Candidate Profile: Brandi Zabadal Says Pompano’s Growth Must Keep Pace With Infrastructure

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — District 2 City Commission candidate Brandi Zabadal says Pompano Beach can continue to grow, but the city needs to make sure its infrastructure and existing neighborhoods grow with it.

“I hear residents asking, ‘Are we growing faster than our infrastructure can handle?’” Zabadal said.

“People want to see Pompano succeed, but they also want to know that our roads, drainage, traffic, parks and public safety are keeping pace with that growth.”

For Zabadal, that question is closely connected to another issue: whether residents have enough say in decisions affecting their neighborhoods.

“I want residents to be able to say, ‘My voice mattered,’” she said. “I want people to know what is happening in their neighborhoods before decisions are made, not after.”

Zabadal is president of the Pompano Beach Highlands Civic Improvement Association and is running for the District 2 seat with a platform focused on infrastructure, responsible development, neighborhood quality of life and greater resident involvement in city decisions.

Measuring Success in the Neighborhoods

If elected, Zabadal said she wants residents to see a measurable improvement in their everyday quality of life by the end of her two-year term.

That includes safer streets and sidewalks, better-maintained public spaces, faster follow-through when residents report problems and responsible decisions about growth.

Her measure of success would extend beyond major projects or announcements.

She wants residents to be able to see the difference where they live — and feel that City Hall is responsive when something needs attention.

Balancing Development With Existing Neighborhoods

Zabadal said one issue she believes the current commission has not adequately addressed is balancing redevelopment with the needs of neighborhoods that are already here.

“Pompano Beach is growing, and development can bring opportunity,” Zabadal said. “But growth has to be matched with infrastructure, traffic planning, drainage, parking, safety, green space and consideration for existing neighborhoods.”

She said she would ask tougher questions before development projects move forward.

“Can our infrastructure support this? What will the impact be on the surrounding neighborhood? And have the residents who will be affected actually been heard?” she said.

A Bigger Conversation About Growth

Zabadal said residents deserve a more public discussion about both sides of Pompano Beach’s growth.

“I believe residents deserve a clearer conversation about the impact of growth, not just the benefits of growth,” she said.

The issue also connects with Zabadal’s work through the Highlands civic association, where she has advocated around neighborhood infrastructure and quality-of-life concerns.

For Zabadal, the question is not whether Pompano should develop, but whether city planning and spending are keeping pace with that development.

Putting Priorities in the City Budget

If voters examined her record and the city budget at the end of her first term, Zabadal said she would want the evidence of her priorities to be easy to find.

“You should see it in the neighborhoods,” she said.

Zabadal identified infrastructure, sidewalks, drainage, parks, public safety, environmental protection and responsible development as priorities she would expect to be reflected in city spending.

“I want taxpayers to be able to look at the budget and see tangible results, not just promises,” she said.

Bringing Neighborhood Voices to City Hall

When asked which group or neighborhood City Hall needs to hear from more, Zabadal said she does not believe the answer should be limited to one community.

“The people most directly affected by a decision deserve a meaningful voice in it,” she said.

Zabadal said she would spend more time in neighborhoods rather than relying solely on meetings at City Hall. She also wants regular community conversations and city proposals communicated in plain language so residents can understand what is being considered and respond before decisions are made.

“Being a commissioner should mean bringing the voice of the neighborhood to City Hall,” Zabadal said, “not asking the neighborhood to chase City Hall.”

Zabadal is seeking the District 2 seat in the Nov. 3 Pompano Beach municipal election.