Broadway Cabarets (2 showings each)

10 mainstage shows

Art Exhibits 4- 6 per year

Field House (Vintage gym – 250 events

Art School – 25-30 teachers, 4000 students

16 free movies

10 free concerts

5 special events

5 comedies

Operations

Obviously such an encyclopedic schedule requires manpower and funding

Staff – 18 full time, 7-10 parttime

Volunteers 12 – 14 per Crest Theatre event, total of over 100

Members – 400 official members, donations exceeding $100k from Inner Circle

Annual ticket subscribers – 1,300

Total capital raised – $11 million to construct the campus

Economic Impact (Source – Americans for the Arts) -$11- 15 million per year into the local economy

Fund Raising and Sources

National Endowment for the Arts

Grants – State Cultural Facilities and Historical Preservation

Elmore Family Fund, Lettie MacNeal Foundation, Laettner Fund, Cornell Family

Local donations and sponsorships from citizens and corporations

Florida State grants

Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council

Expense budget averaged $3 million per year

75% raised by OSSCTA, 25% from the City

Call to Action

Four years ago the City Manager promised a “seamless transition with more and better cultural opportunities”. Obviously, that’s not the case…because we have lost so much. In August of 2022 the City held a charette to determine what residents and stakeholders wanted on the OSS campus. The consensus was loud and clear, the participants wanted what they had previously.

As can be seen above, there are many moving parts to consider. Several options have been attempted, including asking the Boca Museum to run OSS. Why should we ask another community to come in and run cultural programs in our town? A formal Request of Interest was posted nationally. Although some entities expressed interest, no bids were received.

Meanwhile the Delray taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. However, no conversations are being held to solve this expensive problem – no plans for fund raising, programming or managing are being discussed.

With impending state legislation threatening a $21million revenue reduction and a change in Home Rule preventing investments in cultural affairs, it is hard to envision how the City can rebirth Old School Square. Meanwhile there is concern over deterioration of the 100-year-old buildings, especially the theater.

A Modest Strategy

The City should of course have great aspirations but minimize wishful thinking. We must recognize that at 350 seats, the Crest is a small theater with modest revenue. The average Broadway theater is 1500 seats and the Kravitz in West Palm is 2200, allowing more and higher priced tickets. Our expectations must be adjusted accordingly.

A smoothly operating cultural center must have a first-class management team, a governing entity like a board, a membership base, and a not-for-profit corporate structure with a strong local presence. This structure should not be imported from New York or Los Angeles (or Boca), and not be staffed or controlled by City Government. Of course, we should look for a “Broadway angel” or bluebird financier but the likelihood of finding such is near zero.

To relaunch a cultural center, the key ingredients are

Management by a not-for-profit dedicated to art, culture and education.

The Arsht, Kravitz Center, Lincoln Center, and Palm Beach Dramaworks are all

501(c)3 not-for-profits.

The plan should start small and build over a 5 -10 year period. An overly ambitious plan is likely to fail. We only have to look at Boca and its $50 million plan at Mizner Park to see the result of overweight plans.
The not for profit has to be staffed and managed by theater and cultural professionals, ideally with a stake in Delray.
A cultural center must reach out to multiple funding sources – grants, donations, tickets, sponsorships and memberships. It is unlikely that such an enterprise is ever going to make a profit; plans must recognize that cultural institutions rarely, if ever, make money.
Involvement with Delray Beach government must be limited despite the fact that the City is the landlord of the buildings. The not-for-profit must have a long-term lease that doesn’t include a clause that permits termination without cause if donors and grants are to be a major component to the funding. And whatever the organization chosen; it should be considered a partner not a “tenant” as some City officials want to do. That approach demeans the organization and makes it nearly impossible to recreate what we had…a thriving cultural center in the heart of Delray.

7.Leadership of the organization must redefine the cultural activities accounting for differences that have occurred since 2021in the current population, new competition, importance of home entertainment, and higher operating expenses (especially for talent).

Since it is going to take a long time and heavy lifting, we should start now. The City has many priorities but returning Old School Square to its former glory should be one of the top ones. A consultant’s proposal will be considered at City Commission on September 22. Let’s hope it incorporates most of the features listed above.

