Beaumont city trips to Harvard, NYC mostly covered by billionaire benefactor

KFDM’s segment Waste Watch received questions about three Beaumont city leaders participating in a prestigious program tied to Harvard University and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Mayor Roy West sat down with KFDM’s Aaron Drawhorn to explain that the cost was covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

In November 2023, West made a trip to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after he was accepted to the Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors. West said the program was a full day of learning.

In July 2024, West, City Manager Kenneth Williams and Assistant City Manager June Ellis went to New York City for the four-day Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.

“They reached out to me because it is an invitation-only program. It’s not something that you apply for, and I was told it is through a grant through Bloomberg Philanthropies,” West told KFDM/Fox 4 when he decided to pursue the program.

West was one of 27 mayors in the country accepted into the Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors.

Its main objective is to build an effective city hall organization.

“I found it to be very enlightening and it built a lot of relationships but also learned a lot about good governance in city government” West told KFDM anchor Aaron Drawhorn.

Attendees also met with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the program’s benefactor.

Bloomberg Philanthropies covered the cost of West’s November 2023 trip to Harvard and last summer’s trip to Manhattan for West, Williams and Ellis.

Bloomberg Philanthropies covered the conference, roundtrip airfare, meals and hotel rooms at the five-star Lowes Regency New York on Park Avenue.

“You don’t write any checks. Travel to and from the airport and parking at the airport and maybe a couple of meals was the extent as I recall for those trips for me,” West said.

Waste Watch obtained the travel expenses Bloomberg didn’t pick up for last summer’s New York trips.

Mayor West’s reimbursed mileage to drive to Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, airport parking, meals and a New York City taxi rides cost roughly $450.

City manager Kenneth Williams’ miles to Jack Brooks Regional Airport, meals and Uber rides in New York City amounted to less than $250.

Assistant city manager June Ellis expenses less than $95 on the trip.

Add it all up, and last summer’s trip for the three leaders was $784.41 not covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies.