Subculture Restaurant Group owner Rodney Mayo files to run for mayor of West Palm Beach
Mayo plans to release a ten-point plan on how to improve the city
Mayo plans to release a ten-point plan on how to improve the city
Mayo plans to release a ten-point plan on how to improve the city
One day before Tuesday's filing deadline, restauranteur Rodney Mayo filed to run for mayor of West Palm Beach, challenging incumbent Keith James.
"We want more transparency in government and this is the action plan to get it done," said Mayo from the courtyard of Subculture Coffee, one of the 18 restaurants and bars he owns in South Florida.
"I thought about it for quite some time and been on the fence, and I just saw a bunch of things that could be done a lot better in the city and I just thought it was about time that I put my efforts not into all my businesses, but into the city and helping the citizens and trying to create a better city," Mayo told Investigative Reporter Terri Parker.
Mayo, 59, has been active in helping the community – giving out free meals for months during COVID-19 from his Howley’s restaurant, as well as free Thanksgiving meals to people who’d lost their jobs.
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He started with Respectable Street in 1987, and now has six restaurants, bars or coffee houses just on Clematis Street.
Mayo also has been active in city government spearheading meetings with business owners and the city about increases in parking fees, outdoor dining and anything else that affects owners, customers and people who live and work downtown; sometimes butting heads with the administration.
"Yes, 100%. It is definitely frustrating seeing obvious mistakes being made and then a lost potential. You know, there's lost opportunities that I've been saying for 10, 20 years and just scratching my head and, you know, why are these decisions being made when it seems common sense that they shouldn't?" Mayo said.
Mayo plans to release a 10-point plan of action points with actual steps he says will show how his leadership would accomplish them.
"We're just not going to have ideas out there. There's going to be ideas with concrete action behind it. We're going to spell that out so everybody can see that over the next ten days," he said.
Mayo said if he wins he also plans to focus on areas of West Palm Beach outside of downtown he believes need help and are often forgotten.
Parker reached out to Mayor James for comment, but he declined.
The election is March 14.