17 August, 2026 0 Comments

Remembering Tommy John

August 17, 2026 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Tommy John said goodbye to his fans recently.
The legendary pitcher issued a statement through the New York Yankees thanking fans for their support through the years. It was a touching statement from a class act.
Yesterday, August 15, we learned that he passed. He was 83.
To baseball fans of a certain era, the name
Tommy John conjures up memories of a terrific sinker ball pitcher who could be counted on to eat innings and win big games.
I was a big fan. John played on my favorite teams during a golden era in the 70s. Reggie, Thurman, Bucky, Sweet Lou, Sparky, Goose and Louisiana Lightning. Those were some special years.
They called it the Bronx Zoo, but Tommy John always seemed above the drama of Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner. He just took the ball every five days and did his job getting hitters to hit ground ball after ground ball.
In the early 70s, Tommy John would have a pioneering surgery on his arm that saved his career. The procedure,
performed by the legendary Dr. Frank Jobe, would be named after Tommy and would be used to save the careers of countless other pitchers at every level of the game.
John became the first major leaguer to come back after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament. An astonishing 35 percent of MLB pitchers have had the surgery at some point in their careers.
But Tommy John was more than a surgical procedure to his fans.
He was a workhouse who got by on savvy and movement because his injury robbed him of velocity.
Watching him pitch was akin to observing an artist at work. He would change speeds, paint the corners of the plate and more likely than not he would induce hitters into hitting an easy ground ball out.
Yes, power pitchers are exciting. But there’s room for people like Tommy John. They are fun to watch.
He pitched 26 seasons in the majors finally hanging up his cleats at the ripe old age of 46. Only Nolan Ryan pitched more years.
After his career ended, he went into broadcasting, coached a bit and also ran a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention.
A New York Times profile called him a good natured family man.
That’s pretty good isn’t it? A good life. Tommy John lives in Bradenton, Florida. I read that he stopped watching baseball in 2019 because he no longer recognized the game he spent a good part of his life playing.
Tommy John was from another era. A good era.
I love 70s and 80s baseball. It was a fun time to be a baseball fan. I still think the game is wonderful and I admire the athletes and marvel at what they can do. But things have changed.
Throwing 100 miles per hour is common these days.
It’s impressive (although it tears those ligaments with regularity) but I miss the days when Tommy John and Luis Tiant and Jerry Koosman took the mound and worked their magic through guile. They were pitchers, not throwers and they were special.
Very special.
It’s not easy seeing your childhood heroes age. In your mind’s eye they remain forever young. Only they are not. And neither are we.
Thanks Tommy John. You are a class act. Goodbye and thanks for the memories. I hope there’s a field of dreams on the other side of this life and that we’ll see you throw that sinker again.

6 July, 2026 8 8 Comments

Retired Old Men Eating Out

July 6, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 8 Comments

The wonderful cast and director of The Romeos. From left, Matthew, Shelly, Kathryn, Gary and Peter.

Imagine this.
You invite people to a beautiful, historic space with plush chairs, great sight lines, professional sound and lighting and ask them to listen to a wide variety of stories told by a talented team of writers, actors and directors whose only goal is to inspire and entertain.

There are no screens. No ear buds. No algorithms and no cell phones.
Instead, you’re asked to lean in and pay attention–all at the same time, together.
That’s the magic of theatre and when it comes together, when the actors are clicking and the storytellers are doing their job you get swept away by the experience. And when it’s over, you have something to talk about, something to think about. You will have laughed, you may have cried but you will depart feeling human again, part of a community that enjoys the immense pleasure and value of storytelling.
That’s theatre. And that’s what the Playwrights Festival at the Delray Beach Playhouse delivers year after year.

The 7th annual Playwrights Festival recently wrapped on a scorching hot Sunday afternoon.
A sold out weekend ended with my play The Romeo’s closing the festival.

Afterwards, the playwrights gather on stage for a talkback. The audience asks questions, share their thoughts and for a few golden moments we get to shine.
It’s a heckuva feeling my friends.

But then you get to walk through the theater greeting audience members, actors and stagehands because nobody really wants to let go just yet.
For the performers and playwrights the nervous tension has been released.
There’s a feeling of “we did it” permeating the air. It’s not easy to get up on a stage and try to transport an audience for 10-15 minutes—the length of the plays featured by the festival.
It’s not easy to write dialogue either, unless you’re Nora Ephron or Neil Simon.

Most of us mortals sit staring at blank screens trying to wrestle an idea into something coherent through trial and a whole lot of errors.
To see that work come to life through the talents of gifted actors shaped by visionary directors is a feeling that is indescribable. It’s worth the labor. Every time.
But there’s risk involved. Delicious risk because you never know if what you’ve written is any good until you hear it out loud or as theater people say “on its feet.”

I wrote “The Romeos” after a weekend family reunion where my brother in law Paul talked about “retired old men eating out.” Get it. Romeo’s.
At the time, I didn’t know it was a thing. All I knew, was that it was a great concept for a play. So I got to work. Now that I have a little experience and have met several actors I find myself writing with those actors in mind.

For the Romeos I imagined my friends Shelly Pittleman and Peter Salzer in two of the lead roles.
I saw Shelly as Frank, a widowed plumber grieving the loss of his wife Marie. And I saw Peter as Morty, a health conscious accountant.
We needed a third character so I created Sid, a retired English teacher and poetry aficionado who is also a romantic and a bit of a ladies man.
I put them in a diner on 441 and imagined that they met weekly in the same booth where they were ably waited on by Jessica, a younger waitress with aspirations and wisdom forged by hard won experience.

If I am to be honest, this one came easy. A first draft was done in about an hour. I saw the characters clearly. I had the set up, and I think I knew what life lessons I was hoping to convey in a quick s few pages.
Now all I needed was for it to be funny and touching. No problem.

Yeah right.

The truth is sometimes writing comes easy, it just flows and sometimes, most of the time, it’s a slog of self doubt. You search in vain for magic and you wrestle with a feeling that it’s lacking that certain something you just can’t put your finger on.

