Opinion | Your Delray Boca

7 November, 2025 14 14 Comments

The Chiefs Among Us…

November 7, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 14 Comments

Riviera Beach Chief Coleman.

Note: Here’s a special early edition of the blog. I have jury duty next week…so here it is in case I get sequestered.

If you can use a dose of civic pride stick with me.

Last week, late at night, I got a text message from the Riviera Beach Police Chief.

Now, normally a late night text message from a police chief is usually not good news.

But in this case, Chief Michael Coleman is a long time friend. And the text included a press release that made me smile.

Three Palm Beach County law enforcement agencies (Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and Riviera Beach police departments) were among 30 agencies from across the state who earned re-accreditation last week from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

That’s a big deal.

Accreditation is hard to achieve.

This recognition reflects a rigorous review of policies and procedures, affirming each agency’s commitment to excellence in law enforcement standards, accountability and community service.

They don’t just hand this recognition out. You have to earn it.

What makes this achievement especially noteworthy is a common denominator – all three departments are currently led by chiefs who began their careers with the Delray Beach Police Department. This shared legacy underscores the department’s longstanding culture of leadership development and professional excellence.

“This speaks volumes about the caliber of training that Delray Beach police officers receive,” Chief Coleman said. Coleman also serves as chairperson of the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Planning Council (LEPC).

Highland Beach Chief Hartmann.

Reflecting on this milestone, “Accreditation is more than a certificate, it’s a commitment to our community. I’m proud of our team’s dedication and grateful for the foundation I received at Delray Beach P.D.,” Highland Beach Chief Craig Hartmann said.

“We are honored to be recognized alongside our neighboring agencies,” Delray Beach Chief Darrel Hunter said. “It’s a testament to the professionalism and heart our officers bring to the job every day. Seeing former Delray Beach officers now leading other departments is a point of pride for all of us.”

Indeed, it is.

Here’s a little historical perspective to put this into perspective.

When I came to Delray Beach in 1987, the Police Department had a very different profile in town.

There were scores of great officers and wonderful detectives, but the chief at the time was how shall we put it…controversial.

As a result, police/community relations had its challenges. As a young reporter, it was an interesting time to cover the Delray beat. There was a lot of crime and there was a lot of tension too.

Things began to turn around when Rick Lincoln briefly took the reigns. Rick was a great guy who came up through the ranks. He was respected and believed in what was then a new concept: community-oriented policing. Things really began to turn around when Chief Rick Overman came from Orlando and stepped on the community-oriented policing gas pedal.

In a few years, there were over 1,000 citizens on patrol, volunteers who provided a set of eyes and ears for officers. Chief Overman invited citizens into the department offering a Citizens Police Academy, which brought down barriers and lifted a veil of mystery. With officers assigned to neighborhoods they were encouraged to develop relationships and they did. It was a golden age and ushered in a sea change in police/community relations.

Delray Chief Hunter.

Chief Overman always preached that he couldn’t fight crime alone. He needed citizens to be engaged and take ownership of their neighborhoods. Crime fighting was a partnership.

Crime rates fell and the ground was seeded for a Delray revival.

I’ve long felt that public safety is the table stakes for a community. With it, you can attract investment, families and visitors. Without it, you’re toast.

As a result, the Delray Beach Police Department is the unsung hero of Delray’s success. Along with Fire Rescue, Delray offers citizens and businesses outstanding public safety services.

Along the way, Delray became known as a breeding ground for chiefs. I’ve lost count of how many former Delray officers became chiefs in other cities, a testament to the department’s training and leadership. It’s also a credit to the taxpayers who have wisely invested in these life saving and life protecting services.

We’ve sent chiefs to Stuart, Waco, Texas, Juno Beach, Peachtree City, Georgia, Manalapan, Douglas, Arizona, Lighthouse Point, Longboat Key, Lantana, Tequesta, Lauderhill and yes Riviera Beach and Highland Beach. I know there are more. Chief Lincoln ended up as the number two at the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, a huge organization.

It’s a proud history. Other cities look to the Delray PD for leadership and innovation.

I wanted to share, because it’s important.

3 November, 2025 7 7 Comments

Time Marches On–Relentlessly

November 3, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 7 Comments

You blink and decades fly past.

I was always the youngest guy in the room.

When I walked into board meetings at Delray Medical Center or the Chamber of Commerce I was often the youngest person—sometimes by a decade or more.
When I served on the city commission, I was the youngest elected official on the dais.

My first year, I served with a gentleman named Bill Schwartz. He was born in 1924 and passed last year one week after his 100th birthday. I was born in 1964. Bill was middle aged by that time.

We were friends and got along great, but I remember a goal setting session with the commission in 2000 when the facilitator made it a point to note that Bill and I came from different worlds.

World War II broke out when Bill was a freshman in high school. When I was a freshman the biggest thing I remember was the opening of Rocky II.

We stood in line at the Loews Triplex in Stony Brook. Three screens were a big deal back then. A triplex felt like a modern marvel.

Still, despite the age gap, Bill and I became friends. We came from different ends of the political spectrum, but when it came to Delray we were united in our views and affection for our town. Those were different days. Local government was devoid of party politics as it should be.

I miss having Bill around. He told some great stories of his service in World War II and I remember going to lunch with him one day at a chain restaurant in Boynton Beach. I noticed that he kept looking at the photographs decorating the walls of the restaurant. He was staring at the stock photographs that are the same whether you are in a Red Robin in Miami or in Pittsburgh.
There was an old photo of a World War II soldier that captivated him. Turns out, it was him. Someone had taken his photo back in his military days and it magically appeared as a stock photo throughout the chain.

