‘It's retribution for me daring to run against Keith James.’
Onetime challenger accuses West Palm Beach mayor of shutting down two popular outdoor public spaces on Clematis Street out of "spite."
For some perspective on our latest story — about accusations that West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James is shutting down two popular downtown outdoor spaces out of spite — let’s briefly revisit a different story published nearly eight years ago in the Palm Beach Post.
It was a bombshell with a bombshell quote, allegedly made by then-City Commissioner Keith James, according to what a developer told the newspaper’s Editorial Board in 2015:
"What f******* universe do you live in? Really? What f****** universe do you live in that you think that after how you behaved during the election, raising as much money as you did for my opponent … that you could come in my office and ask for my support of your project?"
James at the time told Post reporter Tony Doris he didn’t recall making those statements. But developer Michael McCloskey told the newspaper he would be willing to testify under oath that James said that, verbatim, along with this comment:
"If you had a golden goose that was laying golden eggs up and down Okeechobee Boulevard, I wouldn't vote for the project. Now get the f*** out of my office. And you can quote me on that."
McCloskey, whose medical project was ultimately denied, wouldn’t be the last businessperson to fall into James’ crosshairs.
Rodney Mayo, the downtown restaurant owner and founder of the Hospitality Helping Hands charity, has been on the receiving end of James' wrath for years.
It may have started years ago when Mayo openly supported one of James’ opponents, City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, who grew up with Mayo. The friction sparked again during local protests over the killing of George Floyd, when Mayo took to social media to accuse the police of firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the end of what had been a day of peaceful demonstrations.
As The Post reported at the time, the mayor and police at first denied deploying tear gas or rubber bullets to quell rock-throwing protesters, but later were forced to publicly acknowledge it — after Mayo produced evidence.
After a series of other run-ins with the city, Mayo asked for a sit-down with the mayor to clear the slate. As The Post reported, “The meeting went wrong before it started.’’
"When I walked in, he refused to shake my hand. He just plopped himself down," Mayo told the newspaper. "He said something like, 'So, you called this meeting ...'’
During what James famously told Mayo would not be “a kumbaya meeting,’’ the conversation diverted to the previous and only time he’d spoken to the mayor — when James called him to solicit a contribution.
As The Post reported, “Mayo had told the mayor he'd have to consult with his partners and would get back to him.’’
"’And did you?’ the mayor asked at the meeting.’’
“No, Mayo responded, because he and his partners had decided to contribute to the mayor's opponent, City Commissioner Paula Ryan.”
“‘Exactly,’ James said.
“Mayo said it was clear the mayor was saying that declining to contribute to James' campaign had led to the frosty reception,’’ the newspaper said.
Mayo’s latest issues with James come just months after Mayo tried to challenge the mayor in the March municipal election.
Mayo was disqualified from running after James successfully filed a lawsuit over residency requirements, a ruling that canceled the election and automatically gave James a second term.
Then Mayo added fuel to the potential political payback fire by announcing that he would launch a recall campaign to remove James from office.
At first, Mayo shrugged off warnings by some of his supporters that James might retaliate against Mayo for trying to challenge him at the ballot box.
Now, after the city this week took action to shut down two public areas frequented by patrons of bars and restaurants owned by Mayo, he thinks there was merit to those warnings.
‘‘It's retribution for me daring to run against Keith James,’’ he told me.
You can decide for yourself: Read our latest story.