23 September, 2024 3 3 Comments

Looking at Boca…

September 23, 2024 By 3 Comments

From left, Mayor Singer, Boca Chamber President Troy McClellan and Councilman Andy Thomson.

Last week, I wrote about some of the amazing things happening in West Palm Beach.

I touched briefly on Boca Raton, but I realized that there is more to talk about when it comes to Boca.

It’s funny, when you’ve been the mayor of a neighboring city, people get antsy when you say something nice about another community. One time– way past my “sell by” date— I rode on a float with the Mayor of Lake Worth Beach in the Delray holiday parade.

On the float, I was given a t-shirt touting Lake Worth. It read something like this: “Lake Worth, Making Delray Nervous for 100 years.” I thought the message was cute and complimentary of Delray because it hints that our town is an ideal that others strive to match.

But apparently I hit a nerve and a local gadfly went after me on Facebook as if I defected to Cuba and declared my love for communism. Oh well…

As they say in NY…tough noogies. I like Lake Worth Beach. Always have, always will.

Anyway, Boca has been a friendly rival of Delray for years—with the emphasis on friendly.

Way back when, I debated then Boca Mayor Steven Abrams about the merits of both cities. We squared off in the atrium of a Boca office building and had a great time. The Boca News (rest in peace) even put us on the cover in boxing gear.

It’s always good when we can approach life with a sense of humor. National politicians should take note: just like Boca and Delray aren’t enemies, Americans shouldn’t be at war with each other either.

But let’s avoid the national mess and revisit Boca Raton, which is nearing its 100th birthday as a city in 2025.

I had the pleasure of attending a half-day CityLead leadership conference recently at Boca Raton Community Church. CityLead is a monthly event that attracts a wide variety of local leaders. Pastor Bill Mitchell has been leading this effort for a decade and it’s wonderful. Check it out, I promise you won’t regret it: https://citylead.com/boca/

Once a year, they do a half-day conference and I was finally able to attend as a guest of 4Kids of South Florida, a wonderful nonprofit that partners with the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation.

It was a great day with lots of highlights and lots of takeaways that I’m still processing.

But one segment I got right away.

It was a 15-minute panel featuring Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, City Councilman Andy Thomson and Boca Chamber CEO Troy McClellan.

In that short period of time, these three civic leaders touted why they love Boca Raton. They talked about the city’s business development efforts (39 publicly traded companies call Boca home), the quality of life, the fact that young people are flocking to the city for jobs (the median age of Boca is getting younger and is now 47) and how the city seems to have “aspiration” in its DNA. From Addison Mizner’s dream, to the brave soldiers who once called Boca home during World War II, from the IBM era to today’s thriving economy Boca Raton has it going on and these leaders were beaming with civic pride.

But they talked about the “soft stuff” too. Councilman Thomson spoke passionately about an effort to promote neighborliness and how he plans to work with homeowner associations and community organizations to encourage people to check in with their neighbors. Mayor Singer talked about the people who come to Boca and find ways to serve and engage. My friend Troy talked about community institutions such as the 75-year-old chamber, trusted nonprofits like the George Snow Scholarship Fund and the fact that even with 103,000 people Boca still feels like a community.

Pastor Mitchell noted that the speakers filled the air with positivity about Boca and never talked about the wonderful beaches, beautiful parks and A-rated schools. In other words, Boca has lots of good stuff.

I felt the civic pride and during a break I caught up with Mayor Singer. He was approached by several people who expressed their love of Boca, including one young woman who graduated from Boca High, went to the University of Florida and came home to work in advertising. She told the mayor she wanted to be the next generation of leadership in the city.

That short conversation captured everything—the holy grail of community building. You want young people to feel excited about their hometown. You want people to fall in love with a place and dedicate themselves to making it better.

Troy, Andy, Scott and Bill Mitchell all mentioned being stewards of their special city. They showed respect to past leaders who built an awesome place, and they saw their roles as making their city better.

Now I’m sure some don’t like growth; others can’t stand the traffic and still others lament the changes that have occurred. No place is perfect, and no place is perfect for everyone. But cities are not museums, they change, they evolve and if you work hard and are intentional they change for the better. But some things should never change: respect for the past, nurturing a sense of community, caring for others and creating opportunity for future generations.

What I saw at CityLead and what I know from watching and doing business in Boca for a long time is that it’s a strong city with lots of valuable assets and anchors. All those anchors and assets matter—the universities, the businesses, the parks, the beach, the schools, the nonprofits and the places of worship—but the most valuable resource is always the  people who call a place home.

People provide leadership, pride of place and aspiration.

Boca has it. And they appreciate what they have.

 

Mercury Morris

Dolphins great Mercury Morris died over the weekend at the age of 77.

Mr. Morris was a talented running back who won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins in the 70s and was on the team that had the “perfect season.”

Post football he had some legal issues that were eventually tossed and he became a well-traveled public speaker. As a rookie journalist in Binghamton N.Y. in the mid 80s, I had a chance to interview Mr. Morris when he visited Broome County Community College. He was my first “celebrity” interview and I was really nervous to meet him. In short order, I had a chance to meet and interview MASH actor Mike Farrell and Watergate figure G. Gordon Liddy. Farrell was wonderful, Liddy was… let’s say… colorful. But Mercury Morris helped to put these interviews in perspective for me. I remember him as being kind, intelligent and determined to share his story with young people.

I am a football fan so that was common ground and I got to ask him about the famed back field he was part of alongside Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka.

I still have the “clip” from that interview and I used the piece as part of my collection of clips to apply for jobs in South Florida. I liked how the interview turned out and I figured that editors would me more interested in the NFL than my stories about whether there should be a solid waste facility in Vestal, N.Y. or rural Conklin.

Rest well Mercury and thanks for the memories. What a football player. He was electric.

 

16 September, 2024 4 4 Comments

Vision + Aspiration=Change

September 16, 2024 By 4 Comments

West Palm Beach

I took a tour of an apartment building in downtown West Palm Beach recently.

That may not sound too exciting, but it was.

From the top floor we had a beautiful panoramic view of the downtown. My guide was excitedly describing what was happening below. I was swept away by his enthusiasm.