Imagine the coincidence. Bill served in the European theatre during the war and was part of the Normandy Invasion.
It was fascinating to learn about history from a participant.

I used to hang on every word my grandfather told me when we visited him.

Stories of fleeing Russia, coming to America through Ellis Island, working as a tailor on the Lower East Side and how he met my grandmother when she was a little girl on a farm in Russia before finding her again as a recent immigrant in the 1920s. They married. Had a family and enjoyed the American dream.
I loved my grandparents. They were my heroes. But when I was a kid they seemed impossibly old.

My grandfather had thinning hair, owned a stylish fedora and often wore a tie around the house even through he was retired and it was Sunday when we would visit.
But he wasn’t stuffy. He was warm, sensitive, loving and had a great sense of humor. He routinely made my grandmother laugh out loud. I couldn’t understand what they were saying–because while they spoke excellent English– they told jokes in Yiddish, a wonderful, descriptive language.

I loved it when they laughed. Visiting them in their apartment in Queens and later Brooklyn was a highlight of my childhood.
They had Al Jolson albums, plastic covers on the couch and endless Hershey kisses in glass bowls around the apartment.
Still, they seemed to come from another time and place. A time and place I loved, but very different from the world I was living in.

I raise this observation because lately I’ve been feeling all 61 of my years.
Mind you, I feel good. But the world is starting to see me differently.
For the first time when I went to the Norton Museum I was charged a senior admission. I didn’t ask for one. The 20-something attendant just looked at me and assumed senior citizen.

And recently when my wife and I had lunch at BJ’s Pub in West Palm Beach a bus boy came over and told me I looked like his grandfather.

He thought I took offense and made sure to tell me that he was 18 and that his grandfather was a cool guy who lived in the Keys and once served in the Coast Guard.
I assured him that I was flattered.

Truth is, I wasn’t, but that’s on me. After all, I can easily be a grandpa.
In real life, I’m not a grandfather yet. I thought I’d be by now. But not yet.
I still have hope though.
Still, mentally it’s an adjustment to go from the young guy in the room to the graybeard. It feels like just a moment ago that I made those “40 under 40 people to watch” lists.
These days I’m just as likely to hear “hey, you still working?” as I am to hear “what’s the latest thing you’ve got cooking.”
Again, I feel young— most of the time. I’m grateful for that. But I’ve noticed something that most people my age would agree with; time seems to go faster as the years go by.

This year is a prime example. It’s almost Thanksgiving…already.

Still, I am determined to get the most out of this phase of life. I listen to a podcast called Middle Age Chrysalis. It’s produced by the Modern Elder Academy founded by a guy named Chip Conley. Chip was a famous hotelier who was hired by the Airbnb guys when they were scaling their company. They were wise enough to understand that it often pays to have someone with gray hair around to help steer you through the inevitable rocks that life throws at us. Chrysalis is an interesting word. It signifies transformation and is often used to describe when caterpillars become a butterfly. We break through the protective casing of youth and transform into adults. We carry scars, experience, wisdom and knowledge. In short we become…and we grow from there if we are lucky.

So while I don’t relish the tough parts of aging, I have to admit there are rewards (and senior discounts apparently). We have to stay engaged. We have to savor the seasons of life. We have to live.
And so I have a new goal: maybe I can be the Grandma Moses of playwrights. Or maybe a grandfather someday.

27 October, 2025 8 8 Comments

Vinyl In A Digital World

October 27, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 8 Comments

The legendary Damn The Torpedoes album.

There’s something about vinyl.
I was thinking that the other day when I passed by my unused but intact record collection buried safely in a closet.
I don’t play my albums, but I can’t part with them. Why?
Because each of them has meaning. There are stories attached to their purchase, memories attached to the songs and I admire the album cover art.
Remember album cover art?
It was a thing.

A few months back, my friend Randy created a piece of art using his favorite album covers. He involved a few of us in the selection process. We had a blast reminiscing.
Those were some days…

Last week, marked the 48th anniversary of Meatloaf’s “Bat out of Hell” (trivia fans should note that Delray’s Max Weinberg of E Street Band fame plays drums on the album) , the 46th anniversary of Tom Petty’s “Damn The Torpedoes “ and this year marks the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s “Born to Run” Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” and the ultimate break-up album “Blood on The Tracks” by Bob Dylan.
It’s also the 50th anniversary of “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth Wind and Fire, the Staple Singers classic “Let’s Do it Again “ and “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War, a criminally underrated band.

Back in the 70s, albums cost about $4 to $5.

My friends and I would shop at Korvettes on Long Island or Sam Goody at the Smith Haven Mall. When we were feeling adventurous we’d take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station to hunt for records at a place called Disc-o-Mat.
Later, we discovered foreign imports in small record shops in SoHo and Greenwich Village.

There was so much good music coming out, that we never had enough money to buy all the albums we wanted. So we developed a system, criteria for what would trigger a purchase.
For me, an album had to have 3-4 songs that I liked before I could justify pulling the trigger. It was a dilemma if the album had two great songs and a bunch of clunkers. In those instances, we’d wait with a tape player near the radio waiting for the song to be played and hoping the DJ didn’t talk over the ending.

Waiting; that’s a quaint notion in today’s world. My Spotify app contains just about every song I ever wanted to hear. I can hear anything on demand whenever I want, wherever I am. I have to admit I like that, but I miss the romance of having to wait and I miss the pleasure of owning something physical that you could take home and savor.
Not only did we enjoy the album cover art, but we read the liner notes and really liked it when the lyrics were included.
If they weren’t, it was pure guess work.

It wasn’t like you could Google lyrics like you can today.
This guess work led to some interesting interpretations.
“Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tangerine.”
It was years later when I finally discovered that ABBA was talking about the beat of the tambourine.
“I’ve got shoes they’re made of plywood” was actually “I’ve got chills they’re multiplying “ in that classic Olivia Newton John, John Travolta duet from Grease. That album played incessantly on my sister’s stereo.

And of course there’s the classic misunderstood lyric: “hold me closer, Tony Danza” from the song Tiny Dancer by Elton John.
It took me years to realize that Dylan didn’t sing “these ants are my friends they’re blowing’ in the wind.”
Thank goodness for Google.

If it wasn’t for the internet I would still be singing “a year has passed since I broke my nose” whenever I heard “Message in a Bottle” by the Police. “Wrote a note” makes more sense since Sting is singing about a castaway.

All this is a long winded way of saying I’m holding on to my albums despite the myriad entreaties from my very smart and practical wife who has been after them for two decades now.
Intellectually I know she’s right. They take up space, nobody is going to want them, my friend Dave sold his collection and it’s time for me to part with my collection.
I know that…but emotionally I’m just not ready.

You see my late mom went to the mall and bought me “Damn the Torpedoes” when I was home from school sick with something. And it really made me feel good when she gave me the record and the latest Sports Illustrated magazine to aid in my recovery. I still have the magazines—I think they may be worth something.

And I remember listening to Phil Rizzuto’s narration in the song “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” back when the Scooter was a regular part of my viewing pleasure on WPIX during Yankees games. The dashboard light meant something to a 16 year old kid with a fresh driver’s license and a new girlfriend.
Memories.

Sentiments.

Nostalgia.

All priceless.

Those were the days…but I do like these days as well.
After all, now I know that when The Beach Boys sang “Help Me Rhonda” they were singing “Well, since she put me down I’ve been out doin’ in my head.” Back then, I thought it was “well, since you put me down there’s been owls pukin’ in my bed.”

I should have known that Brian Wilson was better than that.

20 October, 2025 2 2 Comments

Next Chapters…

October 20, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 2 Comments

Aarif Khan with EJS Project founder Dupree Jackson.

Recently, I saw a post on social media about golfer Rory McIlroy donating $10.9 million to build housing for orphans and homeless people in Northern Ireland.

Sadly, those stories were fake. One more piece of evidence to make us feel bad about the state of our world. Why would anyone lie about such a thing?

When we write the story of what happened to our world, when we focus on what drove us apart, I suspect that social media will be at the top of the list of causes. Thanks Elon. Thanks Zuck. Hope you enjoy your fortunes.

With the advent and maturation (an oxymoron) of social media, we have let go of moderation, curation, editing and fact-checking. We’ve fallen into a deep crevasse which seems bottomless. Goodbye propriety, hello deep-fake AI. Sigh…

I cut my teeth in the newspaper business an imperfect model that nevertheless strived to be fair and accurate. If that sentence somehow offends you or makes you gag, I get it.

Newspapers and media in general are a human business and humans make mistakes. People come to their work with inherent bias.

But in the newsrooms where I worked, I saw journalists who strived to be accurate and took pride in their reporting.

Before I handed a story to an editor, I usually read it five or six times. I worked with a range of personalities, some kind, some curmudgeonly, but all experienced. Their antennae were always on alert for errors of fact or omission. I lived in fear of being called out for writing something inaccurate.

I made my fair share of mistakes; like I said reporting is or was a human business. My era was well before the days of AI. Now you can feed your work to ChatGPT for a quick scan of facts. In my day, I had to rely on sources, frequent trips to a physical library and City Hall to access government documents and reports. Our most productive time was spent out of the newsroom; today I suspect you don’t have to leave your desk and that’s a crying shame. The best stuff is discovered when you are out and about, just like the best parts of life happen when you leave your screen behind and explore the world.

Anyway, I was saddened that the Rory story was false. We can use some uplifting news these days.

So, I went looking and I found some.

I’m a big fan of the EJS Project, a local nonprofit that is changing lives right here in Delray Beach.

Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson is a leader to watch. He’s devoting his life and considerable talents to the next generation. The foundation I work for supports his work and because we believe in Dupree and his team.

We believe in Dupree’s heart and we’ve seen the results; local teens stepping into their potential, learning how the world works and gaining confidence and experience to lead our community someday. Hurry up, next generation, our world needs you. Our current generation is failing us miserably.

Anyway, we recently received word that one of EJS’ talented leaders is leaving the organization to pursue his next chapter in life, an MBA at Duke.

Aarif Khan was a senior program manager at EJS. Since joining EJS in 2021 he has touched lots of lives. The lessons he taught, the experiences he helped facilitate will stay with the young people he touched for the rest of their lives.

I’ll let Aarif tell you himself.

“My connection to EJS began in 2021 while studying at the Watson Institute at Lynn University. My mentor, Jerry Hildebrand, encouraged me to find a social impact internship and circled the EJS Project on a list of options. He said it was the perfect match for my “boots on the ground” attitude. Unfortunately, later in the same semester, on October 5, 2021, Jerry passed away. Jerry was an integral part of my life at a time when guidance, inspiration, a friendly face, and an ear to listen were very much needed.

Honoring his guidance, I pursued an internship with EJS. With help from a friend, Ricky Aiken from Inner City Innovators, I connected with Dupree, and what began as a three-month internship evolved into almost four years of meaningful work.

We still laugh about my first day: I showed up in a three-piece suit, clip-on tie and all, for what was supposed to be an informal conversation. That moment set the tone for my time here: showing up with intention, ready to go beyond expectations. It’s a story we now share with students to remind them that how you show up can open doors.