For me, and other writers I’ve spoken to, we live for those flow moments when the words just appear from some mysterious place. But we also relish the struggle because we have faith that the struggle will make us better. When you struggle and solve the riddle it’s a great feeling. It’s also a great feeling when the characters cooperate and write for you.

The Romeos was the latter feeling for me. I heard Peter and Shelly. And when we cast Gary Eggers as Sid and Kathleen Shelton as Jessica they slid into the characters I imagined.
I can see myself writing with them in mind in the future.

The next step is to turn your script over to a talented director in this case the remarkable Matthew Schenk.
Matt and the cast made it sing.
And then, it’s over.
It’s performed and it vanishes.

That’s the cruelty and the grace of live theater. It’s not a movie. You can’t rewind it. You can’t stream it at midnight in your pajamas. You were either there or you weren’t. And if you were there– if you were in that room on that Sunday afternoon, then you own something that no one can take from you and no one else will ever have. Your version. Your experience. The way that particular line landed in your particular chest on that particular afternoon.

A film is a recording. A book is an object. A play is a séance.
You summon something into the room. It lives for a few minutes. Then it goes back to wherever it came from. And you sit there in the dark after the lights go down and you think: “was that real”?
It was real. It was a Sunday afternoon in Delray beach and it was real.

I’ve written a number of plays now. Some of them have been produced, some of them live in drawers, some of them are still becoming whatever they’re gonna become. But I will tell you this; nothing, nothing compares to sitting in a theater and hearing an audience laughing at the line you wrote alone on your phone at two in the morning. Nothing compares to the actor who finds something in the words you didn’t know was there, a pause you didn’t write, a gesture you didn’t imagine, a take that elevates a line and creates a magical moment.
Once you turn a play over to a creative team, it’s not your play anymore. It becomes our play and that’s my favorite part because the team takes the writing to places you never imagine.

The Playwrights Festival does something that almost nobody does anymore. It bets on new work. It bets on the unknown. It says; we don’t know if this piece is going to work, but we’re gonna put it in a room with real actors and a real audience and find out together. That’s not programming. That’s faith.
And as festival co-creator Marianne Regan reminds audiences, this work matters because we are creating the theater of tomorrow. We are building the canon in our own humble but sincere way.
We are also building community.
The festival sells out. In the middle of summer, the so-called slow season.
But there’s clearly a hunger for stories and live performance. There’s clearly a desire to get together and experience something live and in person with our friends and neighbors.
If I could, I’d live in that world.
It is hard to leave it.
I noticed that people linger. They want to talk to the actors and playwrights and each other. That’s so beautiful.
But eventually we leave, the curtain goes down, the lights go off. The actors go back to their lives.
That’s theater.
You build a world. You fill it with people. You let strangers into it for a few minutes and then you strike it, pack it up and carry it home where nobody can see it but you know it’s there.
The Romeos lived for one afternoon in Delray beach.
The imaginary booth is gone. The props are in a box somewhere.
Frank and Morty and Sid and Jessica are back in the script, where they live, waiting for the next time someone gives them a room, a light, and an audience.

29 June, 2026 4 4 Comments

My Friend The Pioneer: A Personal Tribute

June 29, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 4 Comments

Linda, her brother Howard, Scott and me at the U.S. Open celebrating our 50th birthdays.

My friend Linda Cohn announced her retirement from ESPN last week after 34 incredible years.

Because she’s been an important trailblazer for women in sports journalism, Linda’s announcement was big news.

But long before Linda Cohn became a household name — before the record 5,500 SportsCenter broadcasts, before the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, before she was the most prolific anchor in ESPN history — she was my friend Howie’s older sister. His cool, very cool, big sister. I’ve always admired her.
Linda was a terrific athlete, had a great sense of humor and impeccable taste in music and never made us feel like we were in the way.

Howie (now Dr. Howard Cohn) and I were born a week apart. So, we often celebrated our birthdays together with a visit–accompanied by our good friend Scott– to an amusement park near Amityville off the Long Island Expressway.

Amityville became better known for a horror movie bearing its name, but to us it was home to a place full of rides and arcade games. Linda or her dad would often drive us.

She also took us to concerts. One memorable show was the Doobie Brothers at Nassau Coliseum.

We scored great seats because Howie and Linda’s mom worked as a store nurse at Macy’s. Her office was next to what I think was called the “ticketron”, which meant we had an “in” to score tickets to the best shows of the day. Billy Joel at the Garden, Foreigner and Johnny Winter also at the Garden, Styx at the Coliseum. It was the 70s, and rock ruled the land.

My memories of Linda from those days are vivid. She knew more about sports than anyone, loved the Knicks, Rangers, Mets and Giants, played goalie on an ice hockey team and was an awesome tennis player.

Yes, Linda was cool. She also had a great laugh, put up with our jokes and never seemed to be annoyed when forced to hang out with us. And folks, we could be annoying.

One time, we went to see Beatlemania at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. We went with Linda and my friend’s Scott’s big sister and probably somebody else. Being young and foolish, we wanted some distance from these older women, so we sat in another car on the Long Island Railroad on the way to Penn Station.