To the north he noted the site of a proposed Vanderbilt University campus, a $300 million vision that includes training the next generation of tech engineers and business leaders.

To the east, he noted the presence of Palm Beach Atlantic University which has an ambitious plan to maximize the potential of its urban campus.

We saw several sites purchased by Stephen Ross, the visionary chair of Related Companies who’s leading the charge on Vanderbilt, investing in gleaming new office towers and building new residential projects on sites that are currently blighted with boarded up homes.

Ross is a real estate legend.

And at 83, he’s chosen West Palm Beach as the place to cement his legacy. He’s making a bet that West Palm will become the city in a region that’s already booming.

According to Bloomberg, Ross’ Related Cos. owns almost half the office stock in West Palm Beach’s downtown and he’s building more.

But the vision doesn’t stop at offices, hotels and residential towers. Ross has also signaled that he’s going to be a player in everything from schools to health care. He has stated that he hopes to make West Palm Beach “a model city for the country.”

It’s heady stuff.

But we’ve seen examples of this before.

On the west coast, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is playing a major role in the growth of Tampa. We saw the vision of Wayne Huizenga shape Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. We are also witnessing the impact of entrepreneurs like Jorge Perez and Manny Medina in Miami. Their efforts have forever changed the trajectory of “the Magic City.”

So, what does this mean for those of us who call southern Palm Beach County home?

Well, certainly a rising tide lifts all boats so there will be benefits to the maturation of West Palm Beach.

But like any “renaissance” there will be winners and losers.

As noted before in this space, building and maintaining economies and cities is a complex endeavor with lots of moving parts. It’s part art and part science. There’s also a need for serendipity, which is always welcome, but can’t be counted on or plugged into a spreadsheet.

Never underestimate the magic. It may or may not visit, but it tends to be fleeting so you need to take be ready and take advantage of it when it arrives.

Still, there are also lots of unintended consequences when cities transform—some are happy, and some are not.

When catalytic entrepreneurs with vision, guts, capital and smarts show up and decide to make a splash there’s sure to be a ripple effect.

We will most likely see job creation.

Hopefully, we will see increased philanthropy.

We will benefit in a myriad of ways from the newcomers who will be attracted to all the excitement.

For those of us already here, we may see and seize opportunities. But others will be left behind. And we need to be aware of the communities at risk.

Hopefully, these mavericks and those who follow in their wake will be creating a community in which our children will sense opportunity and want to come home after going away to college. I never felt it made any sense to spend billions on pre-K through university level education only to see our best and brightest leave because they don’t see opportunity here at home.

But there are downsides as well to transformational change.

We will need to be mindful of the environment and ensure that as we urbanize, we make sure to preserve open space. (Hey governor, leave the parks alone).

It’s good to see growth happening in the urban core of West Palm. It beats sprawl, which is bad for the environment and creates traffic.

We already struggle—mightily–with affordability. And as the county attracts investment above and beyond what Mr. Ross is doing, we are likely to see even more upward pressure on housing prices.

There will be a need to preserve neighborhoods from the threat of displacement and we must find a way to house our workforce. If your essential workers can’t afford to live here, you don’t have a community, you have a theme park for rich people. (I think I saw that phrase somewhere and  I agree with it.)

As a proud resident of Southern Palm Beach County, I applaud West Palm’s transformation. I’m rooting for that city and it’s Mayor Keith James. He’s a good guy.

But I also hope and expect that our neck of the woods will find its own path forward. We certainly have unlimited potential.

Boca Raton has a robust economic development program, a business-friendly City Council, an extraordinary Chamber of Commerce, an excellent research park, top tier office product, one of the best malls in the nation, FAU, Lynn University, Palm Beach State College, a world class resort, an airport and a Brightline station.

Boca is also pondering a new downtown government campus that could reinvigorate the area. Some council members are talking about the redevelopment of the campus as a billion dollar plus project. Then there’s the continued development of The Center for the Arts & Innovation at Mizner Park, an ambitious effort that has enormous upside potential. In addition, Boca is experiencing a residential housing boom with several multifamily projects working their way through the approval process.

As for Delray, when I think about the future my mind goes back to the city’s Cultural Plan which was done about 20 years ago.

In that plan, the consultant noted that Delray needed to find its place in the cultural landscape. It was recommended that the city not compete with West Palm’s Kravis Center or the Broward Center for the Performing Arts but rather carve its own niche by offering unique and intimate cultural opportunities. The larger point is you need to find your  positioning in the marketplace based on local sensibilities (and sensitivities, i.e. no tall buildings), what’s possible and perhaps what’s missing.

With West Palm and Palm Beach Gardens anchoring the northern part of the county and Boca off to the races, where does Delray fit in?

That’s the challenge and the opportunity. I do know that the best way to determine the path forward is to engage the community in a visioning process. It’s been a while since we’ve had one.

I also know that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You can’t control the market, but you can shape your own destiny.

Thoughts…

Do you ever scroll social media when you are on a boring call?

I admit that I do, sometimes anyway.

That’s what I was doing last week when I came across a post from a former teacher of mine who announced that he had just lost his wife hours earlier to Alzheimer’s.

This was not just any teacher; this was my favorite teacher. I had him in 4th grade and incredibly we are still in touch although I haven’t seen him in person since 1973.

Back then, he was a young teacher just starting out. He left an impression on all of us. He stayed in touch with many of my classmates and a whole lot of other students he impacted during a career that saw him scale great heights as a principal and administrator.

I enjoy following his adventures on social media. Trips to great locations, ski vacations and family celebrations always with his beautiful wife alongside him.

Even though I never met her, I did feel I kind of knew her. She must have been awesome because my friend is very special.

I knew they met as teenagers. He went to her Sweet 16 and their first date was a Billy Joel show back when he was playing Long Island bars and bowling alleys. My friend’s wife went to school with Billy.

Over the years, we tried and failed to get together during my infrequent trips home to Long Island. It just never worked out. That saddens me, because I would really love to be in the same room with this special teacher and learn even more about his life. I can’t pinpoint the exact lessons he imparted when I was a kid, all I know is I learned a lot and had a good time.

It was around 4th grade that I fell in love with writing. I’m sure my teacher encouraged me, that’s what great teachers do.