From my first tutoring session, I felt a sense of family at EJS. Students gave up Saturdays to help their peers, parents stopped in to greet staff, and neighbors treated our space as a true community hub. That spirit has never faded, and I know how blessed I am to be part of this community.”

Wow.

Aarif’s words take my breath away and remind me of the beauty that still exists in a world that seems to amplify ugliness.

I noticed that he “name checked” two people in his letter to the EJS community. The late Jerry Hildebrand and Ricky Aiken of Inner City Innovators.

I served on Jerry’s board at the Social Impact Lab at Lynn University. As I write these words, I’m looking at a beautiful scarf Jerry gifted me from a trip to Africa. A handwritten note mentioned that scarves and head wraps were once symbolic of oppression and subjugation but were later transformed into a powerful symbol of dignity, survival and resistance.

When I consider Aarif’s value to our children, I wonder how many other young leaders Jerry touched in his life. I trust that the waves of goodness they create are ongoing and that’s how people like Jerry Hildebrand live on.

The other name mentioned was Mr. Aiken. I just met Ricky at his office at the wonderful 1909 incubator in West Palm Beach. My team was invited to join a meeting of the Inner City Innovators and we were deeply moved by their mission and commitment to saving inner city youth from the violence and dysfunction that plague some of our neighborhoods.

They are making a difference (without the need for federal troops) by developing relationships, meeting the emergency needs of kids who struggle financially and showing up with a heart for their work. What they do is beautiful and breathtaking.

And there’s more good work to share.

The Delray Beach Playhouse and The Arts Garage are showcasing local talent, sharing important stories and giving artists an outlet to spark conversations. That is invaluable. We need to talk, we need to gather, we need to share or we will lose each other. It’s just that simple.

Her Second Chance, a beautiful nonprofit in Boca, is saving the lives of women in recovery by giving them a purpose, support and the skills they will need to rebuild. I urge you to visit, your life will change when you see their work up close.

Visit the Achievement Center for Children and Families and see our most vulnerable little ones thrive in a loving environment. Attend an event at Max Planck, an amazing institute and witness scientists engage the community about brain health and see up close why it’s important to support scientific research. It’s an investment in us.

And the list goes on.

Once again I come back to the words of Aarif Khan about his experience at EJS.

“Thank you, Dupree, for trusting me to lead. EJS has always been about one thing: unlocking potential that others overlook. You did that with me and helped me find and grow into my fullest self. I may not have come in through an intake, or with a parent asking for help, but I am just as much a student of the EJS Project as I am a staff member.”

Beautiful.

So maybe Rory didn’t take his Ryder Cup bonus (apparently there is no such thing) and give to the needy in Ireland. But he has given in the past. I don’t pretend to know why someone would plant falsehoods into the algorithm, but I do know that real and positive work is being done right here at home and all over the world.

Let’s be thankful for that.

6 October, 2025 0 Comments

Catalysts Leave & Weave A Legacy

October 6, 2025 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation’s 2025 Catalyst Award Winners Chuck Halberg and Maria Hernandez (third from left) with Foundation staff Maritza Benitez and Angela Giachetti.

Every year, the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation honors two special people in our community with a “Catalyst Award.”

Along with a cash prize that the honorees can direct to their favorite nonprofits, we host a luncheon in their honor and add a few other surprises.

The surprise part is important.

We like to surprise and delight honorees, something our founder Carl DeSantis enjoyed doing. In fact, he made joy (and generosity) a way of life.

Carl had a saying: “good begets good”. And he ran his businesses using that simple but profound credo.

He believed, that if you treated people well, the benefits would come back to you ten-fold.

We created the Catalyst Award three years ago to celebrate Mr. DeSantis’ spirit. We wanted to fashion an award that celebrated the spirit of a very special man who believed passionately in the power of one person to spark meaningful and lasting change.

Mr. DeSantis was not only a world-class entrepreneur—who revolutionized the beverage and nutrition industries– he was a true catalyst– someone who led boldly, inspired his team, lifted others, and left communities and industries stronger than he found them. Carl was really something… he continues to inspire us today.

The Catalyst Award is our way of extending his legacy. Each year, we shine a light on remarkable individuals whose vision, energy, and commitment remind us of what is possible when passion meets purpose. You can’t apply for this award; it is something we present when we see special people in our community that embody the heart and spirit of Mr. DeSantis.

Mr. D, as we called him, passed two years ago, but his spirit lives on in our work. And when we comb the landscape looking for catalysts, we ask ourselves, is this someone Carl would embrace?

This year, we found two people that Carl would have adored.

Chuck Halberg, the consummate Delray volunteer and Maria Hernandez, a Vice President of the United Way of Broward County, fit our vision of a catalyst to a tee.

They also fit in nicely with past winners: Delray’s Ted Hoskinson, founder of Roots and Wings which helps young readers thrive, Danny Pacheco of the Delray Beach Police Department who started the innovative youth soccer program Delray Kicks , Pastor Bill Mitchell, founder of CityLead which gathers the community for lessons in life and business and Julia Kadel co-founder of the Miracle League of Palm Beach County have been our previous winners. We’re proud of them all.

This year, we selected two very special people who create what we call “ripples” of goodness in the community. Their good deeds are so widespread that it becomes hard to fully quantify their extensive reach.

Chuck Halberg—whose generosity of time, talent, and heart has touched countless lives for decades, is the newly named president of Delray Citizens for Delray Police. In his day job, he runs Stuart & Shelby, a busy home building company.