When we heard the conductor announce Penn Station, we got off the train, only it wasn’t Penn Station. It was the stop before. The big sisters watched in horror as the train pulled away with us standing on the podium. Eventually, we reunited in the actual Penn Station. I don’t remember their reaction, but I think they were forgiving. I’m also pretty sure we stayed together until we returned safely to Stony Brook.

There were more trips and experiences. We went to Central Park when John Lennon was killed in 1980 for the vigil. That was unforgettable.

We also visited SUNY Oswego, where Linda played on the hockey team and studied broadcast communications.

My memories are her always laughing with us.

That’s the thing about knowing someone before they become someone.

You carry a version of them that the world never gets to see. The Linda Cohn who became a pioneer for women in sports journalism is the same person I watched grow up — or rather, the person who watched us grow up, shepherding a bunch of younger kids around Long Island with the patience of someone who probably had bigger things on her mind already.

She started at WALK-AM/FM in Patchogue N.Y. in 1981, covering news and sports. By 1992 she was at ESPN, and the rest is television history. But numbers don’t really tell the story. What Linda did was simply show up, every night, and treat sports like it mattered — because to her, it genuinely did. As mentioned, she was a former college hockey goalie. She wasn’t performing enthusiasm. She had it.

For those of us who spent decades watching SportsCenter, Linda was the constant. Generations of kids fell asleep to her voice recapping the late scores. And quietly, without making a crusade of it, she was showing a generation of young women that the anchor desk belonged to them too.

She said it herself, in her retirement statement: “What I’m most proud of is that my career lasted long enough for me to see little girls grow up watching SportsCenter, enter this business and succeed in it.”

That’s the whole thing, right there.

At a Queen concert in Sunrise, Florida.

When Howie and I turned 50, Linda did something I’ll never forget. She treated us to a sports weekend in New York City, access to the ESPN box at the US Open, sideline passes for a Giants preseason game (we were a few feet from Tom Brady and he waved to her), up close at a Mets game. It was one of those weekends that reminds you how lucky you’ve been with the friends you’ve collected across a lifetime. She could have made arrangements for us and said have fun, but she came with us instead. We got to hang out and joke all weekend. It was a magical time.

The teenager who drove us to concerts became the woman who changed what sports television looked like. But she never seemed to forget where she came from, and she never stopped bringing people along with her.

In recent years, we attended a Queen concert in Sunrise (just like old times) and met for dinner at La Cigale in Delray Beach.

There are texts, mostly during football season, where all of us lament life as Giants fans.

We share photos of people we used to know, poke gentle fun at the world and follow each other on social media.

Recently, Linda did a great podcast with Rich Eisen as part of his series “That was SportsCenter.” Don’t miss it, it’s awesome. Here’s a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGFBz5iv7k

Linda has met all the legends in just about every sport. Walking around NYC with her was a trip. She was stopped for photos etc., and my friend Scott photo bombed every single one.

And we laughed. How cool is that?

Linda, congratulations on a career that mattered. You earned every one of those record setting broadcasts and inspired a generation of women entering sports journalism. Wow.

And thanks for the rides too. Can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

15 June, 2026 0 Comments

Culture Is Essential Civic Infrastructure

June 15, 2026 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Marjorie Waldo hosts an excellent podcast exploring all aspects of arts and culture.

I love podcasts.
They keep me company every morning when I get ready for the day. They accompany me on long road trips and I count on them for information and ideas.
But appearing on a podcast is a whole other ballgame.

You just never know how it’s going to shake out. I’ve done a few over the years—a Springsteen related pod called “That One Lyric”, Kate Volman’s terrific podcast on creativity and a few related to city government, leadership and philanthropy.
I’ve always enjoyed the experience but it can be daunting.

Recently, I appeared on the Arts Garage’s excellent podcast called “Culture Under Fire.” I never miss an episode because they are all so good. The host, Arts Garage CEO Marjorie Waldo, is terrific. She’s smart, engaging and passionate about all things culture. She has a wonderful voice and is a great interviewer—which is a skill I appreciate and admire. I think of her as the local Terry Gross or Sam Fragoso. If you know, you know. If you don’t check out Fresh Air and Talk Easy.
Back to Marjorie.

When you are one of Marjorie’s guests, you are in good hands. You forget you are on a podcast, you get swept up in the conversation.
I’ve known Marjorie for a lot of years now. Prior to her decade at the Arts Garage, she ran a charter school in Delray Beach that served as training ground for young people interested in automotive repair.
The school was the brainchild of Johnny Pun and Fred Glass who used to work for our Police Department.
Johnny and Fred attended a city commission goal setting session back in the day. They came with an idea to start a charter school that would teach kids automotive repair skills.
We thought it was brilliant and the Commission invested in the idea. I’m pretty sure it was the first time in Florida that a Police Department opened a charter school. We took pride in being innovative in those days.

Marjorie served as principal at the school and I admired her combination of administrative skills and passion for the mission. So when she was selected to run the Arts Garage I was
thrilled. For the past decade, she has done a remarkable job.
Let’s linger on that for a moment.

She stepped into to a turnaround situation at a politically fraught moment and knocked it out of the park. That’s not easy to do.
She’s provided stability, vision, fiscal discipline and leadership. She’s also a true believer in the power of the arts to transform communities.