I didn’t know my friend’s wife had Alzheimer’s. What an awful disease, you end up losing people twice. My heart aches for him and all those struggling with this disease.

 

Remembering Johnny Pun

Johnny Pun

Also on social media, I saw this post from the Delray Beach Police Department honoring Officer Johnny Pun on the 19th anniversary of his death. Johnny was a friend of mine. During my newspaper days, I rode with him many times on midnight warrant sweeps etc.

Johnny had an infectious smile, an expansive view of what a police officer can mean to a community and was a lot of fun to be around. Here’s what our PD said. It’s a beautiful tribute.

Honoring the Memory of Officer Jean “Johnny” Pun

This week, we take a moment to honor and remember a true hero, Officer Jean “Johnny” Pun, who tragically passed away on September 10, 2005, in an off-duty motor vehicle accident. Officer Pun was more than just a colleague; he was a cherished friend, a source of strength, and a leader within our community.

Officer Pun made an incredible impact in Delray Beach, especially in fostering connections between law enforcement and the city’s Haitian population and youth. His dedication to community policing and building trust with residents set him apart, creating a lasting bond that continues to inspire us today.

Officer “Johnny” Pun’s legacy is one of unity, love, and compassion—values that continue to guide us in serving this great community. We will forever carry his memory in our hearts.

9/11/

From Morning Brew: “Last week, New York officials revealed a sobering statistic: For the first time, more FDNY first responders have died from their exposure to toxins at Ground Zero (370) than were killed on the day of the attacks (343), including 28 in the past year. Union leaders are imploring Congress to extend funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which runs out in 2028, through 2090, to ensure that every survivor can receive care.

The FDNY said urgency is needed before 9/11 fades from people’s memories: It soon plans to hire people born after Sept. 11, 2001.”

We must never forget.

And I don’t think we will.

On Sept. 11 I was at a meeting at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. Before we began our meeting, one of the participants asked us to pause to think about those we lost on that fateful day. He asked whether we knew anyone personally who perished in the attack. Three of the four meeting participants said they did lose someone they knew. I guess they call that “Six Degrees of Separation”.

We lost 3,000 plus people and yet our small group had personal connections. Very powerful indeed.

Michael Boyle, NYFD, your classmates will always remember you.

 

 

 

9 September, 2024 10 10 Comments

We Love Our Catalysts…

September 9, 2024 By 10 Comments

Julia Kadel is a 2024 Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation Catalyst Award winner.

It doesn’t feel right to mislead a friend.

But sometimes—if there’s a good reason— I suppose you can make an exception.

So, when I called Julia Kadel and told her I wanted to get together to discuss “Delray stuff”, I was telling a white lie. But I had a good reason.

Let me explain.

But first, if the name Julia Kadel rings a bell, here’s why. Julia and her husband Jeff are the founders of the Miracle League of Palm Beach County. For two decades, the Kadel’s and a team of volunteers have given every child with special needs the opportunity to play baseball.

The Kadel’s started right here in Delray Beach. In 2005, they came to the City Commission and pitched a vision to build a field for all children at Miller Park. I was mayor at the time. I remember how excited our City Commission was to help.

Julia and Jeff were watching TV one night and saw a news segment about special needs children playing baseball. They decided—then and there– that this would be their family’s heartfelt mission. They made it happen and along the way have touched countless lives.

Julia is a catalyst, someone who makes good things happen. And that’s why I called her and invited her to my office to discuss “Delray stuff.”

But the real reason was to surprise Julia by naming her a winner of the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation’s “Catalyst Award.” The award is given to people who exhibit Carl’s spirit of taking action and making good things happen.

You can’t apply for this award, those of us at the Foundation survey the community and look for people who are doing amazing things.

Winners are given cash awards for their nonprofits and are honored at a luncheon in October courtesy of the Foundation.

Last year, the first year of the award, we honored Pastor Bill Mitchell for his work with CityLead and we also honored Danny Pacheco of the Delray Beach Police Department for creating Delray Kicks, a youth soccer program that has built magical inroads with immigrant communities that may not trust law enforcement.

Our other 2024 winner is Ted Hoskinson, the founder of “Roots and Wings”, a wonderful nonprofit that tutors students and recognizes the amazing work done by teachers.

Ted is a catalyst. Someone who saw a need and works passionately and relentlessly to fill it.

Mr. Hoskinson has a heart for teachers because he was one. He taught at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., his alma mater.

Although Ted did not make teaching his life-long vocation, he has always cared deeply about elementary education. With his wife Anne, Ted decided that their joint legacy would be to establish and fund a charity to focus on children in need with the mission of improving their lives through education and encouraging strong, cohesive families.

 

Anne passed away in April 2016. In her honor, Ted began the mission they conceived together. Anne wanted to call the charity “Roots and Wings,” and the non-profit was officially established as a 501(c)(3) organization under that name.

In the ensuing years, Ted and his team have touched countless lives and this year they expect to serve 1,300 students in Palm Beach County. We have watched the effort grow from its humble origins in Delray, into a countywide organization making a profound impact.

Roots And Wings Founder Ted Hoskinson.

This award means the world to us at the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation because it allows us to celebrate the spirit of our founder and honor those who are making a real difference in our community.

Like Carl– who loved delighting people he cared about– we like to surprise winners with the award.

Last year, we showed up at their workplaces with the news—and a check. This year, we worked with key people in the lives of our catalysts to gather friends and board members at one of our offices. We told a white lie to get them there, but then we opened the door to a conference room celebration.

Julia and Ted were very surprised.

And when I saw Julia’s shocked look, I felt momentarily guilty. I assured her what was happening was a good thing– a great thing actually– and how happy we were to say thanks to a community hero who has enriched so many lives.

My favorite part of this year’s announcement was the “circle of praise” we created (courtesy of my Foundation colleague Maritza Benitez) in which we had everyone in the room share why they adore Julia and Ted. (These were separate surprise events, but we will bring our Catalysts together at the luncheon).

To see the love in the room, the stories of gratitude and respect for these special people created something that’s hard to describe.

Julia and Ted are building community. Julia through baseball. Ted by recognizing unsung (and underpaid) teachers and by helping students create a better future through education.