Chuck has become a model for what it means to give back fully, with humility and with joy. I would list his civic resume, but its almost endless, let’s just say he has given his all to dozens of nonprofits with a special emphasis on causes that support law enforcement and children in need.

Maria Hernandez—is a true dynamo who is a leader at the United Way of Broward County. Maria’s drive, creativity, and relentless focus on people is legendary. Her work, her heart, strengthens families and is building a stronger community. Everywhere we have gone in the past year in Broward, Maria’s name has come up as someone to know—she’s a true catalyst with a tremendous reach. Like our founder Mr. DeSantis, Maria makes things happen. She’s a go-to person. She shakes it up and we are proud to honor that spirit.

Thomas Watson, the United Way CFO, called us up after the event to sing his colleagues praises.

“Maria’s work is known nationally,” he said. “She’s amazing.”

Together, Chuck and Maria embody the very best of what this award stands for: the belief that one person can ignite a wave of change that benefits all.

So, when you run into them, and you are bound to do so, because they are everywhere, please take a moment to say thanks. Be inspired by them as well. Because in celebrating their work, we remind ourselves that each of us has the power to be a catalyst; to leave a legacy of love, kindness, grace and generosity.

29 September, 2025 0 Comments

The Shape Of Things To Come

September 29, 2025 By Jeff Perlman Leave a Comment

I’ve been thinking a lot about stories lately.

Storytelling is a fundamental human art form and the most powerful way to convey ideas, create connections, and understand the world.

It has been said that all great literature is one of two stories; a person goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town.

I have to think about that one, but it sounds about right.

Anyway, I was thinking that places have stories as well. America has a story (and may need a refresh to bring us together) and certainly cities and regions have their narratives as well.

Recently, I tuned into a webinar presented by a cool company called Mission Impact Strategies which is led by my friend Alex Price. Alex is a talented leader with lots of energy and vision. His team is skilled in coalition building, strategy and leadership development. I think he’s going to make a big impact across our state in the next few decades. I look forward to watching him soar.

On the webinar, he interviewed another talented leader named Imran Siddiqui. Imran is another friend that I expect will do big things in his new role. He’s a super smart, deeply connected and driven individual. I enjoy our too infrequent chats because I always come away with a deeper understanding of our community.

Imran recently became CEO of South Florida Tech Hub which seeks to build, grow, sustain and brand South Florida as a globally recognized innovation hub. It;s a big and important mission. A heavy lift as they say, but Imran is a talent. He’s going to make a difference.

One of his main strategies—outlined on the webinar—is to create a new narrative (story) for our region emphasizing collaboration, talent and connection.

He has his eye on places like Austin, Texas, Silicon Valley, Denver and Atlanta—metros that are known for their tech talent, venture capital investment and job growth.

Imran told us that tech innovation in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are on an “upward trajectory” based on job growth, VC money, deal making and reputation.

“Talent doesn’t have to leave South Florida to have a career,” he told listeners on the webinar, a group that included nonprofit executives, public officials, business leaders and academics.

Still, there are the usual headwinds which include affordability, fractured politics, competition from other regions here and abroad, the promise and peril of AI and the usual barriers to regional collaboration, which includes a parochial mindset that prizes winning over partnership.

The webinar was a fascinating overview of what’s happening in our economy, but Imran noted some of the factors creating momentum.

Among them:

The arrival of big players.

“Ken Griffin’s presence alone is a momentum shifter,” he said referring to the business titan who went to school in Boca and founded hedge fund giant Citadel.

Griffin has been making a splash throughout the region with his investment and philanthropy. Joining him is a raft full of Wall Street financial firms and real estate magnate Stephen Ross who has adopted West Palm Beach.

All of these data points, which include several high profile deals (Bain Capital investing in Boca’s Aerospace Technologies Group, a private equity giant buying a majority stake in Boca’s ModMed at a $5.3 billion valuation, Celsius’ remarkable growth which has turned the energy drink company into a company with a $14.5 billion market cap etc.) is changing South Florida’s narrative from a place to retire into a place where serious business is being conducted.

“Narrative matters,” Mr. Siddiqui told his audience. “Because perception drives investment.”

He’s right.

And so, I wonder what is our story in Delray?

Where do we fit in?

South Florida’s brand is driven by three dominant cities: Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. But the other cities in the region matter as well. Boca is punching above its weight with more than half of Palm Beach County’s corporate headquarters calling Boca their home.

Boca is a compelling story and has been for a while now. The potential redevelopment of its city hall campus, the transformation planned at the former IBM campus now known as BRIC (Boca Raton Innovation Campus) and the announcement of a $1 billion fund by 1789 Capital (Donald Trump Jr. is a partner) is said to be focused specifically on Palm Beach and Boca. The fund is described as “anti-woke” (whatever that is) and is named after the year the Bill of Rights was adopted, according to the firm’s website, 1789 Capital.

Meanwhile, West Palm Beach’s newly announced Service Now deal is an important milestone for the local AI economy and comes with a promise of 850 plus jobs. Vanderbilt University is coming as well.

I recently had a chance to hang out with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis at an FAU football game. There’s a lot happening in his city as well; it’s dizzying. Fort Lauderdale often gets lost in the conversation relative to Miami and West Palm Beach, but the one-time Spring Break Capital has been transformed with more investment on the horizon.

I think stories and narratives need to be shaped and updated by citizens and policymakers. They can grow stale. They must be true, or they are quickly discounted or even turned into objects of derision. If you bill yourself as a city on the move, well you better be.

Anyway, a lot is happening. And investment, opportunity and jobs will go the places that are switched on, visionary, open for business and tell a riveting story.

