Candidate Profile: Freddy York Says Pompano Residents Should See Savings Without Cuts to Basic Services

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Pompano Beach District 2 commission candidate Freddy York says residents should be able to measure his success in dollars saved — without sacrificing the basic city services they depend on.

“By the end of my first term, I want residents to be able to point to measurable savings in the city budget without seeing cuts to basic services,” York told Villij News.

York’s campaign centers heavily on city spending, development and whether residents are getting enough in return for major public investments.

“I believe the current commission has not done enough to control spending,” York said. “I would take a much harder look at contracts, subsidies, and major projects to make sure residents are actually getting value for their money.”

A Harder Look at Growth

York said growth and its impact on existing neighborhoods is another issue he believes deserves more public discussion.

“Residents are talking about growth, traffic, and the number of new projects being approved without our input,” York said.

He said the conversation should include not only whether development is good for the city, but how much growth Pompano needs and what that growth means for people who already live here.

“I think City Hall needs to have a much more honest conversation about how much growth Pompano actually needs and what it is doing to existing neighborhoods,” he said.

Putting Priorities in the Budget

York said voters should ultimately be able to look beyond campaign promises and see his priorities reflected in his votes and the city budget.

“I would want my priorities to be obvious in both my votes and the budget: protecting basic services, cutting unnecessary spending, and putting residents ahead of expensive projects and subsidies,” York said.

That does not mean rejecting every major project or public investment, he said. Instead, York said he would focus on the terms of those deals and what residents receive in return.

“Some of those things are important and needed but the deals need to benefit the residents, not just the developer ecosystem,” he said.

Getting District 2 More Involved

York said City Hall also needs to hear more from residents who are not developers, lobbyists or regular participants in city government.

For District 2 specifically, York said increasing participation will require both residents becoming more engaged and their commissioner making an effort to reach them.

“In District 2, people aren’t super involved and I think that needs to change if we want our voices heard,” York said.

If elected, York said he plans to remain visible and accessible outside of City Hall.

“I would stay accessible, spend time in the neighborhoods, knock on doors, continue posting informative videos and make sure residents have a direct line to their commissioner,” York said.