At a Tuesday news conference, Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss announced he will seek an independent investigation into several multimillion‑dollar transactions between West Palm Beach City Hall and private developers. Weiss, a longtime critic of city development practices, said the deals raise questions about transparency, accountability and whether taxpayers received fair value.
Weiss highlighted three primary transactions. First, the city spent roughly $25 million to buy out a developer’s lease on public waterfront property where Elisabetta’s restaurant operates. He asked why the city initially allowed a private lease and then paid a large sum to regain control. Second, the city declared a wetlands parcel surplus and is negotiating a $6.6 million sale to interests linked to Pine Crest School, a private school. Weiss contended the price appears below market value and that the city may not have fully evaluated the property’s worth or alternative uses. Third, a Curio‑branded hotel near the Palm Beach County Convention Center was approved without what Weiss described as adequate parking, prompting concerns that the project may not comply with the city’s own development rules.
Additional items raised by Weiss include the city’s public‑transit agreement with Via, a proposed tennis‑facility management contract, and ongoing taxpayer‑funded renovations to the historic Sunset Lounge, which remains closed to the public. “These transactions raise a fundamental question: Is City Hall working for its residents and taxpayers, or are special interests benefiting at the public’s expense?” Weiss said.
Mayor Keith James responded sharply, calling Weiss’s allegations “misleading, baseless and politically motivated.” In a statement to WPBF, James said the city “strongly rejects Gregg Weiss’ misleading and baseless false accusations” and suggested the commissioner was using his final week in office to launch partisan attacks rather than focus on governance.
The dispute also touched on former City Commissioner Christina Lambert, now a mayoral candidate opposing Weiss. Weiss asked what responsibilities, compensation or city resources Lambert received when she volunteered to assist the mayor’s office after leaving the commission in April 2026. Lambert told WPBF reporter Terri Parker she was an unpaid volunteer with no official duties, and that her involvement ended after roughly two months.
Weiss stopped short of accusing anyone of fraud or corruption, stating, “I can’t say that there is. That’s something for the Inspector General to find out. Let’s find out the facts.” No formal findings of wrongdoing have been released regarding the highlighted deals.
What’s next: Weiss said he will request that the Florida Inspector General’s Office review the transactions and determine whether proper procedures were followed. The city has not indicated a timeline for responding to the request, and officials have not scheduled a public hearing at this time.
