Photo: CBS 12
A mayor who was given the "Housing Heroes Award" on Wednesday refuses to talk about a homeless crisis in his city.
It was the latest attempt by a reporter to get some answers from West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James after he said back in February that he was looking into opening a homeless shelter.
Al Pefley from CBS 12 News was shunned by James and his director of communications, Diane Papadakos.
Al Pefley: "Mayor James, excuse me we're from CBS12. Could we talk with you sir?" we asked.
Mayor Keith James: "No."
AP: "Why is that? Why won't you talk about the homeless issue?"
Mayor's Office Director of Communications Diane Papadakos: "'Cause, we're not interested in talking about that. Please leave the Mayor alone."
AP: "He's the Mayor of the city of West Palm Beach and there's a housing, a homeless problem in this city. Why doesn't he want to talk about that? Can you please tell us sir, what you're doing about the homeless people?"
DP: "Al, please move."
AP: "Particularly those on Clematis Street?"
DP: "Al, please move."
AP: "Would you please give us just a moment of your time Mayor to talk about the homeless problem in West Palm Beach? You said weeks ago you were trying to get funding for an emergency shelter. Can you bring us, give us an update on that?
Security eventually asks Pefley to leave the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County's Luncheon. That's despite having an invitation to be there.
Several downtown business owners have complained about homeless people harassing them and some have been caught on video fighting in the middle of the street.
Mayor James, at a workshop in February, spoke about exploring possible funding for an emergency homeless shelter with the County and local non-profit groups.