I believe culture is essential civic infrastructure. The arts drives economic development, brings us together and offers quality of life benefits that sometimes can’t be measured but also can’t be denied.
Marjorie and her great team have made Arts Garage an important, integral and inclusive asset for not only Delray but also the region. A vast array of artists and patrons are grateful.
I’ve come to understand that communities thrive when special people show up and dig in. That’s what Marjorie has done; with heart, soul and a willingness to take some artistic risks.
We are better for all of it.

Working in the arts has never been an easy task.
Money has always been tight. It’s about to get even tighter. Donors have a vast array of worthy causes to chose from so the competition for grants and gifts is fierce.
Into this terrain, Marjorie and her small team happily venture.

In a time of screens, AI, division, algorithms and estrangement, culture is more important than ever.
It’s one of the very few things we can experience , in real time, together.
That’s worth a whole lot.
A few days ago, we traveled to Sarasota to see the world premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s new play “Lady Disdain.”
Lauren has been America’s most produced playwright for five of the past seven years. In short, she’s a rock star.
I got to know her through my recent adventures in theatre. When she invited me to the premiere, I jumped at the chance.
We sat next to Lauren and the amazing director Sean Daniels to see their vision come to life. It was remarkable to see their joy as they experienced à large crowd hang on every word and every action on stage. Nobody was on their phones. We were in the moment together. It was wonderful.
The best art challenges us to think, feel and hopefully talk to each other.
The Arts Garage provides this service several times a week. It is invaluable.
Check out the Culture Under Fire podcast available on all your favorite platforms. You won’t regret it. Here are some links.

To Listen on Spotify or Apple:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jziadv0kM4rIQhsUDGxJo

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-20-stagecraft-statecraft-the-politics/id1834281851?i=1000771836508

To Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8giQFEHgfk

8 June, 2026 3 3 Comments

Carrying The Dream Forward

June 8, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 3 Comments

Award Winner Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson.

When people remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they often think about the dream.

But Dr. King was more than a dreamer. He was an organizer, a strategist, and a builder. He believed that lasting change happens when people are empowered to lead, serve, and lift up their communities.

That legacy lives on in Delray Beach through the work of my friend Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson Jr. Recently, Dupree was honored by the National Education Association with the

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award. The award is given to leaders who emulate Dr. King’s leadership and philosophy.

The recognition is a very big deal. A national award! I can’t imagine a more deserving honoree.

I’ve been watching Dupree for years now. He’s a special person and a special leader.

As founder of the Emanuel Jackson Sr. (EJS) Project, Dupree has dedicated his life to creating opportunities for young people. Named in honor of his late father, who instilled in him the values of education, service, and community, the organization has become one of the most impactful youth development programs in Palm Beach County and a national model.

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation is proud to support EJS because we believe in investing in people who are making a lasting difference in the communities they call home. Few people embody that mission more completely than Dupree.

For more than a decade, EJS has helped over 5,000 young people build brighter futures through academic support, mental health counseling, leadership development, workforce training, and paid internship opportunities. But the organization’s impact extends far beyond the services it provides.

EJS creates spaces where young people can have honest conversations about issues affecting their lives. Participants learn about history, current events, civic engagement, and the responsibilities that come with citizenship. They are encouraged not only to understand their communities, but to help shape them.

Through participation in City Commission meetings, engagement with the Delray Beach Police Department, and direct interaction with civic and business leaders, young people gain firsthand experience in leadership and public service. They learn that their voices matter and that they have the power to make a difference.

One of EJS’s signature initiatives, Purpose Pays, offers youth ages 14 to 18 compensated work experiences, and professional development opportunities. Participants earn income while learning teamwork, communication, initiative, project management, and workplace responsibility. The program reinforces a simple but powerful idea: opportunity creates confidence, and confidence creates leaders.

Anyone who knows Dupree knows his commitment goes well beyond programs and statistics. He organizes neighborhood beautification projects, sponsors after-school tutoring, and leads educational trips that expose young people to history and African American culture. For many participants, these experiences represent their first opportunity to travel beyond their immediate surroundings and see a larger world of possibilities.

More importantly, Dupree shows up.

He shows up for young people who need encouragement. He shows up for families looking for support. He shows up for a community that believes deeply in the potential of its next generation.

His personal motto—”Bout Dat Action”—is more than a slogan. It is a philosophy of service. It reflects a belief that meaningful change requires commitment, consistency, and a willingness to do the work every day.

That is why his recent recognition with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award feels so fitting.

Like Dr. King, Dupree understands that dreams matter. But he also understands that dreams become reality only when people are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

For years, he has been doing exactly that—helping young people find their voices, discover their purpose, and realize their potential.

Delray Beach is better because of it.

Check out the EJS Project. It will give you hope for the future. https://ejsproject.org/

A Teachable Moment

I had an odd experience recently, that I thought I would share because the story contains some lessons that I think may be helpful.

I subscribe to a real estate blog that I usually find interesting. It includes a video summary that covers what’s happening in South Florida.

Recently, when it showed up in my inbox it had a provocative headline referencing an “old” Delray mayor embarking on a real estate project.