These are the Catalysts that make our community special.

Special thanks to Jeff Kadel and Roots and Wings board member Joycelyn Patrick for making the day possible.

There were tears and lots of laughter. We left the room feeling blessed for having these special Catalysts in our world. They fill our hearts with joy and gratitude.

 

 

6 September, 2024 2 2 Comments

Cities (Updated)

September 6, 2024 By 2 Comments

The Block 40 Food Hall In downtown Hollywood.

We took a brief staycation recently after a hectic few weeks and I have to say it does your soul a favor to take a break from it all. Even for a day.
We went to Hollywood Beach, a 45 minute drive from Delray and spent a day and a night at the Diplomat Resort on the ocean.
It’s fairly reasonable this time of year, despite the $17 drinks.
Hollywood is an interesting city with “good bones” as they say courtesy of its visionary founder Joe Young. There’s a walkable downtown, a magnificent beach and a few traffic circles that will keep you on your toes if you’re driving.
We checked out the new Block 40 Food Hall, a good example of adaptive reuse. The food hall occupies the building that once housed the historic Great Southern Hotel, built by Young 100 years ago to house workers who were building his dream. If you’re a film buff, you may recognize the hotel from its appearance in “Midnight Cowboy.”
We dined at Lux Burger, watched Delray’s Coco Gauff play at the U.S. Open and then took a walk around town.
My wife Diane was a young planner who worked for the City of Hollywood at the start of her career so it was interesting to hear her talk about the changes that have occurred since the 80s.
There’s lots of development happening in Hollywood—high rises..a very different vision than Delray’s.
I like our scale, but there’s room for different styles and visions.
I believe cities need their own visions and “positioning” so to speak. Variety is truly the spice of life. It’s nice that South Florida has a wide variety of cities.
I’ve always been fascinated by Hollywood, Pompano Beach and Lake Worth Beach…Boca, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm too.
I see those cities as places with lots of potential. It’s been interesting to see their progress or lack thereof. It’s been interesting to see the changes that have occurred since I discovered these cities after moving to South Florida in 1987.
I like cities that have “grids”, traditional downtowns, lots of amenities and natural gifts such as beautiful beaches or lakes like Lake Ida. Lake Ida is so underrated.
Which in a roundabout way, brings me back to Hollywood.
We spoke to a bartender who lives downtown and she thinks the city will become the “new” Miami.
Maybe. I don’t know.
I don’t know enough about the politics to understand the contours of Hollywood’s aspirations.
But walking around the downtown I felt the potential, but also saw the challenges of creating a vibrant downtown.
It’s not an easy endeavor.
There are some formulas—events to bring people downtown, accessible parking, decorative street lights, culture, a good mix of restaurants and retail—but you need some magic too. You need some chemistry: I can’t quite explain it. But I have seen it!
Delray managed to make it happen—the result of a lot of years, a lot of investment and a lot of people rowing in the same direction and taking risks.
Sometimes those risks work, and sometimes they don’t. But if you learn from the experiments that fail, you’ll find a way forward.
Years ago, when Delray was striving mightily to revive the downtown, someone —I can’t remember who— said something that stuck with me.
“Downtown will never be done.”
In other words, you can’t ever declare victory; you have to keep at it.
It’s a simple statement but profound nonetheless. There is a tendency to get complacent when you achieve a certain level of success.
But you can’t. Complacency is a killer. In every aspect of life.
The second statement I remember from those days was that “downtown is the heart of the city, without a healthy heart, the city will struggle.”
How true.
The third statement from that era I can attribute to retired City Manager David Harden. He told us that our biggest challenge would be surviving success.
Truth is, I wasn’t sure what he meant at the time. I thought success would breed more success. And it does, for a while.
But success can also breed complacency and contempt. How much is too much? What fits and what doesn’t?
Does the success include everyone? Has the success priced out people who want to live here or who do live here and may be forced to leave?
I believe change is inevitable and can be healthy. I also believe that change is never easy or straightforward.
How do you change and keep your soul? How do you aspire and ensure that you are inclusive?
All of these thoughts flooded my mind as I looked out at the ocean from our room at the Diplomat.
The last time I was here, I was a mayor attending a League of Cities convention or was it a Florida Redevelopment Association meeting? I don’t remember.
But I’m still thinking about those very same questions. Still wrestling with the riddle of cities. Still fascinated about what it takes to succeed and what the definition of success for a city actually means

2 September, 2024 0 Comments

Cities

September 2, 2024 By Leave a Comment

 

 