22 September, 2025 4 4 Comments

The Way He Was

September 22, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 4 Comments

Robert Redford died last week.

His loss really hit me.

My three favorite actors: Gene Hackman, Paul Newman and Robert Redford are gone. And it feels like an era has passed.

Redford lived a life of art and activism and leaves us with a remarkable body of work.

He starred in classic movies, championed independent film, founded the Sundance Institute and Film Festival and was a noted crusader on behalf of the environment.

He did it all with class, grace and an understated charm. He brought gravitas to every role he played. They don’t make them like that anymore.

When I got the news, I felt a genuine sense of loss. Mr. Redford’s death comes at a difficult time for America.

We are at each other’s throats; there is hatred and anger in the air. It feels dangerous, unstable, like we have slipped our moorings. We are careening dangerously toward the rocks.

Last week, I wrote about local tentpoles, special people who transcend and provide a steady foundation for our communities.

There are people who do that for our nation as well.

Robert Redford was one of those people.

His movies were sweeping and ambitious. They also spoke uniquely to the American character. He was an archetype and we need archetypes.

“All the President’s Men” inspired a generation of young people to pursue a career in journalism.

I worked with many of those people during my career in newspapers, people who got into the biz wanting to be the next Woodward and Bernstein. We watched “All the President’s Men” and saw the importance of investigative journalism to our republic.

Being a newspaper reporter was a noble profession and needed one too. A free press was a guarantor of our Democracy.

These days, the media is under assault. There is much to criticize, but fundamentally a free press is still important right?

Years later, when I was in college, Redford made “The Natural” in Buffalo where my oldest friend David was attending SUNY Buffalo. Dave wrote me letters (remember those) talking about the movie and what it was like to be in a town mesmerized by a big Hollywood star.

Hollywood was magical in those days—a proud American invention and when Hollywood focused on our national pastime it was special.

“The Natural” was sweeping and rhapsodic and Redford was perfect in the role of the mythological and mysterious Roy Hobbs. The ‘best there ever was and the best there ever will be’.

If you are a romantic like I am, “The Way We Were” and “Out of Africa” were unforgettable moviegoing experiences. For a young kid who grew up listening to the best love songs ever recorded by The Beatles (And I love Her, For No One, Something), The Beach Boys (Wouldn’t it Be Nice, Don’t Worry Baby), Led Zeppelin (Thank You, Ten Years Gone) and Billy Joel (She’s Got A Way, You’re My Home) Redford’s romances were the cinematic apex of the relationships we longed for—big sweeping loves. To paraphrase the line from “When Harry Met Sally” –“I’ll have what he’s having” up on the screen.

I loved them all—”Three Days of the Condor”, Jeremiah Johnson”, “The Candidate”, “Electric Horseman” and of course “The Horse Whisperer” which is magnificent.

But my favorite of them all is “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.”

That movie had it all, great stars, western vistas, a pitch perfect script, humor, action, romance and a message.

The chemistry between Redford and Newman has never been matched in my opinion. As viewers, we envied their rapport, their friendship and their cool.

Scene after perfect scene from the opening card game to the hail of bullets at the end I marveled at the William Goldman script. I would later study that script hoping to absorb some of the magic of the storytelling. It was not to be, but it sure was fun to break it all down.

Recently, I read Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Russo’s memoir “Life And Art.” In the book Russo writes at length about Butch Cassidy. He argues persuasively that the film was about change. Butch and Sundance’s era was coming to a close and they were ill equipped for the new world they found themselves in. That’s a sentiment that feels true today.

I admire how Robert Redford championed independent film, I respected his activism and I enjoyed his later work as well. He packed a lot into 89 years.

And when died, my first thought was this man was uniquely American.

We have so much to be proud of in this country. A bounty to enjoy—mountains and oceans, prairies, lakes, rivers, national parks, great cities and great open spaces. We’ve won World Wars, fought for rights, invented medicines that have saved millions and created art that has stood the test of time.

Steinbeck, Hemingway and Arthur Miller. Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Oh don’t forget Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson and Paul Simon.

Spielberg, Scorcese and Coppola.

Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein and a guy named Don Estridge who worked up the street on something called the IBM PC.

And of course, Newman and Redford.

Stars who burned bright—on screen and off.

Uniquely American.

If we need something to bind us—and we do– we can look to our artists, philanthropists, inventors, scientists and teachers. We should be able to look to our politicians, but sadly we cannot. Maybe someday we will.

But there’s a lot there to unite us, if we choose to look.

Here’s a few facts about Mr. Redford which tie him to the American experience.

He was of Irish, Scottish and English heritage—like many Americans his ancestors came from elsewhere.

At age 11 he had a mild case of polio—thankfully generations of Americans were spared the disease thanks to a vaccine and the work of scientists supported by American investment.

He was expelled from college because he drank heavily, but like many Americans he reinvented himself and found opportunity in a land of opportunities.

He travelled in Europe living in France, Spain and Italy—because Americans are open to the world and find things to learn on those travels.

He directed, produced, wrote books and worked well into his 80s, because Americans work hard.

He was us at our best.

What a life….

15 September, 2025 4 4 Comments

Life Is But A Dream…

September 15, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 4 Comments

Sometimes it feels like we are on a cliff in a flimsy tent in stormy weather with raging seas below.

The other night I had a dream.

I rarely remember my dreams but this one stuck with me. It came through loud and clear. It demanded that I remember it.

I was on a cliffside overlooking the ocean. It was nighttime and very windy. The wind was relentless and I couldn’t turn my head away. I had to face the wind; head on.

I asked a friend who’s into these sorts of things for a quick read. She told me that this has been a heavy year, filled with heavy loss, heavy news and luckily significant joy.