I thought, “Which of my predecessors is taking on a project in such a challenging environment—high interest rates, inflation, labor issues, and more?”

Then, I read the story, and I realized they were referring to me. Only they were using the name of a work colleague, who never served as mayor of Delray Beach.

Many things about the story were inaccurate, starting with the names.

As a former journalist, this kind of stuff nags at me. I don’t get mad, just annoyed.

Now the blogger is not a reporter, he’s a real estate broker. But still, come on folks. Two minutes of checking via Google would have cleared up a few very basic things.

I shrugged it off ( even the reference to being “old” rather than being referred to as a former mayor) but then I clicked on the video which implied that the misnamed old mayor used his political influence to get the project approved. There were a few snarky remarks, a bunch of innuendo and the impression that this is how it works—elected officials serve so they can monetize their office.

Well, I’d like to say that’s never true, but I can’t. However, it’s not true for every elected official. And it’s not true for me.

I don’t use my former position to get favors from city government. There are five elected officials in Delray, I know four of them, have never met one, have never talked to another, and the remaining three I don’t talk to unless they call me, which is rarely if ever. I am friends with Commissioner Judy Mollica. Our friendship predates any thought of her running for office.

In addition, I barely know anyone who works at City Hall these days. The folks I worked with are long gone.

It’s nothing personal. I’m at a different place in life. I wish them all well. Go forth and build a better Delray. It’s someone else’s turn now and has been since 2007 when I was termed out.

Don’t ask me about parking. Don’t ask me about beach renourishment. Don’t ask me about the Coco Market. I am no longer current. And when it comes to development, I have one piece of advice: follow the rules.

I sent an email to the blogger/real estate guy clarifying the facts. A few hours later I got a response from his “content manager” assuring me the blog was corrected and it was. The content person also said that associated materials were also corrected. But the video is still floating around, which isn’t cool.

I bring this up because I think it’s what they call a teachable moment.

We miss local journalism, done well by people trained in how to obtain and verify facts. I am not saying that the press is perfect, they’re not. They make mistakes, there are biases (reporters are human) but there used to be curation and fact checking. I miss that.

I listen to a podcast called Top of Mind Florida which is co-hosted by former Channel 5 anchor Michael Williams and long time Palm Beach Post political writer Brian Crowley. It’s on all the usual platforms and I highly recommend you check it out. What makes it stand out is the perspective these two veteran journalists bring to the subjects they cover. They know Palm Beach County, they know Florida, they know about life and it shows in the questions they ask and the context they bring to the podcast.

Journalism is the only profession named in our Constitution and it’s at risk. Democracy really does die in the darkness.

Now, I am not saying that a real estate blog that made a mistake is a threat to Democracy. But I am saying that facts matter.

On a recent visit to Chicago, my colleagues and I sat down with the president of the legendary MacArthur Foundation in his incredible office in the famed Marquette building.

John Palphrey is an impressive person. A great grandson of Teddy Roosevelt. A man who has taught at Harvard, written books, ran an elite educational institution and now is making a big mark in philanthropy around the world.

I asked Mr. Palphrey where his foundation’s investments made the most impact. His answer surprised me.

“Local journalism” he said without hesitation. He saw an immediate impact via investment in supporting local news.

It was an interesting answer. And one that surprised me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what he said that day. I heard a similar sentiment during a recent visit with the head of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

On another note, there’s a business lesson in how you handle mistakes, which do happen. You own them and you correct them, personally. I wrote to the real estate blogger. I got a kind response from the content manager. That’s a missed opportunity.

When I screw up, which I do from time to time, I try to take responsibility, learn from my mistakes and personally apologize. I don’t outsource that part of my life.

Often, in life and business, it’s not the mistake that matters, it’s how you handle it.

10 May, 2026 2 2 Comments

Lists Are Fun. But..

May 10, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 2 Comments

Paul Simon is on the list. He’s earned it.

Note: Due to travel, I’m going to post on Sunday for the next two weeks. Wishing all a Happy Mother’s Day!

Lists are trouble.

Whenever I see publications release “best of” lists I know they are inviting debate and a fair share of vitriol.

But maybe that’s the point.

So that’s the lens I took when I read the list of 30 best living American songwriters in the New York Times.

It’s an eclectic collection: from Bad Bunny and Jay-Z to Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.

Like most lists of this ilk, there’s plenty to agree with and plenty to roll your eyes at.

Again, I think that’s the point.

But what’s been wild to witness is the anger the list has unleashed.

On the list of pressing issues facing us today; rising gas prices, stubborn inflation, a generation forced to live in their parents’ basements and war a list of the best American songwriters would seem to be pretty low on the tally of things to get excited about.

Tell that to Rick Beato, a YouTube music influencer who released a critical video to decry the list. Or to Chris Willman who wrote a sizzling piece about the list in “Variety”:

“Where in the Actual Hell Is Randy Newman? And Other Questions Raised by the New York Times’ Greatest Living American Songwriters List.”

Willman was positively flabbergasted.

Take a breath, fellas.

It’s only a list. Perhaps released to spark conversation. Mission accomplished.

The comments on the list from the masses were also equally fierce.