The Block 40 Food Hall In downtown Hollywood.     We took a brief staycation recently after a hectic few weeks and I have to say it does your soul a favor to take a break from it all. Even for a day. 
We went to Hollywood Beach, a 45 minute drive from Delray and spent a day and a night at the Diplomat Resort on the ocean. 
It’s fairly reasonable this time of year, despite the $17 drinks. 
Hollywood is an interesting city with “good bones” as they say courtesy of its visionary founder Joe Young. There’s a walkable downtown, a magnificent beach and a few traffic circles that will keep you on your toes if you’re driving. 
We checked out the new Block 40 Food Hall, a good example of adaptive reuse. The food hall occupies the building that once housed the historic Great Southern Hotel, built by Young 100 years ago to house workers who were building his dream. If you’re a film buff, you may recognize the hotel from its appearance in “Midnight Cowboy.”
We dined at Lux Burger, watched Delray’s Coco Gauff play at the U.S. Open and then took a walk around town. 
My wife Diane was a young planner who worked for the City of Hollywood at the start of her career so it was interesting to hear her talk about the changes that have occurred since the 80s. 
There’s lots of development happening in Hollywood—high rises..a very different vision than Delray’s. 
I like our scale, but there’s room for different styles and visions. 
I believe cities need their own visions and “positioning” so to speak. Variety is truly the spice of life. It’s nice that South Florida has a wide variety of cities. 
I’ve always been fascinated by Hollywood, Pompano Beach and Lake Worth Beach…Boca, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm too.  
I see those cities as places with lots of potential. It’s been interesting to see their progress or lack thereof. It’s been interesting to see the changes that have occurred since I discovered these cities after moving to South Florida in 1987. 
I like cities that have “grids”, traditional downtowns, lots of amenities and natural gifts such as beautiful beaches or lakes like Lake Ida. Lake Ida is so underrated. 
Which in a roundabout way, brings me back to Hollywood. 
We spoke to a bartender who lives downtown and she thinks the city will become the “new” Miami. 
Maybe. I don’t know. 
I don’t know enough about the politics to understand the contours of Hollywood’s aspirations. 
But walking around the downtown I felt the potential, but also saw the challenges of creating a vibrant downtown. 
It’s not an easy endeavor. 
There are some formulas—events to bring people downtown, accessible parking, decorative street lights, culture, a good mix of restaurants and retail—but you need some magic too. You need some chemistry: I can’t quite explain it. But I have seen it!
Delray managed to make it happen—the result of a lot of years, a lot of investment and a lot of people rowing in the same direction and taking risks. 
Sometimes those risks work, and sometimes they don’t. But if you learn from the experiments that fail, you’ll find a way forward.  
Years ago, when Delray was striving mightily to revive the downtown, someone —I can’t remember who— said something that stuck with me. 
“Downtown will never be done.”
In other words, you can’t ever declare victory; you have to keep at it. 
It’s a simple statement but profound nonetheless. There is a tendency to get complacent when you achieve a certain level of success. 
But you can’t. Complacency is a killer. In every aspect of life. 
The second statement I remember from those days was that “downtown is the heart of the city, without a healthy heart, the city will struggle.”
How true. 
The third statement from that era I can attribute to retired City Manager David Harden. He told us that our biggest challenge would be surviving success. 
Truth is, I wasn’t sure what he meant at the time. I thought success would breed more success. And it does, for a while. 
But success can also breed complacency and contempt. How much is too much? What fits and what doesn’t? 
Does the success include everyone? Has the success priced out people who want to live here or who do live here and may be forced to leave? 
I believe change is inevitable and can be healthy. I also believe that change is never easy or straightforward. 
How do you change and keep your soul? How do you aspire and ensure that you are inclusive?
All of these thoughts flooded my mind as I looked out at the ocean from our room at the Diplomat. 
The last time I was here, I was a mayor attending a League of Cities convention or was it a Florida Redevelopment Association meeting? I don’t remember. 
But I’m still thinking about those very same questions. Still wrestling with the riddle of cities. Still fascinated about what it takes to succeed and what the definition of success for a city actually means. 

 

 

26 August, 2024 37 37 Comments

On Turning 60

August 26, 2024 By 37 Comments

My wife and a dedicated team of bakers, icers and friends made these. They are delicious.

“The file labeled me isn’t finished.”
I saw that sentence somewhere recently and I wrote it down a few hours later because I couldn’t let go of the thought.

I don’t remember where I saw those words, but they spoke to me like the best sentences do.
I just turned 60.  Today.

It’s a number. Quite a number. There’s more road behind me than ahead, but still it’s just a number.
It feels like you blink and decades of your life flies by.

Childhood, high school, college, first job, marriage, kids, career—love and loss. Laughter and tears.
Plenty of laughter, plenty of tears.

I think many of us live on three planes—the past, the present and the future.
We reflect and we remember. We take the day to day as it comes. We meet our deadlines and we strive to honor our commitments. We decide what  to leave in and we decide what  to leave out.  We try and think ahead. We invest our hopes in a better tomorrow.

That hopeful mindset is how I navigate the world. I look back fondly and often, I try  to be present and I dream about tomorrow.
But when you hit 60, there’s a shift. Tomorrow— which is never guaranteed — is here.

Earlier this year, my friend Randy sent me a chart with rows of chairs -10 across- representing each decade of life.
There are 8 rows that most of us feel we can be around to experience, the 9th row is in red, because making it beyond 90 is tough.
That chart has both haunted and focused me ever since he sent it.

I just entered the 6th row. There are only a few rows left —if I’m lucky. Moreover, within those rows is the logical conclusion that the age I am now will be better than the years ahead. I’ve been told by older friends that aging isn’t for sissies. I believe it.
But there’s something liberating about this stage of life.

I find myself happy with where I’ve been and where I’m at. I take joy in those I love. I’m surrounded by friends, have meaningful work and feel pretty good.
I’ve decided to let some things go, try a few new things and spend as much time enjoying the goodness in this world. And there plenty of goodness in this world.
Give me family, friends, pets, music, a good book and good conversation. I don’t need things but I want and crave experiences. And I want to make time for what’s important. As my friend Scott Porten says..we’ve got things to do.

For me, that’s time with my wife and best friends, visits with my children, travel to a few places, time in Maine, writing and learning all I can because this world fascinates me.
I’m also going to remain involved in the world via the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation, which is the most inportant work I’ve done in my life. To find this kind of work as a career capper has been a blessing. Philanthropy has reawakened my passion for trying to make my corner of the world a better place. That I get to do this work with a wonderful teammate, a supportive board and in the name of a man who changed my life is an honor and a blessing. Carl DeSantis was so good to me and to so many others. I miss him beyond words.

I’m at an age where I’m sometimes asked for advice. And truth be told, I’m flattered and I always want to help but I’ve lived such an unconventional life that I feel I can’t offer a recipe, only a template.
Say yes to things that scare you.
Try new things, it’s ok to fail as long as you learn.

Surround yourself with people who lift you up, fulfill you and inspire you.
Try and see others and encourage them. Dare to love passionately. You will suffer more than a few broken hearts but you will survive and love again.
Everything I just wrote is a cliche. But it’s all true.

When I left college I got a newspaper job, I barely knew what I was doing and I was intimidated by the veterans that commanded the newsroom.
Newspaper reporters are great characters, and this group seemed so competent and confident. They were grizzled, and I was young, naive and far from confident. But I faked it until I made it.  I listened, I learned, I threw myself into the job and studied the greats sitting near me and working in other newsrooms and in time I got better.

When I went into business for myself, I was terrified. But I figured it out —in time.
When I went into politics, I was way, way over my skies but I joined a team that nurtured me and made me look like I knew what I was doing–at least some of the time.

