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So Long, Ice Castle: Skaters and Hockey-Lovers Mourn the Closure of the Ice Rink—Which Was Financially Troubled Well Before the PandemicMay 27 2020
On May 8, the Desert Ice Castle announced it was closing for good, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.
"It is with great sadness and regret that—due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and despite our best efforts to remain in business—Desert Ice Castle has no choice but to cease operations, effective immediately," read the notice at deserticecastle.com, where various equipment from the facility is now on sale.
While the pandemic has caused many valley businesses to close—and will sadly claim many more before it's all over—COVID-19 may have simply been the final nail in the figurative coffin of the Cathedral City rink.
On April 13, 2018, the Desert Ice Castle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with the United States Bankruptcy Court's Central District of California in Riverside. The rink apparently settled with its creditors, staying open—but on Dec. 13, 2019, Desert Ice Castle, LLP, owned by Anthony Liu, filed both a Certificate of Dissolution and a Certificate of Cancellation with California's Secretary of State Office.
Regardless of the cause of the Desert Ice Castle's demise, the closure left Coachella Valley hockey-lovers devastated.
"I was really sad, and kind of emotional," said Katie Evans, president of the Coachella Valley Youth Hockey Foundation. "For me personally—speaking now as just a hockey mom and not as the foundation president—my son has spent six years of his life in that rink. He's made some of his very best friends in that building, and so have I. We've gotten to know wonderful people in our community while we're standing together against the glass watching our kids play, and he has spent wonderful moments on the ice and on the bench there. He's had birthdays there. We've celebrated Christmas with our teammates there. So the whole idea of that building not being there anymore is just really sad. It's meant a lot to us. It's been an important place in our lives, and we're just really sad that it won't be around anymore.
"From the perspective of the Hockey Foundation or anyone who's involved in hockey locally, it's a tough pill to swallow. Our hockey programs (have been) so great here, and we have so many wonderful coaches and players. We've already struggled (in the past) to keep those programs robust. Now, of course, not having a local rink will (make it) difficult for players and their families to keep playing."
Adults who relied on the ice rink—the only regulation-size hockey rink within at least 50 miles—for their skating enjoyment have been left in the lurch as well. Justin Reschke, the vice president of business operations for the Palm Springs Power Baseball Club, has been a player in the Ice Castle's Adult Hockey League for six years.
"I was disappointed. I was sad," Reschke said. "It was something to look forward to each week. After you've been playing with the same group of guys for several years, (it's hard) to have that taken away all of a sudden—especially now, when you're looking forward to slowly resuming normal activities.
"I guess some of the writing was on the wall, but I don't think any of us thought when we walked out of the rink the last time back in March, that would be it."
In order to keep playing, Reschke said he and his teammates will probably start making trips to Riverside.
"The Los Angeles Kings help operate a rink out there, and many players who lived here and played at DIC have also played out in Riverside," he said. "It's a little farther drive, but I'm sure we'll figure out carpools. There were five teams in our league, so, from across the whole league, we should be able to get, hopefully, a couple of full teams to head out there."
Evans said her group remains committed to helping keep local hockey kids on the ice.
"The foundation is here to support players and their families." Evans said. "So we'll focus on continuing that effort, whatever needs to happen. If our players decide that they're going to go play in Riverside or Ontario, or another rink that's within driving distance, we'll do our best to support them. Maybe it will be by helping with the player fees, because now the parents would be spending lots of money on gasoline. Or maybe someone needs a scholarship, or we can help out again with gear.
"We'll look at ways to continue to support our local players until there's another facility that they can use here locally," Evans said. "And we have high hopes for that. The (American Hockey League) team that's intending to come and play in Palm Springs is a big deal. It would provide a facility again—the proposed Palm Springs arena home to the AHL team would include two ice rinks—and hopefully, (it will bring) more attention to hockey as a sport.
"And who knows? I don't know how long it will take to build that rink, but maybe another opportunity will arise where someone else builds a rink."
While the pandemic and the resulting financial crisis have cancelled sports, live entertainment and large events for the time being, work is apparently proceeding on the New Arena at Agua Caliente. For a status update, the Independent reached out to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which connected us with the Oak View Group, the company that will operate the arena.
"The New Arena at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs will feature two ice rinks, and we anticipate that in addition to its place as the home of AHL Palm Springs, that it will be accessible to the Coachella Valley ice-sports community," said John Bolton, senior vice president of entertainment with the Oak View Group, in a statement. "Given the current unprecedented times, discussions around arena construction timelines continue, and we will provide updates when available as we work closely with the city of Palm Springs and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians."
Reschke said he is keeping his fingers crossed that construction remains on schedule.
"It would be tremendous to have a new rink that's a top-notch facility right here in the community of Palm Springs," Reschke said. "That's something that a lot of the players at the Ice Castle had a lot of interest in. So let's hope that's still part of the plan and that it's still on schedule for 2021, or close to it. Then, hopefully, we can get on it right away and reinvigorate the adult hockey community right here in the Coachella Valley."
Candidate Q&A: Palm Springs City Council District 3 Candidates Michael J. Dilger and Geoff KorsOctober 09 2019
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Palm Springs residents living in the newly drawn Districts 1, 2 and 3 will head to the polls to elect three City Council members.
These elections are the first step in the city's transition from at-large to district-based representation, to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. The changeover will be complete after the November 2020 election of council members in Districts 4 and 5.
(To see the newly drawn districts, visit www.palmspringsca.gov/government/city-clerk/election-general-municipal-election.)
Another change: The city will no longer have a directly elected mayor; instead, Palm Springs will join most other valley cities in designating a councilmember as mayor for a year on a rotating basis.
The Independent recently reached out to the three candidates running for the new District 3 seat. Both incumbent Geoff Kors and challenger Michael J. Dilger spoke with us at length, while candidate Alan Pettit declined to be interviewed.
Here are their complete answers, edited only slightly for style and clarity, presented in the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot.
Michael J. Dilger, Gig Worker/Perennial Candidate (formerly ran for New York City mayor and Congress; his Twitter account says he's a "Write-In Nonpartisan Candidate: The President of The United States of America"), 46 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
There are three things that I think need to be addressed: the security issues of Palm Springs, the "quality of life"—which includes the homelessness (situation) and the unfunded liabilities which amount to more than $300 million—and I'd like to include medicine and science. But for brevity, if I had to pick out the single most important issue facing Palm Springs, it would probably be the "quality of life"/security.
If you look at current trends across the United States, we live in a very polarized political environment that has cascading effects such as police officers being shot, citizens (being) antagonistic toward the police, and you see it manifested in other areas, too, because it's like a trickle-down effect. So, it's quality of life. "Quality of life" is the single most important issue facing Palm Springs. And, under "quality of life" come security, homelessness and economic viability. These are very complex issues. I know you want an answer that will just reduce it down to one thing, but I can't do that, because they're all intertwined.
But, if you're asking me what would I do first if I'm elected to office, in the first 90 days, there are certain things I'd like to do. I believe in getting off on the right footing, and being very strong out there and doing a lot of things right away. So I'd like to talk to the police. As we move forward and evolve in the United States, we're going to need new policing standards, because the old tactics are not going to work as effectively. Palm Springs is not a sleepy community any more. The big cities are growing larger, and policing in New York City now is not the same policing we had back in the 1970s. That wouldn't be effective today, and what we're doing right now is not going to be effective 10 years from now. The same goes for Palm Springs. So if you ask me what I would do in my first 90 days, I'd like to address a lot of key issues, like to talk to the police department and introduce new methodologies of policing. Then, I'd like to address the power structure of our community. You have underground power lines and above ground power lines, and yet you have entire blocks that are dark sometimes at around midnight. Now I know that some of these are planned outages, but a lot are unplanned, like when we have inclement weather, and for various other reasons, entire blocks just lose power. That's not healthy during the summer; it's not healthy really any time, and it's just a very bad environment to have that. So I'll work with the governor on that within my first 90 days.
Also, I want to help the homeless immediately, because you can't have anyone just living on the street. Everyone talks about helping the homeless, but no one knows what to do. No one's going to help. They need houses; they need actual physical homes to go to. There's a lot of reasons why people are homeless, but in 2019, one of the largest reasons why people are homeless is substance abuse. It used to be that you were on the street if you're mentally ill. Now people are displaced due to opioids and heroin, and we have to address that. I talked to one person on the campaign trail, and he said, "You know, Mike, we owned a clothing store, my wife and I. But we had to close our store, because the homeless would come in to use our bathroom, and they 'd inject heroin in there. We called the police, but the police couldn't legally do anything, because they couldn't stop and frisk them, and they didn't see them injecting the drugs. So, we finally closed the clothing store because it just got to be too much." They signed their names to get me on the ballot.
So, these issues are not going to go away. In the first 90 days, I think another important issue is security and the "quality of life," and I'll get the ball rolling on all these things. I talked to a security guard at Rite Aid in the Palm Canyon area, and he said there was a beauty store robbed. One (recent) Sunday at 11:30 a.m., two people came in; then they brought another guy in, and they all had guns, or two had guns or whatever the story is, and you can't have that stuff. These are all things that I would address actually within the first 30 days, 60 days. I know how you get the ball rolling. And the most important thing is giving people safe (surroundings). Especially in Palm Springs—people aren't coming here to work on Wall Street. They're not coming here to make a flourishing living. They come here to vacation, to retire, to relax, to be safe and have a good time. So we have to come up with that kind of environment.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
The city of Palm Springs sprayed for mosquitoes over the summer time, and I think they're continuing. It was around 2, 3, 4 a.m. in the morning, and I saw the helicopters. I deliver food. I'm a gig worker, so I was out then. I saw the helicopters, but I didn't exactly know what they were doing. But then when I read about it in the paper, I thought, "Oh geez … they're spraying." So I've got to ask the question, "Did anyone get the homeless off the street before they sprayed?" … Regardless of whether or not they say the spray is innocuous, it's not innocuous. I looked up the chemicals. It's not innocuous, you know. Anyway, that's another story. But if the homeless weren't removed off the streets prior to spraying, then I give Palm Springs a total "F"; even an "F"-minus. Come on.
Now, if they were removed off the street (prior to spraying), what would I give Palm Springs in regards to the homeless? I'd still give them an "F". You know why? Because the (homeless) are still on the streets. And if they're still on the streets, that means someone is being derelict in their duties. Someone is doing a really bad job, because you have another human (living insecurely). I see them, and it's always someone else's responsibility. There's no shelter here. … I tell you what: I've been around, and I've done a lot of things in life, and I know how things work. And, I still give (the city) an "F" for helping the homeless. And I give the entire state of California and "F" for helping the homeless, because they've got them in tents and under viaducts all the way from Northern California down to L.A. And if you really want me to be honest: Do you remember when San Diego had the hepatitis "A" outbreak? Well, what happened is, and they don't tell you this, but I suspect that a lot of the places all around the United States all want the homeless out of their communities, so they give bus tickets to (homeless individuals) and send them to California. And everyone thinks that San Diego has the perfect environment. Even New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio might have paid people to come to California. So anyway, San Diego gets a hepatitis "A" outbreak, and how does that happen? (Editor's note: On Sept. 1, 2017, San Diego County declared a local health emergency due to a hepatitis "A" outbreak that lasted until Jan. 23, 2018.) It's transferred through fecal matter. Anyway, long story short, a lot of the businesses in downtown San Diego would allow the homeless to use their bathrooms, no problem. But suddenly, San Diego gets an influx of homeless, and the business owners start to say, "Hey. No, you can't use our bathroom today." So people started to defecate in the street. So that's how the hepatitis "A" outbreak started, but no one will tell you that. I don't have proof. That's just a postulate.
Again, is there any specific strategy or plan that you would employ to better deal with the homeless issue in Palm Springs if you're elected to the City Council?
I don't think that hotels work. I've seen the effect when New York City commandeers hotels, and people on the block don't like it. It lowers house values in the community, and it just becomes a free-for-all at that point.
First, I think you've got to get people housing. You can 3-D print a home in less than 24 hours, and you can do it for as little as $4,000. Now, that's not long term, but people just need to have a place to go. And for people who have cognitive abilities who can get back into the work force, we've got to get them into the work force right away. And, for people who have severe mental illness, we have to have resources for them, (including) counseling staff, but they still have to have a place to go—not a halfway house, and not a tenement, because that's not a solution. So, immediate housing (is needed) and not using a hotel, but perhaps using innovative means like 3-D printing a house, or you talk to people and give them subsidies to bring a person in (to their home), but I don't know if that will work. The thing that could probably be most effective is finding certain pieces of land and actually building places. Getting businesses involved and making it like a (recreation) center: If you're down on your luck, or things aren't working in your life, or you've got a substance-abuse problem, you know, you come here. And not to stay in a shelter, because it's not a shelter, because a shelter is like a camp where you've got to sleep 100 to 200 people in a room. Actually, it's more like a hotel, because you have your own room, but it's not staffed with people who are apathetic. It's actually staffed by good people who want to get people back on their feet. And you get businesses involved, like Starbucks, because it's good for them, and it's good publicity. Once you get them involved, and they want to hire these people on an interim basis, then you're getting (these homeless individuals) back into the work force.
But there's got to be more done to implement something like this. If it were up to me, I'd burn down every shelter in the United States, because I think they're all cesspools. I don't think they're effective, and they've got lice and bed bugs. I think there's rampant drugs (being abused), prostitution and crime. You've got to have a good place. It should be kind of like a YMCA. You ever been to a YMCA in New York City, like the Vanderbilt YMCA? It's a block from the (United Nations campus), and you tell people that you're staying at the YMCA, and they think, "Oh … the YMCA, really?" But no, because the Vanderbilt YMCA is like an oasis in the city. You've got a gym there; you've got a pool, and it's got a great staff. You've got good values (at work), and everybody's got their own room. This isn't a homeless-priced community, but it actually costs only $100 per night to stay there. So, my point is that if you had a place like that, that operates on the same model as that, but you've got businesses involved, I think it could be effective. Let me just say that what we're doing right now isn't working.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
In 1970, when people used to smoke marijuana, it was totally different than now in 2019. The legalization of marijuana is in its infancy, so there's not research to (explain) how it's affecting people. But, let me say that emergency-room physicians in Denver, Colorado, have had people come in to their ER with symptoms that they can't explain, because they've never seen them before. Then, the (patients) say, "Well, I've been smoking marijuana." And, the ER doctors say, "Hey, this is totally different than how marijuana used to be back in 1970s-1980s." Marijuana now is like 25 times stronger. So, if people really want to be honest, they don't know how this is going to affect people mentally in the long term.
But, I can't answer the question of how Palm Springs has handled the cannabis business, because it's too new. I've read that they have some new dispensaries opening; there's one on South Palm Canyon across from Rite Aid, but the only reason people have marijuana now is because there aren't enough Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerbergs and other creative people who can create jobs and careers for people to allow them to unlock their talents, their gifts. The politicians, we can't do that, obviously, so they give people marijuana to keep them high. Meanwhile, do you think they keep everyone high in China? Come on … not a bit. Meanwhile, every one's going to be high in the United States. What do you think will happen (in) the mid-2020s when China's economy really starts to rocket, and India goes into second place, and you've got Americans who just want to get high? It's not a good policy. I know people want to have a good time; I get it. I know human nature. But, as a leader, I'm not going to advocate that. I'm not going to do it. I don't have kids, but I want to have kids someday. And when my kids sit down with me, I'm going to (tell them), "You know, I don't want you to do that. I want you to save your faculties and see if you can become the next Einstein. I want you to do something magnificent in life." I don't think a lot of people smoking pot are doing amazing things with their life. But I could be wrong. You can write that, too. I don't care.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
They're building a new arena for hockey, and I guess it will be used for more than hockey, and that's going to bring as much as 10,000 people into our community at a time. I don't think the current Palm Springs police force is going to be able to handle the excess people. So, they (could) enlarge the police force by (getting) more citizens involved, like citizens on patrol, but I think obviously, they're going to have to hire more officers. But at some point, the current policing standards that we have will start to break down.
