Save Boca Founder Launches Renewed Effort to Overturn Downtown Redevelopment Contract

Jon Pearlman, founder of the 'Save Boca' organization, has initiated a renewed petition drive aiming to overturn the city's downtown redevelopment contract.

 

The contract, approved by the city council, involves a 99-year lease of city land to developers in exchange for potential revenue intended to fund a new government campus.

 

Despite a scheduled public referendum on March 10, 2026, Pearlman and his group express skepticism about the vote proceeding as planned.

 

They fear city officials might find a way to cancel it.

 

Mayor Scott Singer, a proponent of the redevelopment project, responded firmly to these concerns.

 

He emphasized that the referendum is set to occur and will be binding.

 

“Residents will vote in the upcoming election, and that vote is binding,” Singer stated.

 

He criticized Pearlman for spreading misinformation by suggesting a second petition process is necessary for a vote already scheduled.

 

Pearlman, however, remains unconvinced.

 

He accuses the city of employing “dirty tricks” to undermine the referendum, asserting that officials are aware of the public's likely opposition to the project.

 

Opponents point out that the city council has already signed a contract with developers Terra Group and Frisbie Group, even though the public vote has yet to take place.

 

While the contract is contingent on voter approval, critics highlight clauses that contemplate scenarios where the vote “does not take place,” fueling their suspicions.

 

City officials argue that such language is meant to protect residents from potential liability.

 

However, 'Save Boca' contends that no contract should have been signed without prior voter approval.

 

The new petition drive specifically targets the ordinance that introduced the contract.

 

If enough signatures are collected, the city council would have the option to repeal the ordinance or place it on the ballot.

 

This could result in two related questions appearing on the March ballot: one to repeal the ordinance containing the original contract and another to approve or reject the partnership with Terra and Frisbie outright.

 

Pearlman stated, “We intend to continue to collect petition signatures with the power granted to us, the citizens of Boca, in Section 6 of the City Charter and will deliver the signed petitions to the city clerk within the 30 days as set forth in the Charter.”

 

In response, Singer accused Pearlman of making false statements on his website and social media.

 

The city council passed a resolution opposing any form of a second ballot initiative and indicated they would not accept new petitions on the matter.

 

However, the legal authority to block such an initiative remains unclear.

 

“The latest petition movement seeks to put that question on a ballot that already exists,” Singer said.

 

He urged residents not to sign the new petition, suggesting it could cause voter confusion and legal conflict.

 

Pearlman is actively collecting signatures, aiming to gather the required 3,676 within a 30-day window.

 

He emphasized, “What we are doing is to guarantee that the people will have the ability to vote, and this is the only way to ensure that.”

 

“The City Charter has granted us that power, and we intend to collect the signatures necessary to secure that our vote won’t be taken away from us.”