Where’s Joni Mitchell? (Not eligible, she’s from Canada).

Where’s Brian Wilson? (Unfortunately, he passed and the list consists of living songwriters).

Why Springsteen? (Some commenters didn’t like his politics, but regardless he did write “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run” and hundreds of other great songs).

What about Kid Rock? (Really?)

The list included Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Carole King.

It didn’t include Don Henley, Stevie Nicks or John Fogerty. (Shameful). Also missing: Billy Joel, Jason Isbell and the Avett Brothers. (Also shameful).

Still, the list had names I’ve never heard of and I’m a pretty big music fan.

But rather than offend me, I decided to dig into to those I didn’t know. Some were good. Some were head scratchers.

Oh well, it’s just a list.

There is so much more to fret about.

Like why isn’t Don Mattingly and Thurman Munson in the baseball hall of fame? Or why does my friend insist that Dave Concepcion should be included?

Some things are pure mysteries.

That’s where we find the fun.

Here’s the list in no particular order.

Nile Rodgers

Stevie Wonder

Lucinda Williams

Jay Z

Paul Simon

Taylor Swift

Brian & Eddie Holland

Missy Elliott

Dolly Parton

Willie Nelson

Lionel Richie

Young Thug

Diane Warren

Josh Osborne

Brandy Clark

Fiona Apple

Shane MacAnally

Babyface

Stephin Merritt

Romeo Santos

Carole King

Outkast

Mariah Carey

Kendrick Lamar

Valerie Simpson

Bob Dylan

Lana Delrey

The Dream

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Bad Bunny

Bruce Springsteen

Smokey Robinson

4 May, 2026 0 Comments

Purpose Built

May 4, 2026 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

Many things have changed since the year 2000 in Delray Beach.

We’ve grown up, I suppose.

The town is big business these days. High real estate prices. Big-time commercial rents. Famous people spotted hanging out in our once sleepy downtown.

I’m not one of those who laments change. I understand that it’s inevitable and in many cases preferable. Stasis is not only impossible, it’s boring.
But I am nostalgic. Genuinely so. And I’ve learned that my favorite part of every endeavor is the climb.

I’ve been astonished at the success of Celsius, the energy drink my company’s founder discovered years ago and poured his heart into building. But as much as I’ve enjoyed seeing the company soar, I still recall the early lean years with fondness.
There were unsung heroes along the way — people who worked hard to build the brand. They were special. They were essential. Many didn’t make it to the mountaintop with the company, but their efforts were early bricks. They mattered.

I’ve also enjoyed watching Delray evolve over the nearly 40 years I’ve lived and worked here.
Those were my thoughts last week when I attended the Purpose Built Communities annual conference in Jacksonville. Purpose Built is a nonprofit network that brings proven tools to its members to help revitalize neighborhoods. The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation is invested in Rise Coleman Park, a Purpose Built network member in West Palm Beach. We’ve also visited and been inspired by Lift Orlando, which has done a remarkable job lifting up a community holistically.

Sitting with network members from across America, I was reminded of my early days in Delray — a time of visioning, organizing, investing and dreaming. This is what I fell in love with. The civic pride. The aspiration. The neighborhood leaders who stepped forward and became something larger than themselves.

It was a time of high civic engagement. Charrettes — community visioning meetings — drew large, spirited crowds. Town hall meetings filled the Crest Theatre. Church gatherings to craft neighborhood plans attracted people of all ages. There were different ideas and opinions, but there was unity as well. Everyone was committing to lifting this city up. And they did.

When I ran for office in 2000, there were two animating issues — neighborhoods and the downtown. Neighborhood leaders were concerned about crime and appearance; they were asking for more information and hungering to be involved. It made for an exciting and lively time.
Same for the downtown. People wanted restaurants and retail. They wanted vibrancy, but they also wanted human-scale development and beautification that made the downtown pedestrian-friendly and safe.
These thoughts flooded my mind as I attended sessions and chatted with community members from across the country who came to Purpose Built Communities to learn, connect and better their neighborhoods. It’s intoxicating being with these kinds of people. They are change agents. Civic heroes.

While much has changed in the generation since 2000, one truism remains: it’s people who drive change. Their passion. Their love of community. Their ambitions and dreams. The technology has changed, the scale of money needed has changed, the dynamics of our economy are very different — but sit in a room full of people who are fired up about their neighborhoods, and none of that feels like the point. The human factor is the point. It always has been.
If you can inspire and support people to get off their couches and make change, your city will thrive. It’s just that simple and just that complex.
When we move together, we move differently. I borrowed that line from Jotaka Eady, one of the speakers at the conference. She lit up the room. Her message: we are enough. Indeed. We are more than enough.
People are joyful when they work in community together toward a common goal. We need more of that in our world today. A whole lot more. We can live in silos. We cannot thrive in them.

13 April, 2026 2 2 Comments

What Happens When We Stop The Presses

April 13, 2026 By Jeff Perlman 2 Comments

April 9 was Local News Day in America.

As a former journalist, I still subscribe to newspapers, blogs and social media feeds that cover the state of the industry. They talk about the work. They typically don’t celebrate, because frankly there’s not much to celebrate.

Newspapers have been hit hard — real hard — by the Internet. Artificial intelligence poses yet another threat, siphoning off the web traffic that already-dwindling ad revenue depends on. These trends lead to cuts in local newsrooms, and when that happens, we lose something very important: our ability to be informed, to connect, to understand the issues and to make good decisions.

Good journalism holds those in power accountable. Strong local reporting builds community pride, because when you tell the stories of people trying to make a difference, it serves as an impetus for involvement and connection. That ultimately makes for closer, more resilient communities.

At its best, local news serves as the equivalent of the office water cooler — a place we could go to learn what was happening at City Hall, at our schools, in sports, business and culture. It was one of those coveted “third places” where a community could gather around shared information and actually talk to each other. What a concept.

Much of it has gone away. And we are left sorting through the slop served to us by billionaire gatekeepers. Yuck.

Give me the days when the local publisher and editor lived down the street, showed up at Chamber meetings, had breakfast at The Green Owl and sat through long city commission meetings so they could soak up the flavor of the community they were part of.

I think of how much people will miss about their communities if there is nobody there to tell its stories. Consider our own Delray Beach. All the wonderful characters who came here and wrote chapters.

I think about the people who shaped this town as I travel its streets.

When I pull across Lake Ida Road and drive by the Achievement Center for Children & Families I think of its founder Nancy Hurd. Barely 5 feet tall, Nancy built an early childhood learning center that started in a church and grew into a national model. Nancy was a force of nature. I adored her and I relished telling her story as a reporter for the Delray Times in the 80s and 90s.

The center did such a great job that Governor Lawton Chiles came to visit and see for himself. “Walkin Lawton” they called him. He reminded me of Abe Lincoln. The visit was tightly choreographed. But Nancy made sure I had an exclusive with the Governor. We weren’t the biggest paper in the market, but she appreciated our desire to tell her story with care and depth. She took care of me and thousands of others.

As I head east to Swinton and south to my office, I drive by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where my friend Father Chip Stokes used to serve before becoming the Bishop of New Jersey. Chip was an early leader in race relations, a calm port in any storm. Chip is a quiet leader who cares deeply for people, especially those new to America who came here seeking opportunity.

Newspapers covered his ministry. And we were better off for knowing about his work.

If not for local newspapers, we would not have known about all the volunteers who worked for our police department. Back in the day, we read about all the World War II veterans who retired to Florida and decided to volunteer their time as Citizens on Patrol.

I remember reading and writing stories about Leo Erbstein. Major Erbstein as he was known, with his handlebar mustache, sharp sense of humor, and deep commitment to helping our police department was a larger-than-life character. Unforgettable.

A few weeks ago, I went to see my friend Shelly Pittleman hold court at the Weisman Community Center in West Delray.

On Fridays, Shelly packs the room with seniors for a program he calls “Positively Pittleman.” He reads news stories, riffs on current events and invites guest speakers to share their stories.

It was wonderful to witness. Just pure magic. And I thought, this should be in a community newspaper. Everyone should know about this program and about Shelly who spends just about every waking moment volunteering in the community.

Yes, we miss a lot when we lose our storytellers.

Yeah, yeah, I know that sometimes journalists get it wrong. As a former elected official, I used to get angry when reporters missed the mark. But they are not the enemy of the people, in many ways, community journalism was the glue that bound us together.

There are many reasons why we feel estranged from one another: divisive politics, the dangerous algorithms that keep us angry, too much time in front of screens. All of it contributes to the toxicity we experience. But I believe the diminishment of local journalism is also a reason for our estrangement — maybe more than we realize.

Strong local news builds strong communities. It’s just that simple.

But local journalism costs money, and the advertising and subscription model isn’t cutting it anymore. I think part of the answer is philanthropy. That’s not easy either, because local news — while critically important — is competing against an ocean of good causes.

Still, I maintain we are at risk when stories go untold, when local officials look around and see that nobody is watching, and when issues go uncovered.

We are at a critical juncture in Palm Beach County. A stunning amount of news is happening all at once. West Palm Beach is becoming a major city before our eyes. Financial titans are pouring into the county to set up offices. Real estate is changing rapidly. Technology is transforming our lives and our society, and while that’s exciting, there are troubling things to be concerned about.

Right now, much of it is going unreported or underreported. That puts us in peril.

Journalism may not solve these issues, but it shines a light on them. And when that light dims — or is doused — we all lose.

Loss of an artistic giant

We got the new sad news over the weekend that Lou Tyrell, a titan of local theater passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

Lou was the founding director of Theatre Lab on the campus of FAU and served as an Eminent Scholar in the Arts at the university.

Lou was well known and highly regarded in the local arts community. Theatre Lab is a treasure. If you haven’t attended, I highly recommend that you do.

In honor of Lou’s life and contributions, Theatre Lab is dedicating the 2026 Owl New Play Festival, which opened this weekend, to his memory.

I was recently back in touch with Lou. I got to know him when he was involved in Delray’s Arts Garage some years ago.

We reconnected when I started writing plays. He was a kind man, generous with his time and knowledge.

He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him. But his influence will last.