So what can we do? Well, I think we need to rely more on technology to help police. It seems very bad when an officer approaches a car, lets down his guard (and then is killed), as we saw with what happened in Texas with the deputy sheriff who was shot in the back of the head. I have ideas for a certain kind of technology that (allows) the officer to feel safe approaching a car and walking away from a car. … There are all kinds of things we could do. Also, with respect to mass shootings, although "knock on wood," we haven't had one here yet, I'm not an advocate of having teachers carrying holstered guns within the school. But I am an advocate of having creative ways to know if a kid is bringing a gun into a school. I have ideas for that, too. And thirdly, if you have a poor quality of life and a lot of drugs in a community, I know there's people giving drugs to a lot of people (living) on the streets so that they stay on the street. So, we have to reduce that. Also, the security guard at Rite Aid said, and it's probably speculation on his part, that the people who were responsible for the holdup they had at the beauty salon recently were probably from a gang in Desert Hot Springs. So, we have to completely reduce that. There's all kind of things we can do. You've got to have the will to do it, though. There's no reason that crime can't be reduced dramatically, but you have to want to do it. That doesn't mean getting out there and having a police department that's militarized. Nobody wants that. It's not good for the citizenry. We want to reduce crime by relying on technology or a smarter way of policing that keeps officers safe and keeps the community safe. Make Palm Springs a "smart city" where you don't rely entirely on technology, but make it a lot more reliant than it is, and I think crime will be dramatically reduced.
When you speak about technology, are you talking about cameras and surveillance, or are you talking about other forms?
No, I'm not thinking about cameras and surveillance. Like with an officer approaching a car, there are certain devices—you could call it a "guardian angel"—that approaches the car before (the officer), and everything is handled remotely. It's almost like a robot. And for the school system, I wasn't thinking of cameras; it would be (a device) that is like an octopus, that has a way of detecting if someone has a gun, and it doesn't harm the student who has a gun, but it benevolently wraps them up so they can't move and therefore can't fire the gun.
Again, as for the community at large, I'm not thinking of cameras. I'm thinking of certain (strategies) such as not having blackouts, either planned or unplanned. As for the police, there are all kinds of ideas that come to my mind. Off the top of my head, we need to have (the police) more involved with the community. In 2019, it seems that they're not people's friends. And it's not the officers, and it's not the people; it's just the environment. We have to have more of an Andy Griffith-type of police (department). I know it sounds like a joke, and too good to be true, but you don't want to feel like the officer is trying to pry for information and knowledge. You want an officer who's around, and you think, "He's my friend," or, "She's my friend." In New York, you've got 8 million people living in the city, and they just lost an officer recently, and I tell you what they do there: The officers go out (because the city is made up of different precincts) and they're the greatest intel officers, because they know everyone in the community. So if there's any anomaly or aberration, they ask people during casual interactions. This has been happening for like the past eight years, but it is still effective, and that's how every community has got to be all across the United States. If you enhance that (approach) with everything else like bulletproof windows on cop cars, and protective technology for officers and improving the quality of life for everybody, it's going to reduce crime.
The only reason a kid joins a gang is because he doesn't know who he is. He feels peer-pressured, and he's got the wrong friends, and he might not have family. He doesn't know where he's going in life, because he can't think yet. But if you put a community officer with maybe a celebrity who walks in the community from time to time, you get people involved and excited about life and their dreams and their goals. The next thing you know, the kid says, "Hey! What am I in this gang for? This is the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life." I get it. It takes willpower, and it's a constant struggle. You've got to inspire people to do this kind of thing. Otherwise, it works for a month or a short time, or it doesn't work at all, and we're back to the same stuff. It's more imperative that we do this in 2019 than at any other time in history. I'm only 46, but I would venture that you never had people who disrespected police like we do now. It's really imperative that we get back on track. That will enhance the community and keep it safe.
You know, I was at Rite Aid last night buying ice cream. I go there almost every night to buy ice cream; I get my ice cream and then go to bed. So I'm buying a scoop of ice cream, and there's no one in the line. I start to pay, and then I walk back to get something to drink and then walk back up to the cashier, and he's already ringing me up, and all of sudden, two guys in line start giving me a hard time. And I'm like, "What the heck?" Finally, I got sick of it and I said, "What are you talking about? I was here before you guys got (in line)." And they said, "Are you sure about that?" And I'm thinking: This is ridiculous. This is the kind of stuff I went through in the city (of New York). I don't want to go through this here in sleepy Palm Springs where everybody is supposed to be nice. So I've noticed a change in people's behavior, and we've got to get people back to wanting to be helpful and charitable to (other) people. The way it starts is with the leaders exuding that benevolence, giving people that reason to do good things and inspiring people. Then, every one else in society starts to follow suit. I know I'm only running for City Council, but it starts there. Whatever happens in Palm Springs can be a model for the entire state of California, as well as the United States. I firmly believe that in my heart.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
It amazes me that nobody, not Native Americans or local politicians in Palm Springs, can work out the parking. That aside, it's a positive for the community. It's the 32nd amateur hockey team. (Editor's note: The team slated to play at the arena is a professional minor-league hockey team.) So, that's a real positive for the kids around this area, because it gets them involved in things. It gets them out of their shell. A kid might say, "Hey! I want to be a hockey player, or I like sports." You know kids are spending too much time on their iPhones and social media. It's a positive.
When I first heard about it, I thought, "It's going to change the downtown of Palm Springs." And it is. But I think it's a real boon for Palm Springs and the kids as well as the local citizens. Now I get it, too, because I know that a lot of people who live in that area and are worried that it's going to block their view of the mountains. But I read today that a lot of it is going to be built underground, and that's genius. So, I'm thinking real optimistically about it right now, and I've got ideas about how to handle the parking if they don't come up with ideas. There are all kinds of things we could do. We could have people park remotely, and we could make a train to get people in (to the arena downtown). There are all kinds of things we could do to really jazz things up. I think it's a win-win deal. I think it's a good thing.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
That's a complex question. From what I understand, Palm Springs has, I think, it's $340 million in unfunded liabilities. I'm not on the inside track right now. I haven't looked at the books. I don't know where their investments are. To be honest, I can't answer if Palm Springs is ready for another recession, because I don't know where the money is or what they have as a surplus. But if you ask me how I would appropriate resources if economic hard times hit the area, the police department, fire department and paramedics would always get resources from me. I would never stifle any emergency worker, because if you stifle emergency workers, then you stifle your citizens, because that's your protective fabric. You need them. We'd have to get money for them. Then I'd worry about the people who are struggling in our community. If there are elderly who are struggling to pay their rent, I would help them. Or if there are children who are with parents who don't have air conditioning in the summer time, I'll always help the people who are without resources. But, honestly, I can't answer the question if Palm Springs is ready for another economic downturn. I'm not at City Hall right now, and I haven't looked at the books.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
The perfect night out … you know, whatever I do in life, I always seem to work a lot. I did have a date, though. I had a date about six months ago with this woman who was from Amsterdam. So, what did we do? We went to Ruby's and had milkshakes and burgers, and afterward, we went to Starbucks. So, that seemed like a nice night out for me. I'm pretty simple.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
So, I'm driving this past Saturday night, and I'm on Palm Canyon going toward Ramon Road. There are so many cars on the street, and I'm thinking, "The season hasn't even started yet, and there are all these cars." And I went to Starbucks, and they had closed already; they're turning everyone away at the door. Follow me here for a second: There are all these people, and the season hasn't even started yet. What happens when the season starts, and we've got an extra 10,000 people here?. Everyone speeds down Palm Canyon if you've noticed. As we increase with people, we've got to worry about people's safety. Maybe (the city should) block off Palm Canyon between like Amado and Baristo. Now, do we make Indian Canyon two-way? I've got to think about this. This is where the smart city comes into play—if we had an app that people could go on and see how the transportation schedules are working with the buses, the traffic and maybe a train. Maybe a train is not a bad deal, too.
We could have remote parking for the arena, and then we could have a train that actually makes various stops. You mentioned "the perfect night out." Well, the perfect night out for a lot of people—for me, it's going to Ruby's—but for a lot of people, it's walking down Palm Canyon and going to restaurants like Le Vallauris or LG's. So if we had some sort of mass transportation that was clean, all solar and efficient, people could take it to go to key points. There'd be the downtown sector. And let's say we built an artificial intelligence center for the students to go to after school. And let's say that the train went all the way up to the Tramway. And let's say we had a longevity center with all the latest ground-breaking technologies and where doctors could come in, so the train could stop there. And since space is a big deal now, let's say you had a space center sponsored by big business or people who have an interest in this (pursuit). So it could stop there. You move people around like this. Making a train for just one thing, just the arena—I don't know if that's a good idea, but if you had these five to seven hot spots that I've got in the back of my head right now, then you wouldn't have to make Palm Canyon a two-way, because you'd get people moving efficiently. Palm Springs is beautiful, so they'll all be looking around at the scenery, and you'll cut down on congestion, and cut down on accidents. You can do a lot of different things, and this is safe. You won't have people getting hit by cars, or perhaps you won't have crime.
I was sitting at the Coffee Bean last year, in the summer of 2018, and I was on my phone. A man walked in, and a man ran out. And a woman screamed and yelled, "He took my purse!" Her husband ran out after him, so I ran after him too. Her husband caught up to the guy in the parking lot next to the Palm Mountain Resort, and he's pulling the guy out of the car. Meanwhile, I'm taking a picture of the license plate and car, then I called the police. The police came, and they never did get her purse back, but my point is that as we increase with people, you're going to have weird stuff like this happen. But with smart ways of getting around the city, and enhancing the city with other pleasurable things that are cool to do, and looking to the future, we could actually have a "smart" train, whether it's solar or hydrogen or electric—we could do all kinds of things. So, the jury is still out on making Indian Canyon a two-way, because I don't know how it would be. It might just be chaos. So that's the second question I don't know, and I'm not afraid to say I don't know.
I guess we'll find out, because they're doing it.
Oh, they are doing it right now? They're making it two-way?
Yes. Work has started already.
Well, when I get elected, I'll introduce my ideas, and maybe we'll change it back.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
When I'm elected, I bring three important things. I bring integrity to that office. I will always do what is right for the will of people, not for my own interests, but for the community and the entire state of California to make life better for people. I'm not a politician. I'm a person who has ideas and wants to fulfill his calling to do good with his life. At this point in my life, this is what I've been trying to do since 2007. I've been trying to get elected to office. I do it honestly. I don't take money from people, so that once I get there to elected office, I'm not going to have to do their will, and can do the people's will. I do it the honest way. I'll bring integrity to the office in its truest sense. Secondly, altruism. It's bigger than I am, and it's about being selfless. I believe in a greater good. I believe in God. It's about doing work for the greater good. Thirdly, I bring new ideas, but I'm also a realist, too. I don't believe that every one of my ideas is the best idea on earth. But if I come up with a hundred ideas, one idea will be the best, and it's going to work. That's how I operate. I continue to farm out ideas, until it's like ,"Eureka!" And it's the best idea to make life better for people. Maybe the "guardian angel" approach robot (for police car stops) is not the best idea in the world, but if I come up with another 99 ideas, one of them is, hopefully, going to help a police officer and save his life, and save another person's life.
Geoff Kors, Palm Springs City Council Member/Mayor Pro Tem, 58 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
The No. 1 issue facing Palm Springs is to ensure that we continue our economic growth, so that we can provide a high level of services to our residents, and address homelessness, the issue of affordable housing, infrastructure repairs and other matters that all take resources. Given CalPERS losing 40 percent of the pension money that local governments have paid in, we need to continue to build our reserves, as we've done over the last four years, and (continue to build) our economy, so that we can honor our pensions and our other obligations while continuing to move our city forward.
Any specific thoughts on how you'd like to see the city maintain or generate more revenues?
Our budget has grown substantially since the recession; I created and the council adopted a pension-reserve fund so that we could start putting money away to pay for future pension costs instead of having to make cuts to pay them. We have close to $40 million in reserves, more than double from when I was elected four years ago, and we have engaged in a number of programs to continue to pump our business community and spur economic development. I started a bimonthly meeting of a new Economic Development and Business Retention Subcommittee which I co-chair with Councilmember (Christy) Holstege. We have launched a number of new economic-incentive programs in order to keep our economy moving, and we've also created our "Uniquely Palm Springs" program to promote our local small businesses in Palm Springs, so that those will continue to fuel our economy and create jobs.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
I've served as the co-chair of the homelessness task force for the last four years, and part of that time, the city wasn't doing very much other than contributing some funding to Roy's, the homeless shelter that the county closed down three years ago. Homelessness, poverty and mental health are all issues that are the responsibility of the county under state law, and not cities. The county is the entity with a social-service department, and (it's) the entity up until now that has received all the funding for investment purposes. Over the last three years, the city and the subcommittee I co-chaired have decided that given the lack of funding from the county, we needed to step up and fill that void. So, we've hired now two homelessness and health crisis teams that are on the ground seven days a week. We've put something into a number of programs, including the housing-first program; (we've) transitioned 200 residents into housing. And recently, Councilmember Holstege and I led an effort to work with Assembly member Chad Mayes to lobby legislative leadership and Gov. Newsom for direct funding to Palm Springs. The result was that we'll be receiving $10 million to help address homelessness in Palm Springs. We're the only city other than the largest 14 cities in the state to be receiving money.
Do you have any potential steps or strategies looking forward that you'd like to share with readers/voters?
Sure. While we don't have all the rules and restrictions on (that) funding from the state, our focus is on permanent solutions to move people off the streets and into housing. What we lack in Palm Springs, and throughout the west valley, is transitional and permanent supportive housing. Without that, it's very difficult to help people transition off the streets. That housing is essential, and it needs to have wrap-around services. So, that is the priority as we move forward.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
Palm Springs was the first city in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana many, many years ago. We were also at the forefront when recreational cannabis (use) was passed by the voters. Cannabis is a legal business and should be treated as a legal business, but cannabis facilities need to adhere to the rules, which include not emitting odor, and ensuring that all their products are safe and tested. I think one change that we have proposed—and I'm on the subcommittee with Councilmember (J.R.) Roberts—is that there are business requirements in all zones of the city, including industrial zones. Since industrial zones border some of our residential neighborhoods, we are proposing significant fines and suspensions for any cannabis business that is in violation of the odor requirements. We've retained an outside odor expert, and all cannabis facilities have to have a plan approved by this expert in order to open and operate. This has had a significant impact on reducing some of the odor issues that were being experienced, and we are looking at creating a "green zone" with tax incentives to encourage cannabis facilities, particularly growers and manufacturers, to be further away from residential neighborhoods.
We are continuing to meet with groups in the cannabis industry and other stakeholders as this industry evolves to make sure that we are doing it in a way that is fair to the businesses, that doesn't create a burden on our neighborhoods and residents, and works for everyone involved.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
I think our police chief and department do an excellent job. Their community and neighborhood policing programs have been very successful. We are very fortunate that we continue to maintain our own police department as compared with many other cities that contract with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
There's no level of crime that we should ever be comfortable with. We always want to do better. Since the recession of more than a decade ago, we have provided full funding to staff our police, fire and emergency medical departments. That is due in large part to voters having passed Measure D, which provided us (with) the resources to do that. The police recently hired six new graduates from the police academy who have just started their on-the-ground training with the department. Upon their graduation (about 3-4 weeks ago), all of them were top-rate and did extremely well, and we're looking forward to having those additional people working for us in the city. We've also added significant numbers of fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, as ensuring the health and safety of our residents is a prime priority of government.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
The arena will bring a hockey team, the first professional sports team, to Palm Springs, as well as entertainment, family shows and additional convention space, all (of which are) things that greatly benefit our residents and our city. That said, it's important that we work to mitigate any potential negative impacts affecting public safety.
As soon as the arena was announced, I reached out to senior staff at the tribe to engage them in working with us on a parking study, which we are in the process of doing. It's important that, on nights when there's a major event, we don't lose parking for our other businesses, our residents and our neighborhoods. Given past ventures from the tribe, we know that they are very good at business, and that they're going to want this significant investment to be successful, which means making sure that those issues are addressed. The city will continue to work closely with them on those issues as time moves forward.
I was pleased to see the renderings (of the proposed arena design) which show that this is not an extremely tall arena, as many have feared. It's being built partly underground and with a very midcentury design that is appropriate for the city of Palm Springs. Plus, I like hockey, and I look forward to going to games, as I think many of our residents are.