But it’s been a lot. Life is like that sometimes.

A whole lot of sadness and a whole lot of abundance all at once.

I’ve lost some people this year who were tentpoles in my life. People who influenced me in deep and profound ways.

I’ve written about them in this space and shared with you their many amazing qualities.

I miss them.

The calls, the texts, the thoughtful or funny emails and the too infrequent get togethers.

I refer to them as tentpoles because they have lifted me up and elevated my life in so many ways.

I’ve been lucky that way. I’ve had so many people in my life that have been there with sage advice. I’ve watched these people closely and did my best to learn from their experience.

This year, I’ve lost a bunch of those folks and the world feels a little emptier without them. But the great people who cross your path never completely abandon you even when they pass. Their words linger, their wisdom lasts and I find myself drawing upon the lessons they taught me and others.

Sometimes I wonder what I gave them in return. I think it was an ear, a willingness to learn and gratitude.

But I’m definitely running a trade deficit with my tentpoles.

Last year, at around this time, I was celebrating my 60th birthday. I wanted a party because I had a sense that some of the people I wanted to celebrate with might not be around if I waited for my 65th.

Sadly, I was right.

I spent months working with Nancy Stewart-Franczak. I turned the party over to Nancy and her able partner Jen Costello and they delivered an event I will never forget. We lost Nancy earlier this year. I miss Nancy’s creativity, sense of humor, and perspective.

I also find myself missing Frances Bourque’s poetry, the way she could turn a phone call into a sonnet. I miss Kerry Koen’s wisdom and how every conversation was meaningful and left me thinking and full of new insights. What a gift he was to those of us he invested in. And I miss Mark Sauer’s endless curiosity and passion for the future which he channeled into his organization Bound for College. Mark made everyone he spent time with feel valued. What a gift to be the recipient of his energy.

I’m thankful for them all and many others who I lost this year. And grateful for those who remain. I’m savoring my time with each and every one of them.

I feel I’m shifting into a season where I will I begin to pay it forward, I hope half as well as some of my heroes.

My new career in philanthropy enables me to help great people running great organizations help others. It’s the most gratifying work I’ve done.

And on a personal level, I find myself the recipient of calls I used to make— asked to dispense advice to promising younger people hoping to make a difference. That’s gratifying as well.

The wind in my face may represent the rush of life; it comes at you with a whoosh. The good, the bad, the sad, the ugly, the beautiful and the tragic. All of it.

Just like my dream, you can’t turn away from the gusts which never stop blowing.

You face it, all of it, with a smile, sometimes a tear but with gratitude. Always with gratitude.

8 September, 2025 7 7 Comments

A Wonderful & Meaningful Life

September 8, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 7 Comments

Our beloved friend Tony in front of Crossroads.

Tony Allerton was a bright light.

And that bright light will continue to burn bright. Of that I am certain.

At his essence, Tony was a man who exuded optimism, love, empathy and care. In a world that often exhibits the opposite of those words, Tony stood tall and stood out. He was someone you could always count on to find a way forward, a way toward a better future. A path toward grace.

My friend Tony passed last week. He was a few days shy of 97. That’s a good run for most folks, but for people like Tony it wasn’t enough time. He leaves a void in a whole lot of lives, but he also leaves a legacy of hope, compassion, understanding and belief in others that will last for generations to come.

If that sounds like an exaggeration, you don’t know my friend Tony and the impact he’s had on countless lives.

He was a beacon to those in recovery, those looking to put their lives on a better path. He understood their struggle, because it was his struggle as well. And he served as a model for what’s possible for those looking to live a life of sobriety and dignity.

The word recovery carries a heavy weight in Delray Beach.

Over the years, we have seen both compassion for those in recovery and we’ve seen intolerance and fear as well.

We’ve been known as a welcoming community and we’ve seen words like “cancer” used to describe those who come here to recover.

Through it all, Tony stood strong. Tony never wavered, never stopped caring and never gave in to anger or despair. He was a beacon. A man who exhibited nothing but love, kindness and understanding.

He was a rare breed. I can’t think of anyone who has done more for his community.

And Tony’s community is our community. It’s all of us. He stood for all of us.

Every family has a story. We’ve all been touched by addiction.

Some of the very best people I’ve ever met in this town came here to recover. Many stayed and built lives here. They’ve been incredible contributors.

They have been invaluable.

Tony’s civic resume alone is breathtaking: he led the Delray Beach Playhouse, Delray Beach Rotary Club and the Lake Ida Property Owners Association.

For decades, Tony has quietly but persistently been an advocate for those seeking sobriety.

I have known Tony for close to 40 years. When I came to town, his iconic Crossroads Club was operating in what is now Pineapple Grove.

Sometime after I got elected to the City Commission in 2000, Tony came to see me at City Hall.

He wanted to relocate Crossroads to an out of the way (yet convenient) location on Lake Ida Road.

He told me that he didn’t want to Crossroads to be in the path of the progress happening downtown and that Crossroads needed more parking and a place to grow and thrive.

I thought that showed great foresight.

I remember the conversation very clearly.

I was with our Planning Director at the time Paul Dorling and Tony looked at us and with a smile said: “When we shut the lights downtown we need to be turning them on in the new building.”

Tony reminded us that Crossroads served as a lifesaver for people and he didn’t want anyone to miss a meeting. Hundreds and hundreds of people go to Crossroads on a daily basis and rely on the program for their well being.

Paul and I looked at each other and agreed.

“Ok,” we said.

Tony leaned forward with a serious look.

“ When we shut the lights off downtown we need to be turning them on in the new building.”

