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Wednesday, March 15 | 🌧️ 70°/53°
Welcome to Wednesday, everyone! If you're interested in making your neighborhood a safer place, the Palm Springs Police Department has an opportunity for you. From March 28 to 30, the department is offering crime prevention courses that will help you make your neighborhood less "crime attractive," police said Tuesday. Want more information? Email Lt. William Hutchinson here.
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Leading off: New city manager already right at home
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New Palm Springs City Manager Scott Stiles addresses leaders of ONE-PS on Tuesday.
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Scott Stiles wasn’t looking for a new job when he got a call from a recruiter about the city manager opening in Palm Springs. His first reaction? “Darnit!”
Looking back: Stiles, who took over as the city’s chief executive last week, said Tuesday he was perfectly content in the same role in Garden Grove, where he worked for seven-and-a-half years. Still, the idea of living in a small, sun-soaked desert town was just too strong.
- “I was enjoying myself immensely there,” he told attendees of the monthly Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) meeting. “I never applied for a job in seven years. But when the recruiter called, I just said, “Darnit!”
Zoom in: After a week spent out and about in the community with his wife and high-school-aged daughter (a second daughter is away at college), Stiles said he already feels right at home.
- “There’s a real sense of community in places like here,” he said. “I’ve already been walking downtown and seen people I know. And I’ve only been here a week.”
Next steps: Stiles knows he was hired to fix problems, and told the audience gathered at the police department training center his primary focus will be on addressing the related issues of homelessness and affordable housing.
- Much of the work on homelessness will be familiar. In Garden Grove, Stiles worked to stand up a navigation center — similar to one planned in northern Palm Springs — and to bring mobile care, including mental health care, to those on the streets.
Bigger picture: Stiles plans to bring a bit of compassion to his new job, he said, hoping it’s evident to city employees and the community in his approach, which is similar to that of Police Chief Andy Mills.
- “My mother gave me the best advice I ever received,” Stiles explained. “She said, ‘There’s a reason God gave you two ears and only one mouth. That’s because you should spend twice as much time listening as you should talking.'”
Dive deeper with our complete story on Stiles here.
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In brief: County tags large Desert X installation
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A code enforcement notice is taped to the side of one of the containers used in a Desert X installation near Palm Springs. (Photo: George Covino)
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If you took an up close and personal look at one of the larger Desert X installations on Tuesday, you may have been confused by some signage that appeared on it, courtesy of the county.
Driving the news: Taped to the “Sleeping Figure” installation — a dozen shipping containers stacked at angles on private land near the Interstate 10 exit to Palm Springs — is a notice from Riverside County Code Enforcement.
- The notice orders the removal of the containers because the artwork is unpermitted and allegedly presents a public nuisance.
Yes, but: Desert X organizers said Tuesday evening they believe the code enforcement visit was unnecessary.
- “We’ve been working with Riverside County to make sure it’s compliant with regulations on special events,” and because the installation is not permanent and is not designed to draw a large crowd, no special event permit would be needed, said Jenny Gil, executive director of Desert X.
If you go: If you'd like to see “Sleeping Figure” in person (and it's still there when you read this), take exit 110 off Interstate 10 (Haugen-Lehmann Way) to Railroad Avenue.
- Details about the 11 other installations located throughout the Coachella Valley, on display through May 7, are available here.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
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Desert Oasis Healthcare and Sun Community Federal Credit Union are presenting the US Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus! The concert is free, but tickets are required as seating is limited. Tickets will be available for pickup at the Leisure Center in Sunrise Park and Demuth Community Center. There is no online ticketing and a limit of 4 per household.
For more info, call the Rec Dept at 760.323.8272 or click here.
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🚨 Authorities have identified the bicyclist who was fatally struck by a vehicle in Palm Springs earlier this week.
✈️ Several flights to and from Palm Springs were canceled on Monday after four of an airline's planes were seized when the company fell behind on lease payments.
🎓 A member of the COD Board of Trustees has announced he is stepping down at the end of the month due to health reasons.
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Screening — “Unidad: Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos”
5:30 p.m. | Mizell Center
Mizell Center’s 3rd Wednesday Speaker Series is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month with a screening of the documentary “Unidad: Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos” by filmmaker Gregorio Davila. Immediately following the screening, Davila will be joined in conversation with activist Rita Gonzalez and historian Lydia Otero. ($10)
Public Arts Commission regular meeting
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs City Hall & Zoom
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Find more information here.
Airport Commission meeting
5:30 p.m. | Airport Conference Room & Zoom
This is a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting. Find more information here.
The Joey English Show
Online and On Air
Joey talks with Cathy Allison of Desert Oasis Healthcare and attorney Robert Firth.
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Desert Open Studios 2023
Saturday and Sunday | Varying locations
Desert Open Studios is offering free, self-guided art tours that span the Coachella Valley — and unite 150 artists — both this weekend and next. The studios are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. (Free)
Palm Springs Chalk Art Festival 2023
Saturday and Sunday | Museum Way, across from the Palm Springs Art Museum
Professional artists from across Southern California, and students from all school districts in the Coachella Valley, will compete for cash prizes and student honor awards. (Free)
Alohana: A Palm Springs celebration of tiki culture
Sunday | Noon to 4 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
"Alohana" returns for its spring celebration of tiki culture with live music, hula dance, a marketplace, food and cocktails. ($5 admission)
Palm Springs Art Museum: Family+ activities
Sunday | 1 to 5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum
The art museum presents Family+, an ongoing event series featuring art-making and creative workshops, music, and other activities for kids, teens, families and more. (Free)
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Volunteer Palm Springs (VPS) is looking for help registering bicycles at an upcoming event.
- According to David Carden Jr., about 85% of bikes in Palm Springs are not registered, so if a lost or stolen bike is found, it’s impossible to return it to the owner.
- Volunteers will help cyclists fill out the registration application and assist Palm Springs Police officers with handling the bikes.
- Anyone who registers their bike will receive a free pair of blinking safety lights (while supplies last)
- Details: The event is on Saturday, March 25 at the One PS Annual Picnic at Ruth Hardy Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign up to volunteer here.
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In case you missed it
Recently published stories
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🤧 Kendall prefers how her voice sounds when she's sick. It's just more mysterious!
🤔 Mark may or may not have been lured back to Microsoft after only 10 weeks away.
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