Palm Springs is such an amazing place to live, and I can't think of another city with some 45,000 full-time residents that has an international airport with direct flights to 20 cities, a world-class museum, festivals like the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Modernism Week, incredible restaurants, and wonderful retail—and that all causes a lot of people to come here. A city of 45,000 would not have all of these wonderful amenities for residents without us maintaining our charm, our warm, friendly environment and our beautiful natural surroundings. That's what makes me so love Palm Springs.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
I believe we are much better situated if there is another economic downturn than we were prior to the last recession. We have close to $40 million in reserves. We have put in place numerous incentive programs to encourage investment in Palm Springs. We have more full-time residents than we had previously, and a much more diverse demographic living here. We have focused on promoting tourism, not just for people who live across the country or around the world, but also more locally. We've added some $200,000 to the budget this year for research on, and promotions to, people living within a 60-mile radius—people who can come into Palm Springs for the day, shop, go to an event, go out to dinner and generate tax revenue and help our small businesses. In an economic downturn people may not travel (in) from as far away, but people who live closer are not going to travel as far away, either. So, keeping our focus, in part, on people who can drive here, or fly from close places like San Francisco, Portland or Seattle, has been a high priority. That will help us keep our tourism-based economy moving in the event of an economic downturn. So, that research is just getting underway, and I would anticipate that the marketing pieces will probably launch right around the beginning of 2020.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
For me, I think the perfect night out would be to make dinner on the barbecue and sit outside under the stars with my husband, James, and my dog, Dash, and have some quiet alone time in paradise. Being on council and having so many events that we all do, the thought of having a totally relaxing night and cooking outside is great. That's not to say that there aren't wonderful restaurants, and attractions, and theater, and other events to go to in Palm Springs. We have so many of them, and I enjoy doing (those things). But the perfect night would really be to just be outside—at this time of year, it's just so beautiful out—enjoy the stars and spend time with the two beings that I love.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
I support changing Indian Canyon from what was known as the four-lane freeway out of town to a two-way roadway. Most of the money (for the conversion) came from a competitive grant process for public safety which Palm Springs was awarded through (the Coachella Valley Association of Governments) thanks to the great work of our staff. Indian Canyon was not safe for pedestrians or bicyclists, and was also dangerous for cars. It was on that basis that we were rewarded the grants. It will slow down traffic and make it safer. It will make Indian Canyon part of what is now a wonderful downtown. From the museum to the convention center, with the cultural center and spa and the new arena on tribal land and the rest of our downtown on city land, it will really integrate all of it. It will also help a great deal to spur economic growth and help businesses on Indian Canyon, because it will be more pedestrian-friendly, and cars will be coming in from both ways, so it will feel more like an integrated part of our city. You know, with the arena coming now, too, this will allow the city to move traffic freely, when necessary, in either direction to (facilitate) getting people in or out based on traffic studies and what makes the most sense. It also gives us a two-way road when Palm Canyon Drive is closed for VillageFest every Thursday, or Pride or any of the other events that happen on Palm Canyon.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
Your questions have touched on some of the important issues such as our economy, public safety, infrastructure and homelessness which are among the many issues we are working to address. In January, I became the liaison for the Parks and Recreation Commission, and one of the issues I recently started to focus on is upgrading our parks. I've lived in other cities and grew up where the neighborhood park was integral to our lives. It's where I played kickball after school. It's where my dad taught me to play tennis. It's where we had family picnics. Here, we have such wonderful and beautiful parks, but we need to activate them, and we need to upgrade them.
I recently worked to get water fountains and watering stations in our parks. We're testing one out in Ruth Hardy Park, and then we'll be moving on to other parks. I want to help clean up Sunrise Park so that our residents can enjoy it. We stopped some behavior that was going on there, and I really want us to continue to focus on how we treat every single one of our parks.
The last thing I'll say is that I love living in Palm Springs. I can't think of anywhere else that I'd rather live. It's been a privilege and an honor to serve the city and its residents over the last close-to four years, because our residents and our businesses are so engaged. So many people want to give back. They want to make a difference. They volunteer; they donate; they come to council meetings; and they bring their best ideas to us. I'll be truly honored to serve the city for another term.
Candidate Q&A: Palm Springs City Council District 2 Candidates Dennis Woods, Peter Maietta and Adrian AlcantarSeptember 29 2019
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Palm Springs residents living in the newly drawn Districts 1, 2 and 3 will head to the polls to elect three City Council members.
These elections are the first step in the city's transition from at-large to district-based representation, to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. The changeover will be complete after the November 2020 election of council members in Districts 4 and 5.
(To see the newly drawn districts, visit www.palmspringsca.gov/government/city-clerk/election-general-municipal-election.)
Another change: The city will no longer have a directly elected mayor; instead, Palm Springs will join most other valley cities in designating a councilmember as mayor for a year on a rotating basis.
The Independent recently spoke to the three candidates running for the new District 2 seat: Dennis Woods, Peter Maietta and Adrian Alcantar.
Here are their complete answers, edited only slightly for style and clarity, presented in the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot.
Dennis Woods, Land-Use and Transportation Planner/Palm Springs Planning Commission Chair, 59 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
There's actually more than one priority facing the city at this point, but an immediate issue facing the city is that of homelessness, because I think it's an humanitarian issue as well as (a challenge for) our brand as a city.
I think we have right around 200 homeless (persons) in Palm Springs. The programs that we have are working effectively, but we need to graduate people out of a shelter and into permanent housing. The city has been very effective in setting up a shelter to get the homeless out of the heat and into a safe place to sleep in the evenings. Then in the daytime, we, along with the Well in the Desert, have established cooling centers. Also, through the Well and others, there are a variety of places around town where (one) can get a meal. I think all of those are positive things. Another positive thing is that at the cooling center, there are people from Martha's Village and Kitchen who provide wrap-around services and try to figure out why a person is homeless—whether they have hit hard economic times, or if they have psychological issues or have addiction issues. I think those services are important to provide so that if we get someone into housing, they can maintain that housing (solution) by helping to get them rent subsidies, or get them work. Those programs are working, but we need to give them a boost.
What's really fantastic to hear is that there's a $10 million grant in the pipeline from the state to Palm Springs to deal with (this issue). We don't know what strings may be attached to that money if the governor approves it, but I would like to see us graduate people from shelters to homes. I would love to see us set up kind of a "one-stop shop" where you can get all your services in one place: You can get a shower; you can talk to social-services people; you can get some counseling if you need it for an addiction problem. We can have a shelter, and we can offer some temporary housing as we look to get people into permanent housing. I think with the $10 million grant, we probably would have the capability to do something like that.
I completely support the work of the current City Council, and they have set up a subcommittee that is trying to get all the social-service agencies to coordinate and collaborate. When they come together in a room, and they share thoughts and resources, I think that is an absolute positive, and I would continue to support that type of collaboration.
You mentioned in your first answer that there were a number of pressing issues facing the city of Palm Springs. Since homelessness was the topic of our second planned question, would you like to talk about your next-most-important issue?
The next important issue is affordable housing. We have a very nice stock of market-rate housing being built, and we have an existing stock as well. For many, the price point of these homes is cost-prohibitive if they have a moderate to low income. I think what we really need to do is to focus on trying to provide a mix of housing for people of all economic backgrounds to live in. I don't think that we've had an apartment complex (plan) come through the city during the almost two years that I've been on the Planning Commission. There's a need for apartment complexes in this city.
There are two low-income housing projects in the pipeline now that are actually both (located) in my district, which is interesting. As part of a settlement agreement, (the city) got a parcel behind Home Depot, off of Gene Autry, that might provide great potential, when combined with the $10 million from the state, to do some housing as well as the (homeless services and shelter) center that I talked about earlier. So, I think my second issue would be to provide more affordable housing to the people of Palm Springs. It's really going to take a multi-pronged, multifaceted approach and a huge amount of collaboration to build this type of housing. We have been successful (in some efforts to date). The Desert AIDS Project (DAP) has a great housing project right behind (their offices) on Vista Chino, and it is fantastic. It looks good; it's managed well; and that's the type of project that we need.
You said you found it "interesting" that the two current affordable-housing projects are in your district. Care to elaborate?
I think what's important about that is that my district, should I be elected, is dealing with affordable housing. I think we need to look at other districts and other opportunities where city-owned properties might support affordable-housing projects. These projects—if designed right and managed well—are fantastic. This is not like the Cabrini-Green Homes project in Chicago, which is what many people think of (when discussing low-income housing). I gave you the example of (the project built) behind DAP; that type of project is desirable. It does not devalue a neighborhood. It can actually (increase the) value of a neighborhood by having workforce housing closer to jobs, thus reducing the carbon footprint and making a better community.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
The city as a whole has been proactive with cannabis, and it started back with medical marijuana. I think this just shows that we were sensitive to a population here that medical marijuana could actually help, whether it was those suffering from HIV, aging issues, glaucoma or anything else. We started courting cannabis facilities when it was only concerning medical uses. Now, the voters have moved it into a recreational use (category), and the city has seen a flood of cannabis (business) applications.
What's important to understand is that, out of those cannabis applications, there are different types—for grow facilities, lounges, dispensaries and (businesses that make) products like candy. Each of those types has a different environmental impact. What we saw is that when we put (grow facilities) into our industrial areas, during the budding season, they gave off strong odors. Those odors caused neighbors to become upset, which is very understandable. The city at that point was not really prepared and did not have the mechanisms (needed to respond to the problem). At the Planning Commission meetings, I went on the record saying that we need to up our game with this, and we need to buy the equipment necessary to understand and measure odor (levels). We didn't have the enforcement tools … but we now have those tools. Now we have to look at whether or not we have a problem with the saturation of cannabis (businesses). The Planning Commission just looked at four issues related to our cannabis ordinance. One is saturation; another is notification—how we notify adjoining businesses when a new cannabis business comes in; what a waiver means if businesses want to be closer together than what the saturation (levels) will allow; and … architectural review. We certainly don't want our entire Palm Canyon (business district) to be all cannabis. We need a strong mix of businesses on Palm Canyon. Many lounges cannot have windows facing the street, so we don't want a bunch of blacked-out windows, either.
I think it's really important that we look at the architectural integrity of cannabis facilities as they come in. What I really want to say is that we want to ensure that there are no environmental impacts from our cannabis facilities. We don't want to prohibit them; we just want to make sure that their operation has no environmental impact on existing entities.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
I do think that (crime) is being handled correctly in Palm Springs. I have been endorsed by both the police association and the firefighters.
We are in a very fortunate and luxurious position to have our own police department. Our response times are fast for stuff that matters. If something is minor, and they have (to deal with) a major traffic collision, then of course it's going to be a little bit different. I believe that, at this point, we are fully staffed in our police department. We have the equipment that's necessary, and we have agreements with the surrounding areas if we need to pull in additional resources.
Crime exists anywhere, and property crime is something that Palm Springs always has to deal with because of the number of vacant buildings. But I do not see crime, in and of itself, to be a major problem. We have had a couple of incidents at our nightclubs that involved guns, which is very unfortunate, but I think our police department has handled that very well. We need to understand that clubs are an important part of what Palm Springs is, because they enliven (our leisure environment) in the evenings. But it's a lesson learned that these clubs need to make sure that they have their safety and security measures in place, which is the responsibility of the club owners. The police will work with them to get those measures in place, and I think what we saw previously was a failure of those security measures to be in place. In the case of Zelda's, the City Council took swift action and revoked its permit when it didn't put those safety practices in place. We're serious about reducing and eradicating crime, and I think that's a prime example of where we took swift action to pull a permit when crime happened.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
The tribe has the right to build this arena, but like any other development project, they have to (provide to the city) a tribal environmental impact statement (EIS), which they are in the process of doing. That impact statement is somewhat modeled after the federal EIS, so the tribe will have to (share) what all the (potential) impacts are—and there will be impacts from this arena going in.
It is incumbent upon us as a city to make sure that we reduce and mitigate those impacts. We want to ensure that adjacent neighborhoods and businesses are protected in the process. There's traffic, infrastructure, first-responder services, light and glare issues—and I could go on. All these issues have to be addressed in this EIS. We (Palm Springs) need to be cooperative with the tribe, but we also need to be very proactive with the tribe to ensure that we get solid, enforceable mitigation measures as we build this arena.
If it comes in, I believe that there could be some benefits to having an arena in town. I'm not exactly sure what those benefits are, but I think there could be some economic benefits. Still, we need to evaluate those based on solid information. So, I think that Palm Springs could benefit from it as long as we can reduce the impacts.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
We are. I think the city of Palm Springs is prepared for an economic recession. First, a large part of our economy runs off property taxes and transient occupancy taxes (TOT). If we have a recession, there would be a likelihood of a certain segment of the population no longer (traveling) to Europe or taking trips to the Caribbean. We are set up in such a way that we can market to the "drive market" like Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and even San Francisco. So we can become the go-to place that is affordable when you can no longer afford a larger vacation. We need to do that to keep our TOT income coming in. Also, we have put aside reserves, which I think has been very intelligent on the part of the existing City Council.
During the last recession, we learned that we need to make sure that we don't have vacant buildings that can reduce our property values. Riverside County as a whole was hit very hard, and Palm Springs suffered foreclosures. We just need to have the mechanisms in place, like the vacant building laws or whatnot, to ensure that at least the exterior of the properties are maintained so that we don't degrade our existing property values. Also, we have (initiated) a lot of parties and events that draw a lot of people here and would continue to bring people here, like Splash House, Coachella and Stagecoach. So, I think we are prepared for a recession, particularly because we have our marketing machine that is nimble enough to change if the economy changes.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
There are many perfect nights out in Palm Springs. (Laughs.) For me, a perfect evening would be to start off with beverages at the very nice midcentury home of a friend. You kind of all group there. From there, you go to one of our fine restaurants and do some nice "al fresco" dining. After the dining, as a gay man, I would head over to do a little dancing on Arenas, or some singing at one of the bars that does video-singing, and then call it an evening. I think that would be a perfect evening in Palm Springs.
Now, another perfect evening would be taking a beautiful night hike under the starry skies with some friends. A good place to do that would be going up Tramway Road, where it's easy to see the roadway at night and not stumble. You can enjoy the lights of the city and the stars since you're away from the light pollution.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
That's a yay, and let me tell you why. First of all, I think it's going to activate the businesses in that area and generate some new types of businesses as well. Secondly, with the build-out of the (Agua Caliente) Cultural Center, it will be a very nice connection to our downtown. It's (just) across the street, but there are some barriers there, because the back of some buildings there are not activated. So, activating some of those buildings and allowing an easy crossing from the cultural center (will help). If the arena comes in, then it's the same thing: We need some nice crossings to open the whole area up, so it doesn't feel like you're walking over a freeway to get to the other side of the road. I think (the traffic direction change) will eliminate that freeway aspect and make it feel more like the unique city that we are.
Also, we block Palm Canyon off quite a bit. Be it for the Tour de Palm Springs, VillageFest or the gay-pride festival, you have to (drive) through adjacent neighborhoods (to go south through town). With Indian Canyon being two-way, it should alleviate that kind of (traffic) stress through those neighborhoods. I think it's a positive all the way around, and as a career transportation planner, I support it.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
I came here full-time about seven years ago, and I immediately reconstituted the Little Tuscany Neighborhood Organization to address a lot of quality-of-life ills around here. My neighbors saw how effective I was, and I quickly became the vice chair, and then was voted to become that group's representative to ONE-PS, which is the umbrella organization. What's been so reassuring is that my neighbors saw my effectiveness in getting things done, and they have completely encouraged me to run for City Council.
I think I'm in a very fortunate position, having the skill set and the lifelong experience working in municipal and regional government, to walk in and do a great job. The City Council sets policy, and I think I can do that very effectively. Secondly, I have the support of the vast majority of the (current) City Council, which really indicates that I can walk into that job with working relationships (already in place) with those sitting on the council. Why is that important? It's important because that's how you get things done. You really have to cooperate and work with one another to get things done. If I get the support of the citizens through being elected, it will be important that I have the support of the employees of City Hall and their unions. That means a lot. So, there's a lot of confidence in me, and if elected, I really hope I can live up to the expectations.
Peter Maietta, Businessman, 51 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
That's an easy one for me to answer: I believe it is affordable housing. One reason why I feel that way is because I live in a working-class district which I've been canvassing since April. What I hear primarily here in District 2 is that many people are struggling to make ends meet and just to stay in their homes. For them to look forward to continuing to live and work in Palm Springs is difficult. As you know, housing prices are higher here in Palm Springs, and they're actually much higher than what working-class people can afford. Fundamentally, I think we need to get in front of this now, and to do what we need to build more affordable housing family units.
I know there will be one (affordable-housing development) going up in our district, and the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation is doing it. They're in process of securing funding, but it's fully approved. It's actually quite in keeping with the architectural style of the area. It's the nicest affordable development that I've ever come across. There's a nice play area for children and a dog run. It's great, and it's actually geared toward one-bedroom and three-bedroom units, so for families or singles or couples. That will be the first (such development) that's gone up here in 10 years, and I think that they should be spread throughout the city. We need to do our part to make sure (this option) is available to a lot of people, but in every district, not just concentrated in one.
