‘Strong’: Pines mayor reflects on 2025 wins and what’s next in State of City address
Reflecting on the past year in Pembroke Pines, Mayor Angelo Castillo landed on one word: “Strong.”
Castillo delivered his annual State of the City address from the commission chambers dais on Tuesday, March 31, updating residents and city officials on how Pembroke Pines fared in 2025.
Central to the mayor’s speech were advances made in the We Love Pembroke Pines Strategic Plan, a city improvement blueprint adopted by commissioners in 2024 despite a lack of funding support from constitutents.
In March 2025, a $230 million obligation bond set to finance the blueprint’s key priorities — upgrades to public safety and recreation facilities, accquiring land for new spaces, roadway and traffic improvements — was rejected by 65% of voters.
“We’ve heard the claim that the bond issue, which did not pass last March, should hang around the city’s neck like a political burden, but I’m here to tell you that it will not,” Castillo said.
“... In this city, voters have the final say. ... We didn’t dwell, we didn’t pout, we didn’t point fingers. We improvised, we adapted and we overcame. We prioritized and we moved forward, delivering the most critical improvements needed without raising taxes.”
Underscored in the mayor’s address were public safety and city services successes as well as a new gameplan for how to chip away at the blueprint’s lofty goals.
Want to know how your city fared in 2025 and what it has planned next?
Check out these highlights from the Pembroke Pines’ 2026 State of the City address:
Wins of 2025
Per Castillo, there was no shortage of accomplishments in 2025.
The city’s police department saw a 33% decrease in crime, a 15% uptick in community patrols, a 14% increase in traffic enforcement and education efforts, and an 80% jump in voluntary code compliance, the mayor said.
Jellybean the goldendoodle — the agency’s “comfort K9” therapy dog hired in October — also received a shoutout.
“Amazing things you can do when you’re fully staffed, and I want to thank (the Pembroke Pines Police Department) for everything that they do,” Castillo said.
The city’s fire department was lauded for receiving several state awards, launching a free swim lessons program with the city’s YMCA that’s taught over 60 kids, establishing a fire cadet program for local high schoolers, and completing thousands of fire and safety inspections.
The Pembroke Pines Charter School System — owned and run by the city — achieved a 100% graduation rate and saw 96% of teachers excell in their evaluations.
Business also boomed in the southwest Broward city during 2025, with Castillo noting several high-profile newcomers.
Pines welcomed Waste Management’s largest recycling plant in Florida and health care giants HCA Florida, Baptist Health South Florida and Memorial Healthcare System, all of which opened or broke ground on freestanding emergency rooms in the city.
Headway was also made in affordable housing construction projects, with the city helping preserve units at Casa Apartments and opening 600 more through the completion of the Southwest Hammocks, Southport Pembroke Towers and Douglas Towers developments.
Moving into Pines was a seamless process for nearly every business and individual that tried, Castillo said.
“In building permits, by the numbers: Since January 2025, 80% of all plan reviews for permits have been completed within five business days or less and 40% of them were completed in one business day,” the mayor said.
As promised in the mayor’s last address, city services, culture and recreation, and citywide philanthropy saw a boost in 2025.
City officials secured a state grant that added five news buses to the Carl Shechter Southwest Focal Point Community Center, providing 21,000 rides to senior citizens last fiscal year. The center also added new events, activities and classes to its schedule.
“If you go to the Southwest Focal Point and ask them what is your biggest challenge, they will tell you the building is not big enough to deal with all of the people that want to attend,” Castillo said.
The William B. Armstrong Dream Park and neighboring community center were opened and eight city playgrounds are set for a revamp as part of the city’s $5 million commitment to park renovations.
The “We Love Pembroke Pines Foundation” — the city’s nonprofit that mobilizes high school students and other volunteers to help with community service initiatives — raked in $66,000 from its first fundraiser, a golf tournament.
“Pembroke Pines: We are truly very lucky people to have found our way here. And our future is secure,” Castillo said.
Next steps for 2026
Castillo’s outline for Pembroke Pines future is clear: Rehabiliatate parks, complete road and traffic easement projects, address flooding issues, reinstate a recycling program and address housing affordability.
His aim is to accomplish that over the next three years, he said during the March 31 address.
These city goals have been adjusted following residents’ objection to the $230 million bond and “won’t be as much as we wanted to do,” per Castillo, who added that $66 million is to “address the bulk of what our city needs.”
He remains hopeful about the southwest Broward city’s progress, deeming Pembroke Pines the city that “cares, can and does — an unofficial motto that drives all we do.”
“I’m glad that (my family’s) choice fell to this beautiful city,” Castillo said in closing. “I’m thankful that we chose Pembroke Pines. I’m proud of it, and I wouldn’t live nowhere else.”
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 11:28 AM.
