Angelo Castillo, Mayor, City of Pembroke Pines

In an interview with Invest:, Angelo Castillo, mayor of Pembroke Pines, discussed the city’s evolution, education system, infrastructure, and housing challenges. He highlighted efforts to balance growth with affordability, enhance transportation, and maintain the city’s high quality of life, including a new blueprint for the future. “Our plan ensures Pembroke Pines remains a thriving, sustainable community for generations to come,” he said.

How has Pembroke Pines evolved, and what has driven its growth and reputation?

Pembroke Pines is the second-largest city in Broward County, with about 171,000 residents. Since the 1990s, it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and is now nearing build-out.

Recognized as an All-America City, Pembroke Pines is known for its outstanding quality of life. Compared to luxury communities like Weston and Parkland, it is more of a bedroom community but still offers upscale amenities. It has been named one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and retire, with abundant parks, lakes, and natural beauty.

Education is a priority. The city has excellent district and charter schools, reinforcing its commitment to school choice. The community is diverse — about half of the population is Hispanic, with strong representation from all backgrounds.

I have had the honor of serving as mayor since March and was previously a city commissioner for 20 years. I am also the first Hispanic American elected mayor here. For the first time in Broward County’s history, our city commission has a Hispanic majority, though our commitment remains to serve all residents equally. Pembroke Pines values problem-solving and community engagement, which define its character.

As Florida’s 10th or 11th largest city, Pembroke Pines is transitioning from rapid growth to maturity. While we are proud of our accomplishments, we now face new urban challenges as we continue to evolve.

How has Pembroke Pines addressed educational challenges and strengthened its school system?

In the 1990s, our rapidly growing city faced a major challenge: there weren’t enough school seats for all our children. The school district wasn’t building fast enough, and new schools became overcrowded almost immediately.

To solve this, Pembroke Pines created a municipal charter school system, now the largest municipally run charter school network in the United States. We established elementary, middle, and high schools, all consistently performing at an A level.

Today, our charter high school graduates about 98% of its students, with 96% attending four-year colleges, including Ivy League and top-tier universities. Many others pursue careers in the military. These schools have become a defining part of our city’s identity.

How is Pembroke Pines addressing transportation, traffic management, and infrastructure challenges?

Pembroke Pines has prioritized road safety and traffic management, a growing challenge as planners decades ago did not anticipate the number of cars on the road today. Mass transit was expected to be the primary mode of transportation, but that hasn’t been the case, leading to congestion.

One key improvement came in 2005 when residents supported a bond initiative to improve the intersection of Pines Boulevard and Flamingo Road, which had been ranked among the most dangerous in the United States. Since then, it has remained off that list. These efforts have significantly enhanced the quality of life.

However, transportation remains one of our biggest challenges. Most students rely on private vehicles, worsening rush-hour traffic. The school district’s current rule disqualifies students within two miles of their school from using buses, yet 96% of homes in Pembroke Pines fall within that range. We are working to change this rule and exploring affordable minibus options to reduce peak-hour congestion by up to 30%.

Beyond transportation, we are investing in infrastructure. Our police station, built in 1991, is now too small for our current force. We are proposing a new public safety building to house both police and fire services. This facility would be hurricane-rated, technologically up-to-date, and provide first responders with the resources they need.

How is Pembroke Pines planning for its future growth and addressing key community priorities?

Pembroke Pines has a strong healthcare and hospitality sector, with top-tier services provided by Memorial and other healthcare partners. The city recently became home to a major Memorial-run cancer center. While I hope never to need its services, I know residents will receive exceptional care there.

We are also deeply committed to parks and outdoor recreation. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the value of outdoor spaces, leading more residents to embrace walking, jogging, and exercising outdoors. Now that we have reached build-out, we must focus on maintaining and enhancing our city to prevent urban decline and ensure long-term excellence.

To address these challenges, we developed “We Love Pembroke Pines: A Blueprint for a Brighter Future,” which will be on the ballot on March 11. The plan is based on direct community input — 2,200 registered voters participated in our survey, far exceeding the typical 500 responses a city our size might expect.

Residents prioritized traffic congestion, low taxes, flooding due to increased rainfall, and affordable housing, particularly for young professionals and seniors on fixed incomes. Our plan ensures Pembroke Pines remains a thriving, sustainable community for generations to come.

How is Pembroke Pines addressing housing affordability and its impact on the community?

Housing affordability remains a major challenge, particularly for young workers and retirees on fixed incomes. Decades ago, grandparents often lived with their children and grandchildren. Today, many seniors prefer independent living, but rising rents make that difficult.

The average one-bedroom apartment in Pembroke Pines rents for around $2,600 per month, more than many mortgages. For a young professional earning $40,000 to $60,000 per year, moving out on their own is nearly impossible. As a result, many talented young people are leaving for more affordable states like Georgia and North Carolina.

This crisis also affects essential services. We face shortages of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers because they cannot afford to live here. Businesses struggle to attract employees due to high living costs.

Pembroke Pines has been proactive. For 30 years, the city has owned and managed 800 housing units, primarily for seniors. More recently, we expanded this program to include workforce housing. The difference is striking. A privately rented one-bedroom unit costs $2,600, while a city-owned unit with security and good neighbors costs about $1,390. Demand continues to grow.

Another consequence of high rents is that fewer young people are forming new households, which affects the economy. Fewer home sales, delayed retirements, and struggling furniture stores are just some of the ripple effects. The local real estate board sees this as one of the city’s biggest challenges.

The “We Love Pembroke Pines” plan proposes expanding city-run housing to address this need. The program would be funded through bonds, with rental income covering costs, ensuring no financial burden on taxpayers. This model has worked for decades, and we believe other cities should consider similar programs. Affordable housing is not just a local issue, it’s a national problem.

How does Pembroke Pines approach problem-solving and ensure a high quality of life for its residents?

Pembroke Pines listens to its residents and takes action. We don’t let problems linger — delay only increases costs and makes issues worse. Whether it’s housing, transportation, public safety, or urban planning, we focus on practical, well-researched solutions.

That’s why I’m proud to serve as mayor and to call this city home. Pembroke Pines values community, family, and quality of life. We insist on high-quality services, low taxes, environmental protection, and responsible urban planning. At our best, we are a city that solves problems, supports its residents, and continuously strives for excellence.

What is your outlook for the future of Pembroke Pines?

A city’s outlook reflects its residents. I often say that what matters most should never be sacrificed, whether in personal life or city planning. Many associate “sacrifice” with something negative, but it is the foundation of success. If a student doesn’t study, they fail. If a family doesn’t prioritize its children, it struggles. The same applies to cities: small sacrifices can lead to greater benefits for the whole community.

A city is the framework for our lives. Our homes, businesses, and schools all exist within its quality of life. Taking care of our city as we do our homes ensures we all thrive.

Pembroke Pines has strong traditions embedded in its residents. Regardless of background, faith, politics, or lifestyle, our community understands that maintaining the city allows us to take pride in it. That’s how Pembroke Pines became great, and keeping it that way requires the same values and commitment to continuous improvement.