Also, I'm definitely in favor of having all developers, building anywhere in the city, allot a certain percentage of new construction that they're working on solely toward affordable-housing units. If a developer is unable or unwilling to do that, then I would like to see a cash (payment) received by the city that's equal to the projected cost of building those affordable units in that particular development. That money can go into a general fund, so that more affordable housing can be developed throughout the entire city equally. Right now, Palm Springs is behind where it needs to be in addressing this issue, and it's something I would advocate strongly for on the City Council.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
I would have to say that the city of Palm Springs is a shining example of what can be done for homelessness. In conjunction with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the Desert Healthcare District (DHCD), Palm Springs, along with most of the Coachella Valley, is moving toward a "housing first" model. "Housing first" is an approach (to alleviating homelessness) by quickly and successfully connecting individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness to permanent housing. There can be no preconditions or barriers, like being sober or requiring any other treatment or services, set for (anyone) as participation requirements. There's no one cause for homelessness, and there's no one cure for it, but by giving people shelter and access to whatever services they need, it can help end the cycle of homelessness for at least the one individual. And it will help integrate them back into society. So, you're ending homelessness one person at a time. It's far more likely that cycle can be broken for someone if they are already living somewhere, and they have services wrapped around them. If there is no "housing first" approach, and people are just treated for an addiction or (rescued from) domestic violence, and if they are not housed and helped, then they just wind up back out on the streets. So, I think the city has a really good plan in this instance.
The city is waiting to get $10 million from the state to go toward this problem. The DHCD has given $1 million, too. I believe that Palm Springs has put up a certain amount of money (for this issue) as well. So, there's a good solid, strong plan.
I would like to see a new 24/7 shelter that's open 365 days a year for acute homelessness needs. Right now, we have the Well in the Desert facility, Arlene Rosenthal's facility, which is great. And the city is wonderful for extending her permit for a longer period of time so she can remain in that building. It's been open 24 hours during this terrible heat of recent months, but I do think there's a need for another shelter.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
I think the city has done a great job embracing this industry. I feel that the city continues to grow and refine its ordinances—specifically, I mean like odor ordinances, which seems to be a primary concern of many residents here. Because it is so windy, where there are grow or manufacture (cannabis facilities), then the smell can become a problem. But the city has done a great job of making sure that odors are contained, and they have very stringent policies in place with lots of measuring devices to make sure (the regulations are met).
I think they did a great job of lowering the level of taxation (on cannabis businesses in the city) to make dispensaries more competitive with other valley cities. Also, we face an underground market problem here with our cannabis industry, which makes it more difficult for legal dispensaries to compete, because in an illicit market, the prices can be lower.
I have no problem with retail shops or lounges, but I would like to see them equally distributed throughout commercial areas in the city. I think right now, the ordinance states that there has to be at least 1,000 feet between such businesses. I'm definitely in favor of creating a "green zone" designed to house manufacturing and cultivation sites away from residential areas. I think that would do a great deal to mitigate the odor concerns that some residents have—not all, but some.
I'd like to see the creation of a long-term cannabis commission or task force that would allow citizens to always have a voice in this industry as it grows. I mean, that's nothing new for the city: They have lots of subcommittees, working groups and advisory/informative groups for people to give information, feedback and flavor to the decision makers.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
Well, crime is everywhere in our country. But I think our police department, and our police chief in particular, are doing a remarkable job here in Palm Springs to keep crime under control.
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of doing a ride-along with one of our officers, and I got to see firsthand how hard our force works to protect the city. I saw so many calls that day, and I have the utmost respect for the way they do their job and how they put their lives on the line each day for everyone in this city. I can't stress enough just how much respect I have for them. I know that as of this January, the police department will (again) be fully staffed for a city of roughly 47,000 people. The recently added officer recruits are now all out on patrol. But I think that one way to decrease future crime would be to do an impact study on the influx of additional tourists we have (visiting the city) every year and consider adding additional officers, or part-time officers, to aid our dedicated police force during the high season. Although on paper, come January, we'll be fully staffed for a city of our size, we're never really just a city of our size, because we always have a significant number of visitors in our city.
Everyone knows that our economy may soften, and my fear is that if people were to lose their jobs due to a downturn in tourism, we may see crime rise in our city. That's another reason that I'm a strong proponent for ensuring that our police force has the means and a plan to be adequately staffed, were that to happen.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
I personally am very excited about it for a number of reasons. I definitely want to see Palm Springs thrive as a vacation destination, and I think a venue such as (the proposed arena) will help us greatly. And I'm even more excited over the new jobs that will be created for our residents. I'd like to see our residents chosen for those jobs first. I know that (decision) is really up to the (Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians), but personally I would love to see them pull from our pool of residents here.
I am concerned about the stress that a venue of that size will put on the city's infrastructure, including our roads, our traffic and our law-enforcement resources. When elected, I want to foster a strong relationship with the tribe and help to work with both the City Council and the tribe to make sure that everyone's concerns are dissipated and that the venue is a true success. Although the tribe is a sovereign nation, we all share the same city, and we all have a shared interest in its growth.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
I think the city has done a great job thus far of keeping and managing our reserves (which we'll need) in the event of another economic downturn. But we are primarily an economy that is based upon tourism. In an economic downturn, we may see less revenue come to our city from out-of-town visitors. I think that given the many events we already have here in the Coachella Valley, coupled with the new 10,000-seat arena, tourism should never evaporate, so to speak. With that said, we should continue to find ways to set aside funds for future infrastructure needs.
In my District 2, and in other areas of the city, our roads are in very poor condition. The water mains, particularly where I live in Desert Park Estates, rupture somewhere on an almost weekly basis. Those water mains have reached their life expectancy. Our municipal buildings are showing signs of deferred maintenance. I am a strong advocate for updating the city's general plan, which has not been updated in seven years, and it's a 20-year plan. I think if we do update it, we'll be able to prioritize the municipal projects in such a way that they're addressed before they fail. If we can address such issues earlier, then we can be smarter about conserving resources.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
You do know that I'm running for public office, and I haven't had a carefree, fun night out in Palm Springs in months. (Laughs.) But I am looking forward to one. I'd start off by having dinner at one of the fabulous Mexican restaurants that we have here, because it's my favorite kind of food. I'd have a margarita and then probably something deliciously unhealthy to eat. Then, to counteract that, I'd take a long walk, visit our local shops and just talk to people along the way. I find that the best way I can shape my platform is by talking to as many people as possible who not only live in my district, but in the city overall. Now that I'm beginning to be recognized, since my bus ads are all over town, people are very willing to talk, and I'm always very willing to hear what they have to say.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
I'd say that I'm for it. I think it will definitely help alleviate traffic on Palm Canyon Drive. It will certainly aid in traffic control when the new arena is built, because a 10,000-seat stadium could mean 10,000 cars. But mostly I think it will help drive foot traffic to the already existing—and I imagine new—businesses on Indian Canyon, which will help our economy. So, I would say "yay" to it.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
(I'd like) to tell (the readers) a little bit about myself. I was a banker for 20 years, and in my last job, I worked for Union Bank investment services. I ran marketing for all their brokerage products and their retirement bank-deposit products. After that, I bought into an architecture and interior-design firm which I ran for six years before moving full-time here to the desert. So, from being in corporate America and owning a small business, I do understand how to create jobs, and what the struggles are for working families in Palm Springs.
I feel that I'm ready to get down to business at City Hall on day one. I'm a community volunteer, and I'm on the board of directors of Desert Park Estates, which is my neighborhood association. I serve on the fundraising committee for the LGBTQ center, and I served as an appointed member of the Palm Springs Board of Appeals. I'm just a guy who loves my city and my district, and at this point in my life, I have the time and the inclination to give back, and I'd really like to do that.
Adrian Alcantar, Salon and Day Spa Owner, 37 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
In all honesty, it could be any one of a magnitude of issues, but I think we really need to focus on our (city's) deficit. As a business owner, I've sat in on a City Council meeting where the city approved a two-year projected budget with a deficit of roughly $215,000. If I operated a business and approved a budget with a deficit, I wouldn't be in business. That's the bottom line. I look at pension liabilities, bonds that are out on the convention center, and the mounting infrastructure improvements that need to be made on city-owned property, and it concerns me. With the new arena that is going to be built—I believe that it is inevitable—we have an opportunity right now to change the dynamic of the way the city does business. I really believe that (the arena) could be a new revenue stream for the city of Palm Springs that could positively impact the reduction of debt.
Now, with the pension liability, I think we have about $192 million (accrued to date), and it's continuously growing. Then you look at the additional lifetime medical benefits for city employees, and that's another $100 million. And then there are the bonds that are out on the convention center and the airport. We just approved, I think, somewhere between $30-$50 million for a bond for the airport reconstruction of the baggage-claim area. And you look at police overtime, fire overtime, city staff pay—and it just continues to snowball.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
I would give the city of Palm Springs an "F." I want to explain that this comes after the city of Palm Springs vacated a number of individuals from Sunrise Park. They removed these individuals and then moved a mobile command center into Sunrise Park to combat the mounting heroin and drug-related issues that were occurring. They have deemed this to be a public-safety and health issue. I commend them on their efforts, and I want to be very clear when I say that I value what they're doing to take back the park and allow it to be a space that's free for everyone. However—and this is where the grade comes into play—my big concern was that there were not any leaders of (nonprofit) communities, or leaders from the county, or leaders from other resources that are available to these (homeless) individuals, available at the time of vacating them. The night after (the city's action), the Street Life Project went in to do a meal service, which they offer on a regular basis. It was published that there's a temporary stop to that service, because the police department has placed a ban on feeding the homeless. Now, this is not humane.
I also sat in a City Council meeting, and I listened to Chief Bryan Reyes—and I'm going to quote him on this—say that "homelessness is not a crime." He said that in public testimony at that council meeting. But what we have done is criminalize individuals who want to help combat the crisis. They want to help by providing food or other services, and I think it's wrong (to criminalize their service). We haven't developed a plan, and we are jumping through these strategic moves, but there is no public plan in place, and that's what concerns me the most.
Look at cities like Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. All of them have plans that are in place. Boston is a great example. They have leaders of the (nonprofit) communities come together at the table, because these are stakeholders in the community. In 2015, they realized they had an issue, and by working together, they instituted a plan with the city itself. (Palm Springs City Manager) David Ready is on record saying that homelessness in the city is not our issue, that it's a county issue. And that's wrong. It is everybody's issue. It is a humanitarian issue. I will stand behind that (statement) 100 percent. Now, we need to come together as a working community to combat the crisis that is in front of us that we deal with on a daily basis.
By vacating people from the park, it has spread them all over the city. We may not see them, because they're not concentrated, but they're still there. I think it was 256 individuals (tracked) on the count, but I'm sure there are more than that. And the question now is, "Where did they go?" I truly value the work that Arlene Rosenthal does over at the Well in the Desert. She's having some issues with her conditional-use permit. I hope the city recognizes that she needs to be a valuable asset in that city plan. And with $10 million coming from the state, if that happens and that fund gets created by the governor, I hope we form a group. I don't want to call it a task force, and I don't want to call it a commission, because when you do that, you get lost in (all the rules like) public comments being limited to only two minutes, but I think we need an open forum to put all the (nonprofit) stakeholders in the area together to say, "Listen, this is how we need to be able to help with this issue." Then we can go into a commission or task force that's formed. But I really believe we need to bring together a group of people who know what the hell they are doing in regards to this topic. And we don't need to just blow the money on some damned consultant. That's all that you're going to get from me on that one.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
Recently, I had the opportunity to go to a meeting of (the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network), which is a group of individuals from that industry itself, and the amount of research I had to do before going into this forum and speaking was quite interesting. You know, I look at the cannabis industry overall, and what I see are small businesses. So, I'm very middle of the road on this topic. I see the residents' standpoint, and I see the business standpoint. It is a small business (environment), first and foremost, and I believe we should treat them as such, and treat them fairly. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that no other business is required to pay the amount of fees that cannabis does. And the taxes are quite high, too. This concerns me, because, as a result, the illegal industry still thrives behind other doors. I believe that if we readjust tax structure and the way that we do business with (the cannabis industry), we can reduce the amount of illegal activity within the city. Also, at that point, it will allow more funds to stay with these business owners so they can invest their money to reduce odor, and to make other business improvements.
I'm also concerned with where these tax dollars are going, and what we could do with these tax dollars if properly allocated. For instance, look at a city like Desert Hot Springs that was on the brink of bankruptcy. But when they allowed this industry into town, (the city) blossomed. A new revenue stream was created that was able to support the city's economy. I'm not saying that we want (to create) a large density (of cannabis enterprises), because there has to be a balance within the guidelines of our current policy. And I'm not saying we should put a shop on every corner and three on every street. I think it needs to be measurable and sustainable. We need to diversify the economy throughout the entire city. I think we have an option with building a "green zone" that's been talked about to lower the tax bracket for some of these businesses and incentivize them. I think that's a great option, but I want to make sure that those tax dollars go back to where we need to see them. I'd love to see those funds get used properly, and maybe even to deal with the homeless crisis. Maybe we put (those dollars) back into schools and education about drugs and alcohol. There are a ton of positive things that we could do with these tax dollars, instead of just putting them into the general fund to be absorbed. I think if (these dollars) are used properly, then the residents can benefit from it, and that's the bottom line.
I look at everything in the scope of us always working together, no matter what the situation. How can we incorporate it back into the stream of things to benefit the residents, to benefit the city and to benefit the city employees as well? There are three things that I always look at, in regards to making policy, and if it does not benefit the residents, the city and the stakeholders, then it's not going to be a "yes" (from me). This is something I've always done as a business owner: Does it benefit the business; does it benefit me; and does it benefit my employees? It's just how I operate, even at home.
Just to clarify, what were you referring to when you talked about a "green zone"?
There's a "green zone" that they're looking at creating close to the I-10 freeway, and it's going to be in District 1. They're looking at developing that property, very close to the Amtrak station, for some growth opportunity and development. They want these types of businesses to go in there so they will not affect or impact residential areas. I do see the concerns (being raised) in the Desert Highland Gateway Estates and Demuth Park areas, where we're seeing large scale (cannabis) companies going in, and the communities are offering a little resistance. I think that Veronica Goedhart (from the city of Palm Springs Office of Special Projects/Vacation Rentals and Cannabis) is doing a great job. I would urge any member of the community who has a concern to reach out to her, because she has a wealth of knowledge, particularly regarding how the ordinance is written and how it works.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
You have crime anywhere, no matter where we go, and it's here (in Palm Springs). We have a population of around 44,000 with a voting population of roughly 30,000, so that tells me that there are 30,000 people who live here full-time. And then you have this constant rotation and revolving door of tourists, which adds around 130,000 on a monthly basis. So crime is going to happen. Now, I'm not saying tourists create crime. There are individuals on the tourist side and on the residential side who are ready for a bad time. So, I just think we need to be aware. I think that our police department is aware of the situation at hand, and they understand that we live in a large transient community. But we also live in a community that's very trusting. My husband is always telling me, "Lock the door! Lock the door!" And I'll be honest: I'm the first one not to lock the door! I think in regards to crime, our public just needs to be aware of it. We have people who visit us on a regular basis. And now with the vacation rentals, more people who visit us are staying in our neighborhoods. And there are individuals who are displaced or homeless or whatever, and they're looking. So I think the public just needs to be aware of that and make sure we're taking care of ourselves, our neighborhoods and the people who live around us.
It's kind of funny, because I think a lot of that has to do with the way that neighborhoods are integrated. What I mean is: How many people actually know their neighbor's name now? Do you know who lives two houses down the street? I think that has a big impact with crime. So, I say if we want to reduce crime: Get to know the people around us, and we start looking out for one another again.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
I've had my business downtown for five years, and I would have loved to see the completion of the (Agua Caliente) Cultural Center and spa down there. I see it from all sides right now. I see that it's going to bring rising rents to small businesses, and that concerns me. But I also see it on an economic plane from the city (perspective). We are very lucky that we have this neighboring nation that's willing to front the $260-plus million to foot the bill for this project. And all that I see is growth. I believe that it can positively impact the reduction of debt, if it is planned properly. And by that, I do not mean that the Agua Caliente tribe is not going to plan properly, because everything they've built so far is absolutely beautiful. I want to clarify that. But, I do think there's a level of logistics that needs to be done hand in hand with the city and the tribe to make this a successful feat across the board. And it all begins with communication and working together. We have to have that relationship with the tribal council again.
