Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss said Monday that he will request an investigation by the county Inspector General into what he described as a pattern of irregular business dealings involving city officials, private developers, and valuable public property in West Palm Beach.
Specific transactions under scrutiny
Weiss listed four examples he wants examined:
- Public land sold below market value – Weiss alleges city‑owned property was declared surplus and sold to private interests for less than its worth.
- Downtown hotel approved without parking – He contends the approval of a large hotel without required parking violated city building codes.
- Multimillion‑dollar lease buyout – Weiss says the city gave a developer prime public land and later agreed to pay tens of millions of dollars to buy back the lease.
- Questionable contracts – He calls for scrutiny of what he calls dubious contract awards and special treatment for private interests.
Weiss also raised concerns about former City Commissioner Christina Lambert, his opponent in the upcoming mayoral race, questioning whether she received preferential access to city officials and developers after leaving the commission.
Responses from city officials
Mayor Keith James rejected the accusations as “misleading and baseless,” calling them politically motivated attacks during Weiss’s final week as a county commissioner. James said the city follows applicable laws, established procedures and public‑oversight requirements, and that the decisions in question were made at public meetings which Weiss did not attend to register objections.
James also confirmed that Lambert was invited to volunteer in the mayor’s office after her commission term ended. He emphasized that she received no compensation, held no official position and had no authority over city policy.
Lambert herself said she volunteered for roughly two months to assist residents, that she never held an official role, and that her involvement ended before the mayoral campaign began.
Community reaction
The allegations come amid months of resident protests over the rapid pace of high‑rise development in downtown West Palm Beach. Save West Palm Beach, a citizen group that has advocated for independent studies of the cumulative impact of development on traffic and infrastructure, said it welcomes an outside investigation.
Co‑founder Fatima Sanandaji told WPBF 25 News, “Public trust is earned, and City Hall seems to think it’s something they’re entitled to. City Hall needs to earn that trust back from everyone.” She added that the issue is about the people of West Palm Beach, not just the mayoral race.
Next steps
Weiss plans to hold a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 12:30 p.m. outside the Palm Beach County Governmental Center (301 North Olive Ave.) to discuss his allegations and formally request the Inspector General’s review. The Inspector General has not yet announced an investigation, and Weiss has not filed a formal complaint.
No official findings of wrongdoing have been announced. WPBF 25 News will continue to monitor the situation and report on any developments related to the land deals and contracts under question.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
