POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — After nearly a decade representing District 4 on the Pompano Beach City Commission, incumbent Commissioner Beverly Perkins is asking voters for another term, pointing to neighborhood improvements residents encounter in their everyday lives — from parks and recreation to traffic and access to government services.
Perkins was first elected to the commission in 2016.
Asked what residents can see, touch or measure from her current term, Perkins pointed to several projects in Northwest Pompano, including the newly renovated recreational center at the Mitchell Moore Park Annex, a youth technology center, new pickleball courts and refurbished tennis courts at Mitchell Moore Park.
The youth technology center, Perkins said, gives young people access to “digital recreation, sports, hands-on computer access, coding activities, teamwork and strategic thinking.”
She also pointed to the Supervisor of Elections branch at the E. Pat Larkins Community Center and changes to roundabouts on Northwest Sixth Avenue.
For Perkins, the road changes are about addressing problems residents experience getting through their own neighborhood. She said the roundabouts were moved because of the size of the roadway “to fix traffic bottlenecks, improve pedestrian safety, and change how traffic flows through our neighborhood.”
Unfinished business: Sports park and FAMU
Perkins identified the Ultimate Sports Park as one project she wants to see completed. G.O. Bond funding has been awarded for the project, but she said the bid process is delayed.
She also wants to continue discussions about establishing a Florida A&M University branch or satellite site in District 4.
“This opportunity would become an additional catalyst for economic development and local revitalization,” Perkins said. “It would create an immediate workforce and job creation opportunity as well as attracting public and private investors.”
Perkins says homelessness needs more public discussion
When Villij News asked what Pompano residents are discussing privately that City Hall is not talking about enough publicly, Perkins pointed to homelessness.
“The homelessness/unhoused situation in Pompano Beach is quietly growing each day,” Perkins said.
She said residents are asking how the city will handle the related challenges without simply moving them elsewhere.
“Residents are talking privately about how the city plans to manage safety, public sanitation and trespassing issues without shifting the problem from neighborhood to neighborhood,” Perkins said.
She called for “more dialogue with the city and community to address this growing situation.”
Where Perkins says her priorities show up in the budget
Asked where voters could look at the city budget and her voting record to find the clearest evidence of her priorities, Perkins pointed to capital spending in District 4.
“My votes consistently reflect a push to redirect capital improvement funds toward Northwest Pompano,” Perkins said.
She specifically cited investments in Apollo Park, senior facilities, street lighting, stormwater drainage improvements and road resurfacing and striping.
Perkins also pointed to budget allocations for the Blanche Ely Museum Pavilion, acoustic and sound-system improvements at the Mitchell Moore Community Center and repairs to the Mitchell Moore parking lot.
Her budget record has also placed her in the middle of some of the commission’s most contentious debates.
During the September CRA budget discussions, Perkins opposed the East CRA budget amid a broader dispute over spending priorities, project transparency and treatment of the Northwest CRA budget. Both the Northwest and East CRA budgets were ultimately adopted.
Perkins says she needs to hear more from younger residents
When asked which group or neighborhood she personally needs to hear from more, Perkins identified younger working adults and parents.
“Often young adults cannot attend standard Tuesday Commission meetings or early evening town halls due to shift work, childcare responsibilities, or long commutes,” Perkins said.
She specifically pointed to residents ages 18 to 35 across District 4, including Liberty Park and Kendall Green.
“While I maintain a strong, daily communication with our active seniors, faith leaders, and neighborhood association heads, young working adults needs to be heard,” Perkins said.
Perkins said reaching those residents would become a priority in another term.
“During my next term as commissioner, I will make communication a priority,” Perkins said. “I am committed to putting open dialogue at the center of our strategy for young adults.”
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