We haven't really had a very strong relationship in the last couple of years, I believe since (former Agua Caliente Chairman Richard) Milanovich died (in 2012). I look at it like these new guys at the helm of the tribal council want to build a successful stadium and business, and I want to see that happen, because I think that everybody can benefit across the board. So, I'm very pro-arena, and I think it can be very successful if the city is given the logistical strategy. I've had to talk to (representatives from) several cities across the nation who have brought in arenas much like this one. And (these stadiums) generate almost $100 million per year. And when I look at the revenue that could potentially be gained from the (transient occupancy tax) and sales tax throughout the city because of an addition like this, I'd say that at the low end, we're talking $20-30 (million). Now, $20-$30 million sounds like a good deal to me as long as we're prepared for the infrastructure with the roads and public safety and the way we're going to go about doing business on a daily basis when we have events. So I think that's where the communication needs to start. And we should look at the environmental impact, and we should look at the long-term effects on neighborhoods that are adjacent to (the proposed site) like the Movie Colony. And we need to devise a working plan on how we're going to strategize around parking. Would a large off-site parking area with shuttle service be beneficial? We have to look at all of these things.
I think the way that the city of Los Angeles handles parking at the Hollywood Bowl is interesting, for instance. If it's planned right, it can be very successful. What we need is an open dialogue, not only with the tribe, but with other cities who have experienced the same thing and gone through the process. We can sit down and get on a phone call and just ask, "What works for you? What didn't work for you?" Let's make this the most successful arena that the nation has seen. We're building this project right in the heart of our downtown. It's not on the outside. It's not somewhere away from downtown Las Vegas like the Golden Knights arena. And it's not downtown San Diego, either; it's Palm Springs. So we just have to make sure that our streets, public safety and the city can support all of it.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
It's a one-word answer: No. It's true that we've made some changes, and we've been able to sock away a little money. But looking at the debt, I fear that 2008 is going to come around again, and we'll have to let go of 100 employees, if not more. I don't want to see that happen at all. But the continuing growth of debt would have a major impact on that situation. My husband is a union man, and I would never want to see that happen to our family.
I feel that we really need to begin to diversify our economy. We need a solid plan for a way that the city can continue to bring in money, even during the down times of a recession, and it cannot be based on tourism alone. That's huge. We really need to diversify the businesses we're bringing into this town. The debt is around $500 million, and we're going to be faced with tough choices if a recession hits, and it is bigger than the last one.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
For me, since I've lived close to downtown in the Movie Colony for years, and I've owned a business downtown for the last five years, I can literally walk into a restaurant and have a great meal, then go catch a movie and finish it off with some ice cream. During the winter months, it's great, and it's always the best to do just that.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
I'm in the middle on this one. I support the conversion, and I think it will help reduce traffic during large-scale downtown events. I know that this decision to change was done before the 10,000-seat arena project was announced, so how traffic is directed on to Indian Canyon when one of these events ends is the only logistic (issue) that concerns me now. It goes back to infrastructure and whether or not we have what we need to support (the arena) traffic. I think if we open ourselves up to conversation with the tribe, then we can plan for it. So I'm still in support of growth happening, and large-scale events happening, and I just want to make sure that whatever we do with infrastructure, we're making the right choices, and that were not operating on a 30-year-old general plan.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
The financial issue is the big one for me, and how we operate with our money. I found it surprising that we went from an 800-900 page budget to 50-plus pages in the last couple of years because of the deletion of itemized line items. I think a large part of being transparent with our residents is allowing them to see where we are spending money. And when you look at payroll structure with the city, we are very top-heavy, and it concerns me. I've said in the past that I would have never approved the budget (now in effect). I would have directed the city manager to figure it out and balance the deficit. I would have sat there until they approved a balanced budget, no matter how late. I was at that meeting, and it ran late. Also, Councilman J.R. Roberts came out and said in an article in The Desert Sun that the voters are not informed enough to make the right choice and vote (on issues). He contends that this is why we elect people to the City Council. I disagree with that. We are a very smart society, and I hope that any voter thoroughly educates themselves and makes themselves aware of who they are voting for, and that they vote for the most qualified candidate. I would hope to see that we have a diverse array of candidates on that dais that are elected to our city's offices. They should represent all walks of life. That is going to be key in making sure that we remain successful.
There is a reason why we've gone into district elections, and I support having the working people (of our city) represented on the council. It needs to happen. We have not had a Latino candidate (elected) in almost 47 years, since Joe Garcia. And, considering that the Coachella Valley is 53 percent Hispanic, it surprises the hell out of me. Now I look at the demographics in each of the districts, and I think this is a great way to operate, but I have one concern. We allowed a minority district to be formed that has a mass representation of a minority, and we did not carve out minority numbers throughout the city. So, we have in essence said that the minority will have one voice and one vote when it could have been positively distributed across the board. We should not have just gone off of the Census, as old it was, but used the Registrar of Voters data. So, I think there's somewhat of a misrepresentation there, and I think that we need to re-visit it.
I believe in (campaign) contribution limits, and I do not believe that one individual should be able to donate $10,000 or $50,000 to a campaign. I believe there are things that need to be changed in our city's election practices. I will try my hardest to make sure that there is a level playing field for anyone who wants to run, if I am elected. That's no matter what socio-economic status they may have. I believe anybody can offer valuable input at any time, and I think we need to see change today. I hope Palm Springs is ready for a new voice, because I'm ready to serve.
Candidate Q&A: Palm Springs City Council District 1 Candidates Les Young, Scott Myer and Grace GarnerSeptember 16 2019
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Palm Springs residents living in the newly drawn Districts 1, 2 and 3 will head to the polls to elect three City Council members.
These elections are the first step in the city's transition from at-large to district-based representation, to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. The changeover will be complete after the November 2020 election of council members in Districts 4 and 5.
(To see the newly drawn districts, visit www.palmspringsca.gov/government/city-clerk/election-general-municipal-election.)
Another change: The city will no longer have a directly elected mayor; instead, Palm Springs will join most other valley cities in designating a councilmember as mayor for a year on a rotating basis.
The Independent recently reached out to the four candidates running for the new District 1 seat. Grace Garner, Les Young and Scott Myer all spoke with us at length; Michael Shogren did not get back to us after repeated attempts to reach him by both phone and email.
Here are their complete answers, edited only slightly for style and clarity, presented in the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot.
Les Young, Retired Banker, 68 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
I would say that's homelessness. I think the City Council has done a remarkable job in moving the needle on homelessness. I think that moving to the "housing first" model is an absolute requirement. I think it's been proven time and again throughout the country, and so I think that migrating in that direction has been very beneficial. Unfortunately right now, most of that solution seems to be (happening) in the east valley, and we need to bring that solution into the west valley. It's pretty imperative that we do something within those confines. It's not easy for a homeless person to get transported over to that area in the east.
I've been assigned to the homeless task force, because I sit as a commissioner on the Parks and Recreation (Commission). Since homelessness very much impacts our parks, for the last 2 1/2 to 3 years, I've sat on that committee. One of the things that I think we do very effectively is (address) what I consider to be low-hanging fruit. We have people who are near homeless or just borderline homeless, and we have plenty of services, not just within the city, but services like Mizell (Senior Center) and Jewish Family Services who do assist people with things like fixing a broken air conditioner to help avoid their becoming homeless. Then there's the next third, people who have been homeless for awhile, but who would do anything to be facilitated within housing. They are very much interested in making that move. … The last third, which I don't feel that we've been particularly successful (in aiding), are people who are using drugs, or are mentally incapacitated. In the corporate world, when you work on a rock—and I consider this problem to be a rock—you bring in people who really analyze and come up with solutions. You don't start at one end of the rock and works toward the other end, or start with the most difficult and work toward the easier stuff; you put elements (in place) on each pile to work it down. I think we've worked on what I would call the "low-hanging fruit" very effectively. Now we need to focus more on the last third; I think it's extremely important to try and figure that out.
I don't think you'll ever "solve" homelessness. In fact, today, homelessness is so different throughout the United States than it was 10 to 15 years ago. In my corporate life, when I traveled, homelessness wasn't something that you experienced very often when going to other cities. Whether it was just kept out of sight, I don't know, but today, if you travel to Los Angeles, or San Francisco, or Chicago, or New York, there are clearly homeless communities. It is a new today for us, so I would love to focus on this and try to wrap a couple of solutions around it. This is an issue that, since senior council members have already been working on it, I wouldn't get to work on in my first year as a newly elected councilmember. But I can always be building the history, and thinking about things moving forward, and this is one (issue) for me that is very large.
Since homelessness was the topic of our second planned question, would you like to talk about your next-most-important issue?
It's affordable housing. You know, homelessness and affordable housing are sometimes interchangeable, and sometimes they are one and the same thing. As for affordable housing here, we are sorely behind in developing apartment living at a reasonable cost. But I'd like us to look at sweat-equity development of purchasable homes. I'd like to see a young family be able to put in some sweat equity, and also a reasonable amount of money, and be able to get a mortgage and create the American dream, which is to have a home you own and can build equity in. If you live in it for 10 to 15 years, I don't feel that it should be sold at a less than market rate because you got it as an affordable house. That's part of the American dream. If the price of the area goes up, then you benefit from that, and that's how you move on.
I'm really hoping that at some point in time, we'll be building out multiple kinds of homes. … We live directly across from Coyote Run 1 and 2, which are beautiful examples of well-maintained properties. I look across at these properties and just marvel that they are low-income housing, because they are beautifully maintained on the outside. I mean, these are people who decorate their homes at Christmas and various holidays, just like we do. I will tell you that it's an honor to live across from this community. To me, it's a great example of what affordable housing can look like. I worry a little bit about "NIMBY-ism," the people who say, "Not in my backyard." But I'm sorry, if you look at (Coyote Run), there's nothing wrong with that community. So, I'm very supportive of things that (the) Coachella Valley Housing (Coalition) has achieved. I know there's another opportunity coming up that won't be in my district, but will be right across from my district at Indian (Canyon Drive) and San Rafael. I think there are about 60 homes currently planned to be built, which will be remarkable. But I think we're at least a couple of hundred homes behind where we should be, even in the affordable rentals area.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
I think the city has done a great job of bringing the businesses in and attempting to set up the requirements for it. But one thing that I'm concerned about is that in District 1, both at the north end and south end, there are grow and manufacturing facilities that are emitting odors, and they are abutting residential areas, so I've got a concern about that. I think that we are building a new process that will actually benefit somebody who is going into the business if they are a greater distance from housing. I don't know if I've coined this or not, but I call the I-10 the 'Cannabis Corridor' for us in Palm Springs, and Palm Springs (extends northward) slightly past the I-10, so on both sides of the 10 freeway, there are opportunities for warehouses that would be built specifically for grow and manufacturing so that they could more tightly control the odors—and if any odors did slip out in that area, it wouldn't be close enough to either Desert Hot Springs or Palm Springs to be impacting people.
I'll tell you that what's unfortunate is that these are things that are happening in commercial areas that essentially abut less-costly housing—so it is against Desert Highland, and it is up against the Demuth Park area. While they're both wonderful areas, it seems they are being imposed upon by these (cannabis) facilities. I don't want to see these facilities not be here; in fact, I love that they are in District 1. But I'd like to see them appropriately placed in (areas) that do not impact our citizens.
I don't have major concerns about the lounges or the retail outlets, but I do hope that they are equitably spaced for the benefit of both those who are in the business as well as those who are purchasing the products throughout the city. I think there might be a few variances that are being offered, but I don't really have concerns about that aspect of how we're doing things.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
I sit as the president of the Police Advisory Board, so I do have access to data relative to crimes both through that role and through the ONE-PS monthly meetings, and the mainstream meetings that I attend. I think our police are doing a remarkable job. I think they are highly regarded for the work they do in the city. I think things are very much under control. I'm a very strong opponent to the idea of outsourcing that (policing) capability. I've been asked twice in the last month if I could support outsourcing the police department, and my answer was, "Absolutely, I could not." I've lived in multiple cities in our country—Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City—and a few cities outside of our country, and I feel that we have the best police chief that I have ever been exposed to. It's not just because I sit on an advisory board, but I've watched things happen in the last 2 1/2 years in this community that I think many people would have failed (in addressing). This man leads beautifully, and he leads a very effective group. He manages people extremely well, and he leads by example, which I think is one of the most important things. He doesn't have rules for others that he doesn't follow himself, so I highly respect him, and I highly respect both our police and fire facilities here in Palm Springs. I think they're both remarkable, and their leadership is (as well).
So you have no concerns about the level of crime or type of crime that has taken place within Palm Springs in recent years?
I will tell you, having seen closely the impacts of crime, our chief and the force here work to teach people how to avoid crime. So much of the crime we experience today has to do with unlocked doors—garage doors that are left open a few inches because it's so hot here, and then not locking the kitchen door to the garage. In one of the reports that I read, somebody had left $5,000 in cash and a computer and a purse or a briefcase in view in their car. I marvel that we test things that way. In my working world, I had a laptop, and so often, I had to carry that laptop into a restaurant with me on the way home from work. It had private and confidential information on it, and although it was secured with encryption and access codes, if it were stolen, it would have been reported as a banker's access to client data. Even to this day, as I'm the president of my HOA, I have books that I carry to the meetings, and if somebody says, "Hey … let's go out to dinner," before I join them, I have to go home and put the books away in a safe place.
One of the other things I do worry about is that often times, the laws have softened on some crime to make it difficult for police officers to assist by getting people off the street who are perpetrating crimes. But some of the crime goes back to homelessness. I've got to tell you that if you've had a hungry day, and there isn't any resource for you (to obtain a meal), you might actually pick up a half gallon of milk and stick in your pocket to help feed your family. So you walk two sides of the street on that one.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
I'm excited about it if it happens. I will tell you, a little selfishly, that I'm a Chicagoan, and most of my life, I lived in Chicago. To see a hockey team in my home town after having moved here with my husband from San Francisco, where we had season tickets to the Giants and the 49ers, would be great. … Although my husband is a sports fan, he isn't much of a hockey fan. But after going to a couple games, he'll realize what a great sport it is.
Now, do I worry about some of the aspects such as traffic and transportation—I do somewhat, But I have a great deal of respect for the tribe, and I believe that if this is something that they're doing, then they're not going to have 10,000 cars at an event blocking up the streets. That's not their style. They will come up with plans. I don't know what they are, and they're not disclosing them yet, but I have total faith in the tribe. I think about things that could help: Could we have a large parking lot close to the I-10, with transportation into the event? That's possible.
Also, my hope would be that people who come for an event may actually stay for few days to enjoy our restaurants, hotels and the beauty of our city and the mountain. There's a piece of me that thinks some people will be parked in a hotel five hours before the event, having a bite of dinner and then going over to see that event. I know there will be hockey, and concerts and other types of broad entertainment, and I hope that people will spend the night in their hotel, drive safely and enjoy our city. So, I'm not worried about it. I'm actually anticipating that it will get done quickly, like the garage that they built—and look at the beautiful cultural center that they're doing.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
I don't think any city can be ready for (a recession). But if there's a city that's prepped for it, Palm Springs has done a remarkable job. Again, our City Council has set things up very effectively. Now, personally, I think that there are some areas where we have not done the work we need to do relative to the infrastructure of this city. I'm somebody who is a bit worried about our buildings and whether or not they can survive another 10 to 20 years without investment. Again, I sit as chair of Parks and Recreation, so I spent a lot of time in the James O. Jessie Community Center, and the Demuth Park pavilion and leisure center—and some of those buildings are suffering from age. They are beautifully maintained by our maintenance people, but everything gets old over a period of time. So, I do worry about that a little.
I think that City Hall has had a little bit of a structural facelift over the last four years, and we don't see buckets (catching the leaks) when it rains anymore. But I do feel that we need to do some work. So while we're sensitive to keeping reserves well managed, and working on our retirement (benefits) issue, we also need to set aside funds to address our infrastructure issues. For instance, our parks, while in beautiful shape, have restrooms that are in need of some serious work. The commission did a report for (City Manager David) Ready, as he requested, and he's looking to fund our request to improve the bathrooms. Some need to be torn down and replaced, but some are in historically significant facilities and cannot be torn down, but could be re-gentrified by installing tiles and floors that can withstand stronger washings, and make sure those are done on a regular basis.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
I love walking the entire length of the city. You know, it's not New York City, and it's not Chicago, but it has its own charm. Actually, today is Michael's and my 28th anniversary, and 11th wedding anniversary, so we're going to have dinner at Spencer's, which is a place that we very much enjoy. We'll be eating on their patio which is where a lot of people in the community are.
