Time For Justice For Corporal Allen DeVillena II

In a great piece last week the Desert Sun and Brett Kelman detailed the events that led to Palm Springs Police Officers Mike Heron and Chad Nordman shooting Marine Corporal Allen DeVillena II to death back in November 2012. It was a factual, well researched article. I salute both Mr. Kelman and the Desert Sun for running the piece despite criticism from the Palm Springs Police Officers Association. The PSPOA, which is headed bu William Hutchinson, has become a real political bully in the last few years and Palm Springs elected officials appear to be scared of it. That is why it is important for the Riverside DA Mike Hestrin to take action on of the last remaining aspects of the case.

Those reading may say the DA's office has already acted by not indicting the 2 police officers. In fact as I write this both are back on duty. But that is not the whole story.

The DeVillena family has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and  the 2 officers. One of the key witnesses to the case, Marine Clinton Harris is in legal limbo. Harris was with DeVillena on the night he was killed. According to his attorney, Harris wants to give evidence in the lawsuit but wants to make sure he isn't in trouble with the law himself. The DA has now gone over 2 years and 3 months without filing any charges against Mr. Harris. Time to grant him immunity or announce he will face no charges and let him testify.

New DA Mike Hestrin cooperated with the Desert Sun and released documents relating to the shooting so that it could used in the expose. For this he is to be commended because he bucked the PSPOA which supported him in his last election. No one can assume that they were happy with his decision. Now it is time for Mr. Hestrin to take the next step and allow the civil case against the city and the Palm Springs Police Department to go ahead unimpeded.

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR form 4p to 6P Monday Through Friday and on I heart Radio. Also he can be followed on Twitter @skellykptr

RIP Scott Hines

Like most of you in the desert, I was stunned to hear of the death of Scott Hines on Sunday. He was only 45.

I knew Scott pretty well when he first ran for the Rancho Mirage City Council. It was a tough race. There was a campaign spearheaded by local GOPers to stop him. Scott won and many people including myself thought he may be destined for higher office.

Scott was very instrumental in diffusing tensions in Rancho Mirage during the Koch Brothers protest in 2011. Despite the heavy handed tactics of law enforcement, Scott kept the lines of communication open and I remember meeting him in the local Starbucks at The River the day of the big protests for an interview. I always could call on him for a Rancho Mirage perspective.

Let be clear on this, I did not agree with some of his professional choices nor some of his political ones. But of course all that pales in the twilight as we mourn a father, Air Force veteran and community leader.

Steve Kelly Can Be Heard Weekdays 4 To 6P Pacific Time on 1450 KPTR. Follow him on I Heart Radio by typing in KPTR on or twitter @skellykptr

Barack Obama And Traffic Park It

This is going to be a huge weekend for our Valley. At the height of season, there are many things going on. Fine Arts Fair, Balloon Festival, Valentine's Day weekend and the beginning of Modernism Week, the Tour de Palm Springs and the National Date Festival all are happening. Plus a presidential visit by Barack Obama.

Already social media has been filled with people complaining about the traffic and the attendant security concerns involving the 2 day visit of the President.

I have lived here 24 years and in that time, hopefully I have acquired, like most residents, a working knowledge of local roadways. I think the President may slow me down about 10 minutes on the weekend. That minor and it is a minor inconvenience will be more than offset by being able to see Air Force One.

It is pretty obvious that traffic disruption is the least of the reasons for the opposition to the President's visit. Most of this has to do with not liking the President himself. Don't believe me? Look at some of the addresses that make up some the complainers. Indian Wells, Indio and La Quinta have all weighed in via social media. That a 10 minute motorcade form Pam Springs to in all likelihood will impact them is specious at best.

While I am on this subject, will the local paper stop acting like having a full weekend of events will unleash the forces of the Apocalypse? We will all survive. At least I am planning to.

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR Palm Springs and KPTR on I Heart Radio between 4 and 6 Pacific Time Monday thru Friday.

Cathedral City Chamber Of Commerce Stop The Silliness

One of the reasons I like living in Cathedral City is the vibrancy of the people. I am just celebrating my 20th year in town. The only downside has been the infighting between city leaders, mostly over petty things. I am hearing some rumblings that this is continuing to this present day. And now a small group is questioning whether the town should fund the Chamber Of Commerce. The city is having it's annual budget review for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The Chamber gets 50 grand a year from the city and free office space. It has over 300 members. I have known the director, Lynn Mallotto for almost 20 years. She is a very competent, and well organized person. As we found out during the Great Recession, Chambers can still be a very effective way of networking and helping local businesses in their communities.

At first I must admit I was a little befuddled as to why anyone would oppose funding the Chamber. Then I went on their website and saw that the Chamber is currently conducting it's search for it's Orion Award Winners. And one of the nominees for 2015 Woman Of Year Award is Kathy DeRosa, the town's former Mayor. With that discovery, I may have solved that mystery.

DeRosa is one of 7 nominees There  is a small cadre in Cathedral City that possesses a nearly pathological hatred of DeRosa, even after she has left office. I am hoping that this is not the real reason people may want to defund the Chamber. It would be the height of pettiness. The voting ends Wednesday and she might not even get the award.

The immaturity and back biting of the past should and must come to an end if the town is to go forward. Fund the Chamber. Period.

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR at 4PM PST Or on 1450 KPTR on I Heart Radio