Post politics I helped start a magazine, briefly owned part of a newspaper (a longtime dream), worked with a dear friend in public relations, did a lot of consulting work and freelance writing and then ran into a legendary entrepreneur who changed my life and asked me to help him with a little beverage company he believed in by the name of Celsius.

I wrote two books, a play, this blog, stayed with Carl’s family office and went into real estate and a slew of other businesses ranging from a hot sauce to whatever else caught my friends eye. What a ride!
And I was unprepared for all of it. I made all sorts of mistakes and invented a few along the way. But each day I woke up and vowed to do better.

Now we are diving into philanthropy in a big way, because big is what  Carl was about. He roared like a lion- literally. But he was humble too.
I tell my partner at the foundation that we are building the plane while flying it. We don’t know what we don’t know.
But isn’t that wonderful ? Isn’t that life?
I’ve been blessed.

And if it all ends tomorrow I’ve lived a good life.
Hopefully it won’t end quite yet and while I have great faith that there is something beyond this, I guess we really don’t know. But that’s one area I do have confidence in, I’ve found living proof. I’ve seen things, glimpses of something beyond. I know there’s meaning to this life. I’m keeping the faith.
The file is not closed on any of us if we learning from the past, believe in the present and focus on the future.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to share my life with you.

19 August, 2024 0 Comments

For Creators, By Creators

August 19, 2024 By Leave a Comment

1909 is dedicated to growing Palm Beach County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

We’ve had our eyes on 1909, a co-working space, business incubator and accelerator in West Palm Beach, for a long time now.

Named after the year Palm Beach County was founded, 1909 is a creative community that nurtures entrepreneurs helping them turn their ideas into viable businesses.

It’s an important endeavor—what can be more exciting than helping those who dream and aspire?

That mission—to bring dreams to life, to create and grow entrepreneurs—speaks to us at the Carl Angus Desantis Foundation. We recently made a $50,000 grant to support a “Scale Up” initiative at 1909. The program is designed to help new businesses that have shown promise make it through the next phase of their development. The goal is to serve 300 local entrepreneurs by providing them with help at a stage where many businesses fail.

Candidates for this program have already made it through the incubation phase. They have customers and are generating revenue but need to scale their idea to survive.

This is often a stage that is perilous for bootstrapping entrepreneurs. They may need legal, accounting, technical and marketing advice but often can’t afford those services or don’t know where to turn. They are also at a stage where they can’t afford to make a mistake. Hire the wrong app developer and you may go out of business when they don’t deliver on time or on budget (or at all).

1909 is there to support the next generation of Palm Beach County entrepreneurs. They work with creatives and small business owners offering education, community and a network of mentors who can be trusted to deliver.

They have created an elegant model and we at the Foundation are not the only ones who are noticing. The City of Boca Raton is getting involved as well, which is impressive. Switched on cities know they need to support the next generation of business leaders.

Personally, I have been passionate about economic development for a long time now. I did two terms on the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, served on the boards of three different chambers of commerce and made economic development the focus of my seven years as an elected official. I’ve also spent years studying entrepreneurship and have been involved in several entrepreneurial endeavors ranging from newspapers and magazines to beverages, real estate and hot sauce.

I understand how important and how difficult entrepreneurship can be. I’ve seen success and I’ve seen and experienced failure. It’s a hard, hard road to travel. But these are the brave people who change our world.

When you spend time with entrepreneurs you pick up some valuable life lessons.

First, it’s not about ideas.

It’s about making ideas happen.

Second, entrepreneurship is about the courage to take risks. Entrepreneurs are not limited by other people’s imaginations, they persist, they find a way—always.

The founder of our Foundation is a case study of the grit it takes to succeed.

Carl DeSantis was working at Walgreens when he started what became Rexall Sundown, which grew into a dominant player in the vitamin industry. The business started as a mail order operation in Carl’s garage.

I was lucky to spend a lot of time learning from Carl. He showed me early mail order catalogs that he created hoping to earn the trust of consumers. He loved marketing, had a restless mind and a rock-solid belief in his instincts.

That confidence—not ego—but pure belief and faith came in handy when he dug in and made it his mission to turn Celsius into a mainstream brand. Celsius had many ups and downs and there are many different theories as to why the energy drink finally succeeded but there is one aspect of the story that enjoys universal agreement. Without Carl’s belief, the brand would have died.

So, when a colleague and I toured 1909’s space in downtown West Palm Beach I was struck by the energy and spirit of entrepreneurship, and I thought of my friend Carl. He would like these people, I thought. He would relate to their dreams, desire and grit.

“These are our kind of people,” he would say to me when we met like-minded people trying to build something of note.

One last thought about our friends at 1909. They are the dreamers who bring the magic to our world.

Sitting on all those economic development boards for all those years I understood the need to “chase smokestacks” so to speak. Luring companies to your community has its place, although I was always wary of incentives. I believed we should build cities that would attract people and companies because they were great places to live, work and play not because CEO’s could avoid taxes or were given oodles of cash to be here. That doesn’t sound sustainable to me.

I’ve always preferred what they call “economic gardening” —let’s grow our own!  Let’s support the dreamers, celebrate them and help them succeed. They won’t leave if we care for them and create communities where they find what they need to succeed.

1909 is doing this and doing it well. We are thrilled to be a small part.

 

Two notable losses

We suffered two notable losses last week with the passing of Roy Simon and legendary cookie entrepreneur Wally “Famous” Amos.

Mr. Simon was a founding member of the Delray Beach Historical Society, the Downtown Development Authority, was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and a prominent architect for decades. His list of civic achievements is very, very long. He loved Delray Beach and will be deeply missed.

Mr. Amos came to Delray Beach some years ago as a guest of former Commissioner Jon Levinson who was a business partner of Wally’s.

Wally gave a motivational speech to city staff, visited with local youth and encouraged them to read and dream.

We were able to grab dinner at Da Da and he told stories well into the night while wearing his trademark Panama hat. May both Mr. Simon and Mr. Amos rest in peace.

 

12 August, 2024 10 10 Comments

Living History

August 12, 2024 By 10 Comments

The EJS Project is changing lives in our community.

“This is the time to show up. This is the time to work hard.” –EJS Project founder and executive director Emmanuel “Dupree” Jackson.