We have some fabulous restaurants in town. Coming from San Francisco, we were both a little nervous about arriving in Palm Springs and realizing that the food would probably not be what we were used to in San Francisco. Well, we were excited to find out that we were so wrong. There are so many different kinds of food and food opportunities here, and new ones coming in that are wonderful. Wabi Sabi (Japan Living) is doing some pop-ups in places. We really do have very creative people who have settled here over the years and continue to settle here. So, it is nice, and there are some wonderful spots as you walk down Palm Canyon or Indian Canyon, like stores you can go into to shop, and gelato on a warm night is great.
I just marvel that the Thursday night VillageFest street fair happens 51 weeks of the year, weather allowing—and to see the people who come to sell their wares, and the people who come repeatedly to visit that five-to-six-block area is remarkable. I get to work at the "Ask the Chief" booth that (Police) Chief (Bryan) Reyes does for the Police Advisory Board. He comes out and talks to the public. It's amazing how many people that we meet there, (whether) they're locals, or from the drive markets around our area, and people who visit from Europe and Canada. We've met Australians (and) South Americans—and it's just wonderful to see the people walking our streets and enjoying our town.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
It's funny: I deal with change like that very cautiously, but I'm excited about it. I was driving back from an appointment today and coming down Indian Canyon, and I thought that we're down to two lanes, and there's so much torn up just to change the curbs and doing this little bit of work. But when it's done, I hope it's going to present a great opportunity for new businesses to be sitting on both Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon. Also, I'm excited about the fact that the (new Agua Caliente) cultural center is tied into it. So, I think we've done the right thing. It does terminate at the right location, which is literally the same street that will be the end of the downtown arena that the tribe is planning. I think it's going to be right thing to have done, ultimately.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
Well, maybe a subject: I am a retired banker who had a 40-year career in domestic and international banking, finance, managing operations, customer service, international loans and credit product management, which I feel has given me a strong background to be able to help the city move forward, especially with budgeting and looking at things effectively across the board. These are all things I did while handling sales, and dealing with the heads of corporations that we were selling products to, along with operations partners and systems partners. The negotiations that were required by my role and my staff's role were pretty extensive.
I did take one year off, as my partner asked, to see if I could be successful at retirement. And I wasn't. I needed to be able to exercise what I had spent my career doing, so I became a commissioner on Parks and Recreation, and ultimately the chair of that commission. I became a member of the Police Advisory Board as a representative of the LGBT community to the chief and was elected president of that board. I sat on the (Community Development Block) Grants committees for the last three years, where we actually evaluated all the requests for grants, and while we don't make the final decisions on who gets the grants, we put the decisions before the City Council and that's been a remarkable opportunity. To be able to facilitate businesses that are requesting sums of money for things that will help them aid the populations that they are required to serve has been great. Also, sitting on the homelessness task force and the downtown park committee has been very educational. So, I bring a background and a passion, and I want to continue to serve this community. So, that's where I am at this point in my bid for office, and that's where I want to take it.
Scott Myer, Civil Rights Attorney, 58 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
I think that the current City Council is not really listening to the people at many times. When I was going out and talking to people while collecting nominating signatures, I found they don't think they're being listened to. In that regard, I think that the creation of five districts, whether or not you agree with the reasons it was done, is a good idea, because it will bring the people closer to their representatives. So, in that respect, I think the issue has already been solved by the fact that they broke (the city) into five districts.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
Do you want a letter grade? I don't think much has been done, but one thing that's been done and seems to be helpful is the (opening of the overnight) cooling stations during the first week when it was 120+ degrees (during the day). That was very helpful, but Palm Springs isn't the only city (with this challenge). Homelessness seems to be out of control, and I don't know why that's happened over the last two decades. But I sort of give everyone a failing grade—not just in Palm Springs, but everywhere. It seems there's something wrong with what's going on, because every couple of years, there are more homeless people than there were before. But that doesn't mean that there aren't some things that they are doing right (in Palm Springs).
I think there should be more cooperation with charities to try to help the people get back on their feet and give them some sense of well-being (and) some clothes, and help get them where they can go out and try to get jobs, and give them some (feeling of) self-worth. I think that charities might be able to help a lot in that regard.
I do think the cooling stations have been very helpful. But it's a tough issue, because Palm Springs is by no means the only city suffering from that problem, and it seems to be happening not only in small cities, but large cities as well. I don't think there's an easy answer to it, but I think it's something that we've got to try and solve.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
Well, as a libertarian, I'm happy to see that society is finally advancing to being more free in this regard and realizing that criminalizing cannabis and some of these other minor drugs is just not the way to go. I'm happy to see that Palm Springs, as well as California and (much of) the rest of the nation, is moving in the right direction on that. In terms of the grow facilities, I've heard while talking to people that the one concern they do have is the aroma coming out of some of the cultivation facilities. So, I think there should be some thought (given) to where those are placed so that they are not right next to residences. That's the one thing I think they need to look at a little better.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
We need a strong police department, and it will need cooperation from the public. I know that some people have expressed a desire to have police substations, especially in the northern Palm Springs area. If there was a substation nearby, then the police would be closer to the people.
Personally, I haven't had any problems with the police. I heard about a home invasion that happened when the owners weren't home, but aside from that, there hasn't been a lot of crime where I'm living in Palm Springs, but I'm a little sheltered from that. Still, some people have expressed a concern that they would like to have the police a little more local to them. The other concern they had was the lack of lighting at night. I know that Palm Springs has a policy that the street lights are turned off so that you can see the stars, but in certain areas, (residents) have expressed concern that there's not enough lighting at night, and it could be contributing to crime.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
Overall, it's positive. It's going to be helpful to the economy here, and it will create some jobs and help out the hotels and businesses. But the one concern I do have is: How are all these people going to get into town? What happens if there's flooding on some of the access roadways? So, you have to look at whether the roads coming into Palm Springs are really up to the demand created by all these people coming on a regular basis to a big arena. But if those issues can be resolved, then, for the most part, I'm happy with it, and I think it will be good for the city.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
Possibly not, and it seems to me that some of the elements are saying that they're still recovering from the last recession, like the police and fire departments that are just getting back to their pre-recession levels of staffing. So if they get hit with another recession, say, next year, I don't think the city would probably be ready for it. We have to try to make sure that our tourism-dependent economy keeps having enough tourists coming here. I think we need to try to expand the base of tourists who come here, so it's not just people from California and the United States, but try to get people to come from international (locations) as well. The more (worldwide travelers) you have out there, the less likely it is that, if the United States is hit with a recession, there would be a large impact (on the local economy), because there would still be tourist money coming here. One idea I've had to increase international tourism, is to develop "sister city" relationships.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
Go to Las Casuelas, the Mexican restaurant, for a margarita, an enchilada and chips with salsa.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
The first time I heard that idea, I thought, "What, are they crazy?" But then I listened to why they were doing it and the reasoning behind it, and it seems it has a lot to do with the businesses downtown. Then I started thinking about it, (and realized that) Indian Canyon was really underutilized for such a wide avenue; it had not so many cars, and it seemed that it probably can handle two-way traffic, as they were designing it now. I'm still in the wait-and-see (mode), but I've now listened to their arguments and seen their reasons for it, and I'm starting to agree that it's probably a good idea. Although the proof will come after the fact, and hopefully it works, because I'd hate to see it have to be turned around again. I know they said they told everyone (in the city) about it, but a lot of people didn't know about it until after it started happening or right before, and then there was a lot of wondering about what's going on. But making changes like that is always hard.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
One issue in District 1 is that we have to figure out a way to stop the frequent Indian Canyon and Vista Chino road closures. Every winter, those roads keep flooding out. Probably Vista Chino needs some kind of bridge on it, and probably Indian Canyon does, too, but it's so long and probably kind of expensive. But it seems that if they're not closed for rain, then they're closed for sand. Considering that those are two major access roads into the city, and if you tie it into the plans for the new arena, I do have a concern. If those roads are closed when there's a big event at the arena, then everyone's going to have to use other roads. It does put an emphasis on trying to resolve those issues.
Grace Garner, Attorney, 33 years old
What do you believe is the single most important and immediate issue facing the city of Palm Springs?
It's affordable housing. Right now, we have a housing deficit in Southern California and in Palm Springs. Housing prices are extremely high in relation to the average earned income, so I believe that we have to get ahead of this and make sure that not only renting is affordable, but also that purchasing a home is more affordable.
Any thoughts on how you might approach that challenge?
We're seeing a lot more development in the area, and one thing we could do as a city is require that developers (build) a certain percentage of homes at more affordable price points. We could conduct an exit study on housing and determine exactly what percentage we need to be affordable housing, and then require that amount for each new development.
What grade would you give the city of Palm Springs regarding its response to date to the homelessness problem? What has the city done well, and what future actions and policies would you support?
I would give the city an A. I think they're doing a great job of moving this issue forward. Councilmembers (Christy) Holstege and (Geoff) Kors have been working really diligently on this along with the other members. I think that they're on the right track and doing what needs to be done. It's a hard issue. It's not something that we can solve immediately, and it's something that a lot of people have different views on and disagree on. That makes it difficult, but I think that they are doing what they need to do in order to move forward.
One of the things that I think would be great is to continue the work with the entire valley. You know, this isn't just an issue in Palm Springs. It's an issue for all of us in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. I think it was great that the city reached out to the county and said, "Hey we need you, and you have to be an active partner in this." I think more of that understanding between Coachella Valley and the county will help us move ahead. Obviously, it's a huge issue, and there are things I don't know about what has been tried, and I'd like to know more first before I recommend what needs to be done.
The cannabis industry has come to Palm Springs. How has the city handled it so far? What changes, if any, would you make regarding dispensaries, lounges and other cannabis businesses in the future?
Cannabis is certainly a big issue. I think the concern from the community is valid in that there are manufacturing and cultivation sites that are right up against neighborhoods. That's something that just doesn't work. I think it's really important that the city change its ordinance to create a larger buffer zone between (the businesses) and neighborhoods. I know that at the last cannabis meeting, councilmembers Kors and (J.R.) Roberts discussed having a possible "green zone" into which we could put all the manufacturing and cultivation sites, and encourage the businesses that are not currently in those areas to move to those areas. I do hope that is something that will come forward as they work on the new ordinance.
I think it's really important to make sure that community is involved in things like this. It's not that we don't want cannabis in the city. It's more of a matter of how we have it, and where it is located. Right now, it's located in neighborhoods that are predominantly (populated by) people of color. The city needs to take into consideration who is being impacted by this, and whose voices are actually being heard on the topic, so I would like the city to be more thoughtful in their long term planning on these types of issues. Instead of having to fix it now, I think it should have been considered from the very beginning.
What can or should be done to decrease crime in Palm Springs?
Right now, the crime statistics are pretty good. Obviously, crime at any level is not a good thing, but right now, the crime levels are fairly low, which is a positive. Unfortunately, there was a series of murders that have not been solved, which I know is a big concern to a lot of members of the community. I think that with so much tourism in Palm Springs, there are going to be issues like that. I think that, again, working with the community and creating more of a relationship between the community and the police to give citizens more comfort in wanting to go to the police and talk to the police when (crime) happens could be a big benefit. I know that the police officers right now are working on creating programs. I know they have some now, and they're working on creating more. including (an initiative to) reach out to the community in Spanish, which I think is really important.
What is your reaction to the proposed construction of a downtown 10,000 seat arena by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians?
Of course, the Cahuilla Indians are sovereign and are able to make decisions about what they would like to do on their land. I think that the arena has the potential to bring a lot of new jobs to the area, and I think it's important for the city to work with the tribe to make sure that all the infrastructure needs are met, including parking and traffic, and that we do our best to keep the jobs local. We'll need a lot of people to do the construction, and if we can focus on keeping those jobs local, that would be great. Again, I do have a concern about rising housing costs, and I hope that the city can be thinking about ways that our residents will be able to stay in the city and benefit from the arena and not be pushed out because of rising housing costs.
You just mentioned infrastructure concerns. I'm curious how you view the challenges that are created by the condition of the major north/south routes between Palm Springs and Interstate 10, for instance.
I think that the frequent closures on Palm Canyon are a big deal, not just for residents, but for tourists and for access (to the city) by our neighbors in Desert Hot Springs, too. That route is their (most) direct access to the hospital, and if it's closed, then people could die. I think it is a concern, and we have to be thinking about how it affects us. I know that the city is looking into working with local conservation groups to discuss what options are available, because I know that some protections will be required for the fringe-toed lizard that lives in that area. But they are discussing barriers and other options. … I do hope that's something that is taken very seriously, because we need access.
Is the city of Palm Springs ready for an economic recession?
I think the city has been doing a good job of making sure that there is funding in case something like that should happen. I know it's been discussed during the last few budget processes, and I think that's something we have to keep in mind even when times are good, because you just don't know when something could change, and we'd need that additional funding. I would support being mindful of our planning and making sure that we're repairing things before they are broken. For instance, I know that the bathrooms in our parks need to be updated, and it's become a big concern, because some of them are often out of order. Things like that, we need to keep ahead of, so that we're not wasting money by having to replace things completely instead of maintaining and repairing things as needed.
What's your idea of the perfect night out in Palm Springs?
Oh wow! That's fun. I think … I would probably start downtown. I've been really liking El Patron, which is a new taco place. It's really good and affordable, so I'd probably start there and then make my way either over to Seymour's for a cocktail or to the Parker's wine bar, Counter Reformation.
Indian Canyon Drive will soon be a two-way thoroughfare. Yay or nay?
You know what? I'm not sure. I've been thinking about it a lot. I'm a second-generation resident, and for me, Indian Canyon has always been one-way, as is Palm Canyon, so it's hard for me to imagine it being any different. But it does make sense to me theoretically, that having two ways on Indian Canyon will decrease traffic on Palm Canyon. So we'll see what happens. I'm kind of withholding my judgment on that either way.
What question should we have asked you that we haven't so far? And what's your answer to that question?
One of the things that I'm most excited about with this campaign, and what really drove me to run for office, is that I think it's important that we bring more people into our city government. Right now, our commissions are not diverse at all, and they don't reflect the residents of Palm Springs, so I think it's really important to make sure that the voices of our residents are heard: all ages, all racial backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds—we want to hear from everyone. I think that's something that's possible, and that's something we're doing with the campaign is reaching out to every single group. Even if they can't vote, we're interested in what they have to say, and I think that the city should be too.
Water Wars: Power Struggles Over the Coachella Valley's Water Supply Have Dominated Recent Headlines. What's Really Going On?May 21 2019
Local news reports as of late have included alarming updates on a spate of disputes that have cropped up involving local water agencies.
For example, there's the outrage expressed by the Desert Hot Springs-area's Mission Springs Water District over what it refers to as the west valley-area Desert Water Agency's "seizure" of groundwater management.
Or perhaps you saw a headline regarding the Imperial Irrigation District's concern over the recent legislative action taken by local Assemblymember Chad Mayes (right). His Assembly Bill 854 proposed forcing the IID to expand its board of directors from five to 11 members, with the six new members all coming from Riverside County, whose IID electricity customers pay 60 percent of IID's power-related revenues. Currently, only Imperial County constituents elect the IID board members, which leaves Riverside County customers with no voice in their power company's operations.
Then there's the biggest local water dispute—which began in 2013 with the filing of a lawsuit against the east valley's Coachella Valley Water District and the Desert Water Agency by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The suit claims the tribe possesses "senior water rights" to all the groundwater in the aquifer under the entire Coachella Valley. The tribe has been seeking control over all decisions, policies and groundwater-management strategies that either agency might implement.
Why is this all happening, and why is it happening now? What is causing this hyper-sensitivity among water stakeholders? What does it all mean for residents?
John Soulliere is the Mission Springs Water District's conservation and public-affairs officer. During a recent phone interview, I asked what led to the recent lawsuit and public attacks against the Desert Water Agency.
"What we're talking about here is removing the ability from the five elected board members of the Mission Springs Water District to determine how we will develop our local water supply to meet demand and meet (the requirements) of economic development and growth," he said. "That right was taken away through a unilateral action of the DWA board, and through a somewhat stealth action by the state, to include (the DWA) in a new state law as an exclusive Groundwater Sustainability Agency without notification to the city of Desert Hot Springs or our water agency."
The "stealth action" Soulliere refers to was taken by the DWA board back in 2015. So why the aggressive posture now—four years after the fact?
"Prior to taking the action they did in 2015, we had a court settlement with DWA and CVWD, who does pump and serve up in our area (as well). That court settlement put the three of us at the table to jointly manage. We spent $1.3 million developing a management plan. Within that plan, MSWD retained its rights to manage its local water supply and to develop the water as it saw fit—within state law, of course. DWA was, and continues to be, the state water contractor. They are here for the purpose of replenishment. We were functioning under that agreement just fine, (but the DWA's) 2015 action basically threw that settlement off to the side. The management plan that came out of that settlement may still be in play, but the difference now is that we (MSWD) are removed from the governance and the authority. So it was a very divisive and hostile act that they've taken to move us out of the equation so that they can make autonomous decisions related to water in our basin."
Kephyan Sheppard is the pastor at the Word of Life Fellowship Center in Desert Hot Springs, and the chair of the Mission Springs Water District's Water Rights Study Group, which just issued its final report. I asked him why this issue had taken on such a sense of urgency now, when the action in question took place in 2015.
"Being a pastor in this community, I've been hands-on with the residents for seven years, and for the most part, it appeared that many didn't even know that there was a dispute going on," Sheppard said. "Recently, in like the last year and a half, people are starting to find out, and there's a sense of pride and entitlement saying, 'Keep your hands off our water.' There's a growing understanding of what's at stake."
I asked him if he could point to any examples of the DWA not fulfilling its responsibilities, or the DWA doing anything harmful to the interests of DHS residents.
"No, not necessarily," Sheppard said. "The study group was formed because of the unprecedented action taken (by the DWA) without discussion with MSWD, and so for (DHS residents), that was the main thing. I know (Desert Hot Springs) is projected to have an economic and growth boom over the next decade, and I know that water is integral to everything that's getting ready to take place. So, we need to make sure that we control our water."
"Our" water? Doesn't the water the DWA is managing as a Groundwater Sustainability Agency belong to all Coachella Valley residents?
Obviously, the Desert Water Agency views the dispute differently. Ashley Metzger is the outreach and conservation manager of the DWA.
"The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is a law passed (by the California State Legislature) in 2015," Metzger said. "We are one of approximately 20 or so agencies statewide that are actually designated by law as exclusive groundwater-management agencies. If you look at the language when we were established in 1961, it was for the purpose of (providing) groundwater replenishment and management. That is part of the reason why we have this exclusive designation. We have the unique ability within our boundaries to provide for both supply and demand management. The MSWD is missing a key part of the equation (replenishment capabilities) if we are not involved. If we are involved, as we have been for decades, then you have both sides of the equation."
I asked Metzger about Mission Springs' claim that the Desert Hot Springs agency has been effectively removed from any role in planning for future water-development needs.
"We are and have been a part of the Desert Hot Springs community," Metzger said. "We have facilities there, and we have the authority to manage the groundwater there by statute. There's a water-management agreement that's been in place since 2004. As part of (the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act), you have to submit a plan to the state, and the foundation for that plan was the agreement that MSWD, CVWD and DWA had all signed onto.
"We're not proposing anything radical. We're not trying to take any water away. Groups come to our board meetings saying things like, 'You're trying to take our hot springs water and provide it in Palm Springs,' and that's certainly not true. We've been fighting a bit of confusion and misinformation, which has been a challenge. I think our biggest message to people is that we're planning for the future. That's a key part of our organizational role. … You know that Palm Springs and Cathedral City are largely built out. So when we talk about planning for growth, we're thinking about the northern area of our boundary, where there is the most room for growth, which is the DHS area. We're putting dollars out and committing to spending more money in the future to make all that possible.
"We've been communicating with stakeholders in the community and letting them know. I think we may have done ourselves a little bit of a disservice in the past by letting MSWD take the lead on being the face of water in the community out there. So we're changing our approach, and we're more active and engaged in the community."
"Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting over." This quote—attributed to Mark Twain, although there's no evidence he actually said it—seems to apply to the Coachella Valley of today. How else might one explain the recent controversy over District 42 Assemblymember Chad Mayes and his AB 854?
Neighboring District 56 Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (right) recently stepped into the fray, tabling the bill in the Assembly Appropriations Committee (on which he sits), in a successful effort to get the Imperial Irrigation District and the east valley's Coachella Valley Water District into discussions about "extending the (1934) electricity-service agreement in the Coachella Valley service area."
The controversial bill was sponsored by Mayes, a Republican, to rectify what some perceive to be an injustice: Some Coachella Valley residents receive their electricity service through the IID, but they are not allowed to vote for any IID board members.
The IID provides no water to Coachella Valley residents, just electricity. This is one reason why Mayes' call to increase the IID board size from five members to eleven, with the six new members all being from Riverside County (in other words, the Coachella Valley), drew public cries of outrage from multiple directions—including threats that the IID could pull out of the Coachella Valley.
Emmanuel Martinez is the IID's government affairs specialist.
"The position of the Imperial Irrigation District is that this legislation completely ignores a longstanding relationship and agreement between the CVWD and the IID," Martinez said during a recent phone interview. "The long and the short of it is that through this contractual relationship, which is the 1934 compromise agreement expiring in 2033, the Coachella Valley was allowed to get water via the IID, and in return, the CVWD leased their power rights to the IID. So, this new legislation proposes to add six new directors to the IID board and is a complete takeover, in our opinion."
I asked Martinez if it was unfair that Coachella Valley residents had no right to vote on the makeup of the board of the IID, to which they pay their electric bills.
"IID and CVWD are similar agencies in that they are both water districts with competing interests for the same source of water, which is the Colorado River water," Martinez said. "By virtue of that, this legislation would give double representation to the people of the CVWD, who would vote for CVWD board members and have control of that board, and also vote for IID board members."
The Independent asked Mayes what prompted him to sponsor AB 854; he responded via email.
"IID has the ability to change utility rates, determine investment in communities, or cut service altogether," Mayes wrote. "This power over 92,000 disenfranchised voters must be balanced with representation. An individual's right to a voice in any government exerting powers over them is one of the founding principles of this nation. AB 854 was introduced to honor this fundamental right and extends it to all IID ratepayers."
We asked Mayes what his next steps would be, now that the bill has been tabled, at least temporarily.
"In order for this bill to pass the Legislature, we must ensure water rights are protected; representation is extended to those currently disenfranchised within IID's service territory; and there is a strong and dependable public electrical utility in perpetuity in the IID service area," Mayes wrote. "I'm committed to finding a common ground that both sides can agree on and amending this legislation to reflect that. From day one, I've said that IID's water rights are sacrosanct. I did so publicly, and I did directly to IID. The final version of this bill will not infringe on those rights."
Assemblymember Garcia, a Democrat, took credit for quelling the tensions raised by AB 854. "Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia Engages to Bring Parties Together for Talks on Future of IID's Electricity Service in Coachella Valley" was the headline on the press release issued by his office on May 16.
It went on to say: "After speaking with both Imperial Irrigation District and the Coachella Valley Water District, they have both agreed to begin meetings to examine the 1934 agreement and the possibility of extending the electricity service agreement in the Coachella Valley service area. The willingness of parties to come to the table demonstrates good faith efforts on all sides to resolve this matter locally without the need for legislation."
Last, but certainly not least, is the recent development in the battle between the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the valley's water agencies.
The tribe's suit, seeking power over the groundwater underneath the valley, hit a significant wall in April, when U.S. District Court Judge Jesus Bernal dismissed portions of it because the tribe could not prove it had been significantly harmed.
The Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency claimed victory in an April 22 statement.
"The Agua Caliente Tribe was not harmed, because it has always had access to as much high-quality water as it needs," the statement said. "The judge ruled that the tribe does not have standing, the right to pursue a lawsuit against the local public water agencies, Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency. The only claim remaining in the tribe's lawsuit is the "narrow issue" of whether the tribe has an ownership interest in storage space for groundwater under its reservation, the court wrote."
This ruling is as close to a total victory as the water agencies could have hoped to achieve.
"Our top priority is and always has been to protect our groundwater supplies to ensure a sustainable, reliable water future for everyone in the Coachella Valley," said John Powell Jr., the Coachella Valley Water District's board president. "We are part of this community, and we are committed to its environmental and economic success.
The statement went on to read: "The water agencies have spent decades ensuring a safe, reliable water supply to all users in the Coachella Valley, including the five tribes in the basin. Both agencies remain committed to long-term water sustainability."
The Agua Caliente tribe has not said what its next steps will be.
Several days later, the Coachella Valley Water District boasted in an April 30 statement: "An annual analysis of groundwater levels shows significant increases over the past 10 years throughout most of the Coachella Valley."
The statement discussed studies done on both the Indio and Mission Creek sub-basins, which account for much of the valley's aquifer. The Indio Sub-basin is located under the vast majority of the Coachella Valley; over the past 10 years, there were increases in groundwater levels between two and 50 feet. There were localized portions of decreased water levels in the range of two to eight feet in the mid-valley area, which will soon benefit from the CVWD's Palm Desert Replenishment Facility.
Meanwhile, the Mission Creek sub-basin, located under Desert Hot Springs and the unincorporated area of Indio Hills, showed increases in groundwater levels of up to 28.5 feet in most of the area.
So, there you have it: The Coachella Valley's water supply is in good shape. But don't expect fights and power struggles over it to end anytime soon.
Coachella Valley Water History Timeline
Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is created.
Feb. 14, 1934
Signing of the Agreement of Compromise between the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), the Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) governing access to Colorado River water.
Mission Springs Water District (MSWD) is created.
Desert Water Agency (DWA) is created.
An initial MSWD lawsuit against DWA and CVWD is settled requiring the Mission Springs Sub-basin to receive supplemental water from the other two agencies.
May 14, 2013
Lawsuit filed by Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians against CVWD and DWA seeking groundwater rights, superseding all other water users in the region.
The Mission Creek/Garnet Hill Water Management Plan is adopted by the boards of CVWD, DWA and MSWD.
California State Legislature passes the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2015; it is amended in 2015.
Nov. 13, 2015
DWA holds board meeting and votes itself to be the groundwater management agency supervising MSWD.
MSWD files suit against DWA opposing designation of DWA as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency over DWA and MSWD boundary areas.
Nov. 27, 2017
The U.S. Supreme Court decides not to review the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision granting superior rights to groundwater to the Agua Caliente tribe.
Feb. 20, 2019
AB 854 introduced by Assemblymember Chad Mayes.
April 19, 2019
U.S. District Court Judge Jesus Bernal dismisses a significant portion of the Agua Caliente's suit against DWA and CVWD, saying the tribe has not been substantially harmed by the agencies' actions.
May 16, 2019
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia issues statement as a member of the Assembly Appropriations Committee placing a hold on AB 854 with the intention of holding negotiations between IID and CVWD.
The Next Generation: A Chat With Reid Milanovich, Agua Caliente Tribal Councilmember and Son of the Longtime ChairmanAugust 28 2018
Reid Milanovich, son of the late, legendary Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich, is in his fifth year as a tribal councilmember.
The young Milanovich, 34, has the same disarming smile and green eyes as his father. He also inherited good looks and a political wit from the man who led the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for 28 years, up until his death in 2012.
During a recent 90-minute chat, we started off by discussing the construction of the Agua Caliente Cultural Center in downtown Palm Springs; it's set to open at Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive in 2020.
"There's going to be the museum and the spa, and each building will be about 45,000 square feet," Milanovich said. "In between the buildings, there will be a pathway, and that walkway will symbolize our Indian Canyons. We want to give the public the feeling that they will be actually walking through our canyons. There will be the native palm trees there, too."
The 5.8-acre project is being designed by JCJ Architecture.
"It's all going to be world-class and the best of the best," Milanovich said with a broad smile—just like the smile his father had when he didn't want to reveal too much. "Let's just say you'll get to bathe in our very own natural mineral spring water that's north of 12,000 years old."
There's a reason the museum is going to be built on that particular site, in what used to be called Section 14: In the 1960s, a shameful decision was made by the city to bulldoze the dwellings there, many occupied by tribal members.
"The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., is going to show an exhibit from the Agua Caliente Museum titled Section 14 in February next year," Milanovich said. "Millions of people visit D.C. each year, and many of them will be able to see the exhibit and get a pretty good summary of the Section 14 tragedy."
Coincidentally, it was at an event held at Section 14 many years ago that Reid Milanovich first became aware of his father's status.
"One of my earliest memories of my father being chairman was (him) unveiling the statue of women holding baskets," he said. "I was about 6 or 7, and I saw my father talking to a TV reporter, and that blew my mind. I was born in 1983, and my father became the chairman in 1984, so my entire life until his passing, he was our tribal chairman."
Reid Milanovich was only 30 when he was elected to the five-member tribal council. This leads to an obvious question: Will he one day be chairman?
"My agenda is to serve the tribe as best as I can, in whatever capacity, and … to continue my father's legacy," he said.
How does it affect the young Milanovich to walk in the footsteps of his renowned father?
"It inspires me, definitely," he said. "But I never felt any pressure to be like my dad. The tribal members never expected me to do anything that he did. They all see me as my own person. Everyone's given me a fair shot in laying my own foundation and being who I am. My dad taught me well. He raised me to do what I think is right."
After graduating from California Baptist University with a degree in political science, Milanovich served on the tribe's Scholarship Committee.
"We offer some educational opportunities to our younger tribal members, so that they always have options to go to the school they want to. Hopefully, they'll take advantage of it," he said. "Going to college really prepared me for my next chapter—and that was to move out here and get more involved with the tribe."
As for the under-construction Cultural Center: Many people were surprised that the Agua Caliente tribe did not decide to first build a new hotel. Milanovich said he also felt surprised, but for a different reason—that people thought the tribe would think about business and profit ahead of its heritage.
"To me, personally, this is a project that's been a long time coming, and it is very important to me and the entire tribal membership to be able to showcase our culture and our history," he said. "I mean, it's been decades and decades of waiting to be able to do something like this."
Milanovich fondly recalls occasions when, during rare moments of leisure, his father would take him to the places where their forebears lived long before there was the city of Palm Springs.
"He would often take us to the Indian Canyons at night," Milanovich said. "We would stop by KFC and grab some chicken, coleslaw and biscuits, and have a night picnic in the canyons, and he would talk about the history of each canyon. He would discuss different leaders that were before him. He always talked about Lawrence Pierce, (current) Chairman Jeff Grubbe's grandfather, and, of course, Grandma Laverne. He talked about the people who made a lot of harsh sacrifices to get the tribe where it is now."
History is important to the Milanovich family, Reid said—but one can't dwell on it.
"My father often talked about the recent history and some of the tragedies of Section 14," Milanovich said. "He really did not want to talk bad about what happened, but he wanted us to know that this is history, and this is what happened, and don't ever forget it. … Remember it, but work together to be able to move forward."
The Milanovich family, beyond its Native American side, has a lot of international flavor: Richard's father, Steve, was of Serbian and Yugoslavian origin, while Reid's mom, Melissa, hails from Sweden.
Milanovich also talked about the female presence in tribal affairs. While there are no women on the current Tribal Council, an all-female council once led the tribe. Milanovich showed me a painting on the wall of his office depicting the five women on that council.
"This is Grandma Laverne," he said proudly, pointing at his father's mother.
Richard Milanovich often talked about his daughter, Tristan, and said he thought she would get involved with tribal affairs someday. Her brother says his younger sister does have political ambitions.
"I think, at some point in the future, Tristan wants to get involved with the tribe," Reid Milanovich said. "I think she is a natural leader, and I think she can do a lot of good for this tribe. Right now, she is in Europe, enjoying being a Renaissance woman as far as traveling the world."
It was Tristan who introduced her brother to his now-longtime girlfriend, Odessa Nikolic, a renowned fashion stylist.
"Odessa is also Serbian," he said. "… She has a career out in L.A., and she is doing very well. Hopefully we can both call Palm Springs home one day."
As we ended the interview, I noticed a folded-up flag resting in a glass box just above Milanovich's desk.
"That's the flag that was over my father's casket," he said.
Below: A depiction of the new Agua Caliente Cultural Center.
Know Your Neighbors: Meet Tom Davis, the Agua Caliente Tribe's Longtime Planning Officer—and a Cancer SurvivorMay 16 2018
Tom Davis is philosophical regarding his work: "I wouldn't change a thing. I enjoyed having my own business, but when it became tedious, my attitude was, 'I'm outta here.'"
That attitude was a lucky break for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
Davis, 68, a Rancho Mirage resident, was born in Teaneck, N.J., and grew up in Anaheim. He started doing consulting work in the desert in 1990 and made the full-time move from Orange County in 1997.
"I had my own land-planning and development consulting business," says Davis, "but when the recession that everybody forgets about happened, many of my competitors were heading to Las Vegas because there was so much development going on there. I wanted to expand my business reach and profile, and I knew the desert had great growth potential. Plus, my wife's parents were here, and her grandma and grandpa had the first liquor store and motel in Palm Desert, so there were personal connections as well as business potential that made this area desirable."
Davis earned his degree in landscape architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
"My dad always said to be in a profession where you can be independent," Davis said. "I was strong in math and had an artistic flair—I liked to draw. I also had a strong design sense. They had an accredited program, which was hard to find in the Western United States.
"I met my wife, Debbie, at Cal Poly in 1970 at a Three Dog Night concert on a blind date. A friend said, 'You need to meet this young lady.' We were married after less than two years. After school, I went to Denver because I wanted to ski all the time, and I worked for a company planning a ski resort."
Davis worked for a firm while he was in college that did work in Palm Springs.
"They educated me about the interrelationship between the tribe and the city," he said. "I was originally out here in the desert working the territory and doing collaborative work with (Southern California planning consultant) John Q. Adams—yes, he's a real descendant. I was the physical planning guy; he was the policy guy. Then he died suddenly, and a friend he worked for told me about the Agua Caliente looking for a planner. That was in 1992.
"The tribe was looking for an outsider, not someone beholden to local politics. The tribe is an extended family that understands the importance of outreach and the need to be connected to all sides politically.
"For six months, I was doing a variety of different things as staff to the Indian Planning Commission. When I started with the tribe, they had only six employees, with me and their general counsel as outside contractors. Then we got involved with Caesars Palace when the tribe was getting into gaming and expansion. Land development is highly political. You have to go through architectural review committees, planning commissions and city councils. I went to Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. We all learned a lot as we went along."
Davis is currently the chief planning and development officer for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. He has built the department to a staff of about 35.
A serious bout with cancer changed Davis' life.
"I used to be really athletic, but the cancer set me back. I go through life now week by week," he said. "We bought a house in 2008 on a kind of remote mountain at June Lake in the Eastern Sierras. I hike and go fly fishing. It's pristine and quiet. I might not see another person for days. For me, a bucket-list item would be to visit with an old friend, sit on the porch, and tell stories … although I would like to make it to Italy."
For a long time after his cancer treatment, Davis was resistant to make use of a support group. "When I got the bad news from the doctor, I was thinking about all the stuff I'd be faced with. They asked me questions like, 'Are you worried about your treatment?' Duh.
"Finally, I went to a support group and I was amazed how therapeutic it is. I could speak frankly, and realized that everybody has something to deal with. That was when I began to talk about what I'd been through. We could all cry and laugh. We could all share our experiences and tell others what works. We talked about lots of simple things we take for granted. I came to realize the positive impact of all that. It's helpful to share."
After obtaining a master's degree in education, Davis has been sharing his knowledge of the tribe by teaching classes, including "Agua Caliente: Then and Now," through the Osher Institute at California State University, San Bernardino's Palm Desert campus.
Davis is also a reader, influenced by Moby Dick and The Godfather, and he is currently immersed in Stephen Ambrose's Nothing Like It in the World, about the building of the transcontinental railroad. "It's about a turning point in our history," he says, "and it's fascinating."
Tom Davis' guiding principle is to work hard and play hard. "I want to tell young people, based on my experience, to do something you love. There are different specialties in every era. Find a profession you love to do, and even if one day you wake up with a layoff or disappointment, you'll just work harder and still enjoy every day.
"I've changed a lot in the last several years. Between my cancer and the loss of both my parents within eight months of each other last year, now I wake up, and I'm just happy to be here."
The Independent's Palm Springs City Council Candidate InterviewsOctober 26 2017
On Nov. 7, voters who live in the city of Palm Springs will go to the polls to select two new members of the Palm Springs City Council.
This election will mark a complete changing of the guard, so to speak, after the indictment of former Mayor Steve Pougnet and a couple of developers on corruption charges two years ago. The two new members will replace retiring City Council members Ginny Foat and Chris Mills, and joining three new members who were elected two years ago: Geoff Kors, J.R. Roberts and Mayor Rob Moon.
With City Manager David Ready, this new council will help guide a city that is enjoying the best of times … and, at the same time, suffering through the worst of times.
The city is more popular than ever as a tourism destination—yet it is enduring the aforementioned scandal involving its huge, signature downtown development project. Some areas, such as the Uptown Design District, are enjoying a resurgence—yet the homelessness problem continues to worsen.
The Independent's Brian Blueskye recently spoke to each of the candidates about these various issues and more. He asked them about the issue of homelessness; the new vacation-rental ordinance; the lack of affordable housing in the city; ethics and transparency;the downtown redevelopment project; and the city's relationship with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Finally, he asked each candidate whether the city is opposed to fun—a charge against the current council leveled by some, including the Cactus Hugs website.
Here's what each of the candidates had to say.
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Christy Holstege
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Glenn Flood
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Henry Hampton
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Judy Deertrack
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Lisa Middleton
The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Robert Julian Stone
Of the six candidates running for the Palm Springs City Council this year, Robert Julian Stone is certainly the most blunt.
The author, film critic and community advocate certainly was not shy about sharing his views during a recent interview—including a conspiracy theory regarding the current City Council and two of his opponents.
But before we get to that … on the subject of homelessness, Stone was rather thoughtful and analytical. He told me the recent film The Florida Project was helpful in exposing the national problem of homelessness.
"The solution everyone talks about is the 'housing first' solution,' Stone said. "It's the best solution for a certain number of people who find themselves without homes. Maslow's hierarchy of needs states that there are three things human beings need to be productive in society: They need food; they need shelter; and they need clothing. If you take any one of those things away from them, they cannot be a productive member of society. That's the challenge that we're facing: We must provide shelter, but how you go about doing that is a very expensive proposition, because (homelessness) numbers continue to grow. The 'housing first' solution works best for people who are living one paycheck to another. When you fall out of your housing, and you've lost your job, or you have a ruined credit rating because you've been evicted, or you're unemployed—what it takes to get back in is the first month's rent, a security deposit and employment. If that's not immediately available to you, you're out on the streets. The 'housing first' model works really well. because (these people) aren't used to living on the streets, don't want to live on the streets, and want to get back into a stable situation.
"If you're talking about the people who don't want four walls and a roof over their heads, or have addiction and mental health issues—those people are more difficult to handle."
Stone said the vacation-rental situation in Palm Springs has been poorly handled.
"Airbnb is not going to go away, and it's here to stay. The thing that we need to do is figure out the best way to manage it," he said. "I don't think creating a $1.7 million-a-year bureaucracy to handle the problem was necessarily the right way to go. When Palm Springs did their big vacation rental ordinance, they did not run it through the Planning Commission; they didn't hold public hearings over a period of time. It was mostly Geoff Kors and J.R. Roberts in a back room coming up with this proposal, which went through a tumultuous unfolding when they got slapped with petitions to recall them and recall this ordinance if they didn't change it. It was badly handled, and the biggest thing they missed was they didn't do any density controls, and there's nothing that prevents 98 percent of the homes next to your home from becoming short-term vacation rentals—and that's a problem."
Stone didn't mince words on transparency—especially involving the funding for Measure J, a 1 percent sales and use tax approved by voters in 2011 that was slated to go toward city services, maintenance and redevelopment.
"They're certainly transparent on the general-fund portion, but there are dozens of other side funds that don't appear anywhere in the public forum for the city's residents to understand or (figure out) exactly what's going on with that money," he said. "The city budget is $110 million; the other dozens of other funds make up an aggregate of another $110 to $120 million—things like the airport fund, the Measure J fund, the utility tax fund, the gas tax fund—and they're run like a sideshow. They're controlled by the city manager, who dips into those funds to transfer into the general fund as he sees fit, or to transfer from the general fund into those funds when they have shortfalls. Some have income; some of them, like the golf course fund, have income and expenses. We never really get a true picture of what our budget is, because half of it is run behind a curtain, and that's a problem."
Regarding the city's relationship with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Stone said the city needs to work with the tribe in a more cooperative fashion.
"That's a very difficult question, because the city has taken a position that changes from day to day depending on the subject on the table," Stone said. "Sometimes, they say, 'They're a sovereign nation; we have nothing to do with them.' I've heard Ginny Foat articulate that many times, saying they don't get involved in their business. At the same time, we have a master plan … a bilateral agreement that both sides signed and should be adhering to. But when it comes down to enforcing it, the city never tries to. We need to invite them to the table. … If you look at the history of Palm Springs and the tribe, it's very checkered. We need to have a better agreement with the tribe; we need to have one that is neutrally supportive. With the way the downtown (redevelopment) project was handled, and the 31 counts of corruption which relate directly to the downtown plan, we can't really take the moral high ground when it comes to the tribe's property, given the way the city handled their own downtown development."
Stone is not happy with the downtown redevelopment project.
"I think the hotel is a scar on the landscape. It will always be that," he said. "If you look at the very first building near Tahquitz (Canyon Way) and Palm Canyon (Drive), that building which will house the Starbucks, that's exactly the scale we were promised: It's single story; it's a tall building, and it's a nice addition to the neighborhood. Then you look at these other buildings, and they're horrible. It's better than what we had, because what we had was terrible, but it's so much less than what we deserved."
What does the city need to do to be more transparent? Well, here's where that conspiracy theory part comes in.
"The first thing that we can do is elect me," Stone said with a laugh. "I also want to talk about where we're headed if the Lisa (Middleton) and Christy (Holstege) train pulls into the station: We are going to be doing old-school Chicago politics with Councilmember Geoff Kors in the role of Mayor Richard Daley. We're going have two people seated solely because of the support and the campaign management and campaign contributions that came from a sitting councilmember. Lisa's campaign is being run by Geoff Kors' husband. … They are the chosen two—so Geoff Kors will have the two votes he needs if they are seated, and then all bets are off, because it'll be government by Geoff Kors, for Geoff Kors and about Geoff Kors. If you think that those two women are going to do anything to oppose what he wants, you're too naive to be talking to—because that's what we're going to get, and that's very troubling, because that's not good for democracy."
When I asked Stone whether he thinks the city is opposed to fun—a criticism some have made against the current City Council—his answer, much to my surprise, involved the ethnic makeup of the city.
"They are so not fun," Stone said with a laugh. "Hell to the no on that! I'm sorry, but we have too many white people living in this town. I lived in San Francisco, and I'm used to living in a very diverse city where Caucasians were the minority. I was born and raised in Detroit, which was largely an African-American city. That's the kind of demographic I'm used to. I've lived here full time for the past 12 years, so if you don't mind me mixing metaphors: I know where the bodies are buried, and I can hit the decks running when I sit in that chair. I understand the demographic that lives here, because I'm a part of it, but I always wish there was more diversity in the community and diversity on our City Council. I'm sorry—I'm a white male, and I can't help it."
After our interview, he emailed me additional thoughts that were a bit more measured.
"Las Vegas has glitz, but Palm Springs has chill," Stone said. "And chill is cool, sophisticated, and somewhat fragile. We can't let (the city) be dragged into the vortex of beer bongs and guzzler helmets. So if the City Council may seem a bit stodgy on some points, I think it's because they have an intuitive understanding of what makes our city special, and a commitment to maintaining it."
If elected to the Palm Springs City Council, Lisa Middleton wants to be as transparent as possible, she said, while engaging with the community.
Middleton is well-known as a transgender activist, and she has an impressive work history as well; she retired after 30 years as an executive with the State Insurance Compensation Fund of California, where she was at one point the senior vice president of internal affairs. She's also a member of the Planning Commission, and was a chair of ONE-PS, the coalition of Palm Springs neighborhoods. (Full disclosure: I've known Lisa Middleton since 2013; I met her while I was a volunteer at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert.)
During an interview at her home, Middleton—who would become the first openly transgender individual elected to a non-judicial office in the state, should she win—said the city of Palm Springs is finally starting to handle the issue of homelessness in the right way. She said that the efforts of Well of the Desert and the housing programs proposed by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments are both steps in the right direction.
"The city is making progress when it comes to homelessness," Middleton said. "We have a dedicated homelessness police officer going from four days a week to seven days a week. … The two additional social workers who have been contracted with the county have produced success, and the city is trying to expand that program. One of the things we found is that it takes multiple interventions for there to be success. There have been, over the last year, 50 people who have been housed, and another 100 who have received housing. It's been because of these programs."
Middleton helped to create the ordinances and regulations on vacation rentals that were recently enacted. She said she believes they're working so far.
"I believe the reforms that were passed earlier this year were very much a step in the right direction," she said. "The restriction of no more than one (vacation rental) home per person going forward—those who have more than one now are grandfathered in—will remove the investor from the market going forward so that the people getting permits will be the individual or couple who plan to transition to full-time living in Palm Springs. … I came up with the idea through ONE-PS for that restriction. The increase in fines, I supported very strongly, but the most important change was the increase in staffing, and going from a half-time person to nine people in a department, and changing the first responder to complaints from the rental manager to someone within the city, and having them out in cars to where they're able to respond, as well as being out in cars … (so) they can monitor and drive by. The homeowners and managers are stepping up their game in the review of the people they rent their homes to, because after three strikes, you're going to lose your license, and could potentially lose your license for good. Those are steps in the right direction, and we need to give this law a chance to work."
Middleton said she intends to work with local nonprofits to increase the amount of affordable housing in the city.
"I want to work with organizations such as Desert AIDS Project and Coachella Valley Housing Coalition to build more affordable housing in Palm Springs" Middleton said. "A recommendation I've made is that … we take and change the public benefit, which is a negotiation that goes back and forth with the Planning Commission and the developer—that it be switched to the public benefit being affordable housing: Either you build a certain number of affordable housing units as part of your project, or you pay a fee to the city to be used to provide funding for other affordable housing projects, based on the value of the project you're building."
When it comes to transparency, Middleton said said being accessible and communicating with the public is important, and that she plans to regularly visit each of the neighborhoods in Palm Springs, while making herself as accessible as possible.
"One thing I think would help … is being accessible so people can ask questions and understand things," Middleton said. "Transparency is extremely important coming from someone such as myself, who managed a public-records office, and I know all of the rules as to what must be released and how it is to be released. Frequently, what I find is somebody says, 'You're not being transparent.' What they really mean is, 'I didn't know that was going on.' It's that 'I didn't know' that we need to do a better job on … (so that) it becomes easier for them to know what's going on."
Middleton said the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has a great relationship with the city. She cited discussions about the plans for the area around the Spa Resort Casino as an example.
"I do think that for almost everyone who was concerned when they saw that dotted line put into the Desert Sun, and then saw this first set of drawings of the new hotel, there should be great relief that the tribe is a great neighbor and has historically been a great neighbor," she said.
As a member of the Planning Commission, Middleton said she's happy the downtown redevelopment project is progressing.
"I'm thrilled that we're finally getting the hotel up and ready for occupancy, and that the leases have been signed and stores will be opening," she said. "As for the businesses up further on Palm Canyon, they feel like they've been in a construction zone for years, and this project has taken longer (than we anticipated) when we voted for Measure J in 2011. There were lawsuits that slowed down construction, and I was part of the Planning Commission that worked with the new City Council in January 2016 that reduced the scale of the overall project by 40 percent. There have been bumps in this road, and we're starting to move forward, and the vast majority of people in Palm Springs want to see that succeed.
"The Hyatt Andaz," the long-delayed under-construction project at Indian Canyon Drive and Alejo Road, "has brought up ideas for a change in the approval process. As a part of the planning and review process when the project is approved by the Planning Commission, we need to review the financial viability of the product. Nowhere in the current process do we ask a developer why they feel the project will succeed financially. That can be built into the approval process, and before someone begins construction, they should be required to demonstrate to the city that they have the funds in place to complete construction."
She believes the best way to prevent more corruption within the city government is to do reviews and make sure everyone has proper information on what they can and cannot do.
"We should sit down with them constantly and review their 700 form, asking them, 'If you work for other entities, who are these entities?'" Middleton said. "Annually, we have a very clear understanding of what they reported and why."
Middleton laughed when I asked her if she considered the Palm Springs City Council to be opposed to fun—a criticism some, such as the Cactus Hugs website, have made of the current council.
"I don't think Palm Springs is against fun," Middleton said. "I absolutely want it to be fun, and I want our city to keep its sense of humor and be able to laugh with others and at ourselves from time to time, because we need to do so. I was asked this question a few weeks ago: Is Palm Springs a small city of neighborhoods, or is it a world-class destination? The answer is both. Most people want it to be both. That happens when you set balances so you can truly have communities and neighborhoods where people feel safe, secure and quiet in their home and neighborhood—but also a side that can attract people from all over the world to come and have a good time, to go to the parties we have, to enjoy the restaurants, and to enjoy the cultural facilities."