Then he smiled, that magnetic smile.

We got the message. And so that’s exactly what happened.

Tony and I remained in touch over the years. We would meet for lunch at Granger’s periodically to discuss Crossroads, happenings around town and the like.

Every one of our lunches proved meaningful, for me. Tony was a teacher. He was a champion for people and he was very open about his story and the importance of his work.

If he was ever hurt by some of the periods of vitriol over recovery he didn’t really share it, at least with me. It wasn’t about him, it was about others striving to recover.

I deeply admired his courage, sense of humor and dedication.

We are taught that people are replaceable. And indeed the show must go on as they say. But I’m here to testify that there will be nobody quite like Tony.

You can’t go to the shelf and pluck out another leader to fill the void he leaves.

But being the optimist I’m struggling to be, I believe that people like Tony live on. His care for others and his legacy cannot be forgotten and will continue to pay dividends. There are scores of people doing good things in this world because of Tony’s heart and dedication. These ripples of good endure and grow.

Thanks to my friend Steve English, I had what ended up to be a last lunch with Tony recently.

I wrote about it here.

Here’s the link. https://yourdelrayboca.com/my-lunch-with-tony/

To Tony’s family and many friends I’m so sorry for your loss. What a blessing he was. Tony will always be a part of us.

Tony was a bright light.

And that bright light will continue to burn bright. Of that I am certain.

1 September, 2025 4 4 Comments

Seeking Connection In An Age Of Screens

September 1, 2025 By Jeff Perlman 4 Comments

A scene from Press Conference performed in Ohio.

Last week, we ventured to Columbus, Ohio to see the opening of a short play I wrote called “Press Conference.”

I had entered the play about a mayor dealing with the fallout of a shooting in a “Brave Stories” contest run by Boxland Media.

They received over 500 entries from all over the country and a few foreign nations as well. My play was one of four chosen for the festival.

To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I’m new at this and when the winners were announced I recognized the names of two of the winning playwrights—I’ve read their work and listened to them on podcasts hoping to glean some wisdom from their success.

All three of the other plays were phenomenal and I realized that I have a lot to learn. I’m eager to do so. But if I can brag for just a moment, my little piece of work held its own. Of that, I’m proud.

The story of Press Conference is loosely based on my experiences as mayor of Delray many moons ago. During my tenure, we experienced the tragic shooting of a 15 year old outside a school dance by a rookie police officer.

That experience affected me and many others profoundly.

This year was the 20th anniversary of the shooting and I wanted to write about it—albeit with some artistic license. As I mentioned “Press Conference” is loosely based on what we experienced. But it touches on issues that remain painfully relevant. Race, fear and a style of politics that favors the safe way out over courage and humanity.

The play was also produced in May by a group called Playzoomers for a national audience of online subscribers and a company called Tiny Scripted recently acquired the piece for additional distribution.

It’s all exciting and I am currently working to expand the work into a full length play called “Say My Name”—a nod to our tendency as a society to move on when we would be better served to learn and talk about the issues that divide us. My theory is that if we talk to one another we’ll find have more in common than we might imagine. If we engage, we take away the corrosive power of those who seek to divide us.

I felt it important to travel to Ohio and be there for opening night. I talked briefly with the cast and director pre-show and then did what is known as a talk back after the show. The cast joined me to discuss their feelings about the play.

What I learned is that live theater can be a powerful experience. It’s one of the few communal things we do these days. We spend much of our time on phones and staring at screens. We rarely talk or gather and I think it’s hurting us.

There’s a crisis of loneliness in America. People of all ages and genders are experiencing isolation but there’s a genuine crisis among young men who are particularly isolated.

Many don’t have friends. Or the friends they do have live in their headphones as they play games online for hours at a time. It’s a very different experience from prior generations.

We used to see movies together, but that’s waning. We used to join bowling leagues and service clubs and volunteer for community projects. There’s been a documented drop in all of those categories.

Live theatre is one of the few things we still experience together, at the same time.

The best plays spark conversations and thought. They evoke emotion and get us to ask questions of each other and ourselves.

That’s what I’m trying to do with my nascent efforts in this beautiful new world I’ve discovered courtesy of FAU’s

Theatre Lab and the festival of new plays sponsored annually by the magnificent Delray Beach Playhouse.

And that’s the spirit that moved us to venture to Ohio to gather with people we didn’t know to see four plays about brave topics.

I left with new friends, new insights into the subject matter and a resolve to write more.

There’s nothing like hearing your words come to life thanks to the efforts of talented actors and actresses. I’ve been blown away by the talent I’ve seen. The directors have been excellent as well.

One of the young actors, Joe Morales, drove two hours each way from Canton, Ohio to perform a small role (spectacularly). That’s dedication. And I’m so grateful for these creatives. They make our world a better place.

The arts are so important. The arts are so meaningful.

The noise of the day comes and goes, but art..well art endures. If it’s good.

I’m trying to be good. I’m reaching for the stars. Not because it’s lucrative (it’s not) but because it matters. It matters to those we are trying to remember, to the audience we are trying to move

or entertain and to the creatives who give us so much.

On October 11 at 2 pm and 8 pm my play “The Cafe on Main” will be performed at the amazing Arts Garage right here in Delray.

I’m hoping you’ll come out to see the talented cast of local actors and to support the Arts Garage which has become an important cultural hub for our community.

The play is about love, community, second chances and friendship. These are subjects near and dear to us all. Come share the experience with your friends and family.

You’ll leave with memories and you’ll connect with others. Netflix will be there when you come home, I promise.
Visit artsgarage.org for tickets and more information.