My friend Dupree speaks the truth.

What an important message.

It is time to get to work. It is time to make a difference.

Recently, I spent a few days (virtually) following Dupree and a group of teenagers from the EJS Project as they traveled from Delray Beach to Alabama to soak up history.

I followed their adventures on social media as they met with leaders and learned how history informs our present and our future. I watched with pride as these young leaders learned how they can shape the world they are about to inherit. Even through Facebook videos, you can see when the lights turn on in a young person’s mind. You can feel the spark.

Yes, something very special is happening at EJS. It’s extraordinary to watch.

The EJS Project has vision.

The EJS Project is ambitious and the EJS Project is changing lives by educating and empowering future leaders.

And we need leadership more than ever.

We need it in Delray Beach, we need it in Florida, in America and in our world.

Leadership moves mountains. It’s just that simple.

The goal of the “Young Legislators Trip 2024” was to educate and open the eyes of future leaders. And based on what I watched online; the trip was a success.

The teens went to Selma, Alabama. They walked the Edmund Pettis Bridge, met with the extraordinary Bryan Stevenson (whose Equal Justice Initiative is nothing short of miraculous) and they talked to mayors and legislators about the future. They also visited the Legacy Museum in Montgomery which displays the history of slavery and racism in America. The museum was founded by the Equal Justice Initiative.

It is one thing to learn about history and talk about it in some classroom. It is quite another to walk in the steps of giants who risked their lives to move this nation forward.

The EJS Project allows our children—and they are our children—to explore history and learn why it is relevant to our present and our future.

History is never really the past—it informs our day to day and that’s why I was thrilled to see these kids take a  journey through the cradle of the civil rights movement.

I was overjoyed when they visited Mr. Stevenson, a personal hero of mine. Bryan Stevenson’s life was portrayed in the movie “Just Mercy.” A few years back, I had a chance to see him speak at a Leadership Florida meeting. He gave the single best speech I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen  lots of speeches.

Mr. Stevenson has devoted his life to defending those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper legal representation. He’s a courageous man and it makes my heart sing to know that the kids from EJS had time with someone who believes that “somebody has to stand when other people are sitting. Somebody has to speak when other people are quiet.”

Stevenson also talks about the concept of proximity.

This idea is often used in the context of you can’t hate someone if you get to know them and so we are called to be proximate to others. I also believe it can be used to describe what EJS is doing; ensuring that our youth is proximate to the action so that our kids can understand how our world works or why it sometimes falls short.

I believe with every fiber of my being that it is important for all of us to be exposed to the trailblazers in our world. Mr. Stevenson is a remarkable example, as were John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr., who led a march to the Edmund Pettus Bridge so that our kids can cross that bridge safely today.

But as important as it is to walk in the steps of giants, it’s also important to note that heroes are everywhere we look if we open our eyes.

Earlier this year, a marker was placed near our public beach to commemorate the integration of that beach and the work of local icon Alfred “Zack” Straghn who made it happen.

I was privileged to know Mr. Straghn who was very generous with his time. He made it a point to meet with and educate people from many walks of life in his beloved Delray Beach. I was one of thousands that he touched.

But in our fast-paced world, I often wonder if these heroes get forgotten with the tides which rise and fall with the currents of the day.

That’s why I’m so glad that retired fire chief Kerry Koen made it his mission to place that marker for his friend Zack on A1A near the pavilion so that generations can learn and remember.

Kerry is himself, a local hero, generous with his time and his knowledge. He has touched thousands and has become the gold standard for a fire chief.

The best leaders are generous. They are born to share, and they are passionate about expanding opportunities for others.

That’s what attracted us to Dupree and the EJS Project. The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation got involved with a small grant and we have watched the EJS Project grow, while enduring some challenges that might have stopped a less passionate movement. But instead of seeing them shrink when obstacles emerged, we watched their resilience strengthen and we watched their mission expand.

We are committed as well…the foundation is setting aside $50,000 a year for three years for EJS’s mission. They need commitment from funders, and we are happy to stand alongside them as they transform lives.

We believe the future of Delray is brighter because of organization’s such as EJS. And we hope others will step up and watch this special nonprofit build the next generation of leaders.

5 August, 2024 8 8 Comments

Time & Lasting Impact

August 5, 2024 By 8 Comments

Stanley Tate: from humble beginnings to lasting prominence and impact.

In three weeks, I’ll be 60.

It’s a birthday my mother, who passed away in 1998 at age 59, never saw.

That sad fact gives me pause. Because she didn’t get this far, I’ve been contemplating this birthday for a while now. It’s been there– on the horizon— for 26 years. Now it’s here.

I think about mom every single day.

I miss her.

Some days that dull ache is sharp.

Whenever I see a movie she would have loved; whenever there’s a family milestone I know she would have savored, I feel that loss and the experience becomes bittersweet. She’s missed by so many.  She’s missed so much.

Four years ago at this very time, I was in the throes of a knock-down brawl with Covid.

There were moments—too many to contemplate—where I did not think I would get out of Bethesda alive. I try not to think about that period, but I still do. There are times when I can’t quiet my mind. There are mornings when I wake up and for a split second, I’m back in that loud ICU room isolated, struggling to breathe.

Then I realize I’m safe, and a wave of gratitude washes over me. I’m thankful to be alive. I’m thankful for the good in my life. I’m aware of how fragile we are.

During my Covid battle, I kept thinking that if I didn’t make it, I would be younger than my mother was when she lost her battle with cancer. I thought about all that she missed; grandchildren growing up and doing great things, time with my dad, time in Florida, a place she loved.

What would I have missed if that damn virus claimed me?

Four years later, millions of lives later, I think about those who didn’t make it. I think of their families, and I think of those whose lives were transformed by long Covid.

They say that people grow when challenged. I believe that’s true.

Strength through adversity is the phrase.

“The strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires. It is pounded and struck repeatedly… The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength,” says the writer, Sherrilyn Kenyon. “Those two things make the metal pliable and able to withstand every battle it’s called upon to fight.”

Indeed.

But sometimes those fires engulf people. Sometimes the strongest people succumb.

That realization puts everything in perspective. We are all passing through. Let’s make the most of it. That’s my prayer for everyone.

It’s what we do with the time we are given that matters. Life is about love. Life is about service. Life is about connections.

It’s also about faith, creating and appreciating magic, making and keeping friends and leaving things better than we found them. My mom did all of that and more.

She continues to inspire and inform me. Life may end, but love endures.

A Life In Service to the future

Florida lost a giant last week with the passing of Stanley Tate, a self-made millionaire who was instrumental in the creation and development of the Florida Prepaid College Program.

Mr. Tate died at his Bal Harbour home on July 26. He was 96.

Mr. Tate grew up in a tiny Brooklyn apartment and came to the Sunshine State to attend the University of Florida. He waited tables to pay for college and then became a South Florida real estate mogul. He was well-known in Delray as the developer of the High Point community.

Mr. Tate started the Florida Prepaid program with $600,000 of his own money. The program has helped thousands of parents afford college for their children by allowing those enrolled to lock in tuition rates from the time their children are born. It’s a brilliant model.

In my work at the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation, we took advantage of Mr. Tate’s vision by investing in Take Stock in Children which buys prepaid plans to make college affordable for students who would not otherwise be able to get an education without the lower tuition rates.

Mr. Tate’s legacy is a big one. He will be missed, but his work continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 July, 2024 8 8 Comments

A Summer Song

July 29, 2024 By 8 Comments

“End of the spring

And here she comes back

Hi, hi, hi, hi there

Them summer days

Those summer days” —Hot Fun in the Summertime, Sly and the Family Stone

“Summer breeze makes me feel fine

Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind.” – Summer Breeze, Seals & Crofts

Summer.

Just the word conjures up so many memories.

Summer was once the most magical season—there was summer romance, summer vacations and summer songs. Summer was the season we pined for all year long.

But summer— as we once knew it—has changed.

The sun-kissed sultry season has been replaced by stifling and often stunning heat. Lazy days in a hammock don’t seem possible anymore. It’s just too darn hot.

These days, we have new terms to grapply with: “heat domes,” “super storms”, “Saharan dust.”

Maybe these things existed way back when, but I sure don’t remember them. I do remember the ideal of the endless summer, days spent chasing tennis balls and nights spent under streetlights hanging with the kids in the neighborhood.

Hot fun in the summertime has been replaced by a fear of what the tropics may unleash on our lives (and our insurance rates).

Yikes.

I’ve been thinking about how summer has changed. Each day I say a prayer when I come to the office that our ancient A/C survived the night. At home, I stress out with every noise I hear or imagine coming from our air conditioner. When did we last replace the system? Will this be the summer that it dies?

We all know the rules—air conditioners break on Friday nights when temps hit 95 and fire alarms chirp at 3 a.m.

But I digress.

I’d rather write and think about summers past.

When I was a kid, we spent our summers at the Stony Brook Swim and Racquet Club, which we called “The Club.”

It was an oasis for middle-class families, many of whom lived in Levitt Homes. We had 17 tennis courts, four hard courts and 13 clay courts, a wall for paddle ball, a basketball court, a kiddie pool, a big people pool, a concession stand, and a gazebo.

My most memorable summers were spent within the confines of “The Club.” It was a family club; our moms took us every day and our dads joined us on the weekends. My best friends were there and that was where I found and lost my first summer loves. They were truly ‘the wonder years’.

We were outside all day and a good part of the night in those days.

If it was hot, I don’t remember. All I know is nothing stopped us from playing tennis and paddle ball for hours on end.

Truth be told, more than the weather has changed from those halcyon days.

It seemed like families spent more time together back then. We didn’t have the distraction of phones or the doom scrolling temptations of social media.

I wasn’t the one paying or sweating the bills back then, but it seemed like middle class families had the luxury of leisure time and the ability to enjoy a good life.

We lived in Suffolk County on the east end of Long Island.  We were proximate to wealth, snug in our suburban cocoon.  Still, we saw how the other half lived when our club’s tennis team travelled to play in places called “Old Field” and “Belle Terre.”

Personally, I wasn’t impressed. The country clubs felt “stuffy”, and they didn’t have paddle ball courts where you could watch middle aged New York City raised weekend athletes dive on asphalt chasing a little black ball. That was cool.

Those were some days…I loved those days.

My two best friends had these wonderful dads. Hank and Mickey were legendary characters. They were fun and funny, and they loved hanging with us too. Summers were filled with bear hugs, jokes and playful ribbing. My dad and I bonded over tennis and to this day the sport connects us.

Summer was when we gathered, all of us. It was a community and we felt a part of things.

These days summer is when we hibernate.  Floridians wait for winter. We have the best winters.

Still, too many kids while away their time staring at screens, wearing headsets, playing video games alone or with ‘remote’ friends.

I’m grateful those distractions weren’t there for me and my friends. In fact, I wonder whether I would have made friends if those days were like the present. But not only did we make friends, we kept them. Why? Because we made memories together and memories bond you.

The Wonder Years come and go in a blur. It’s like a long summer day.  It seems like it will go on forever only to fade–forever.  But I’m glad I experienced those days with guys named Scott, Dave, Dewey, Ben, Joe and Howie. Some of those friendships were nurtured by our time at the club, others friends came later, but we made a lot of our memories during those magical summer months.

Labor Day marked an end point. On Labor Day we walked every inch of the club reminiscing about what we just experienced. We recounted our summer loves, we talked about the trouble we got in, the trouble we escaped and we joked around. We remembered our triumphs and our defeats on the Har-Tru courts and we dreamt of the future and the places we would go.

Oh, how I wish we captured those moments, but I suppose in a way we did. Oh, how wish I could revisit those seasons in the sun.

 

 

For those who came of age in the 70s, here are 10 memorable summer tunes.

“School’s Out”- Alice Cooper 1972

“Afternoon Delight”- Starland Vocal Band 1976

“Beach Baby” – The First Class 1974

“Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac 1977

“Rock The Boat” – Hues Corporation 1973

“Rich Girl” – Hall & Oates 1976

“Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” – Tavares 1976

“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass 1972.

“Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” – Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods 1974

“Little Willy” – Sweet 1973

 

 

 

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