Revenge Of The Hipsters

Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, our Coachella Valley is about to be attacked by a hipster army. In just a few short days, saturation coverage, ridiculous hyperbole and a general aura of pretentiousness will descend upon our environs. It is soon time for Coachella 2015.

Now don't get me wrong. The Festival which is owned by Goldenvoice, a division of AEG brings a lot of  money and dollars to our Valley. Coupled with Stage Coach it is a good thing for us. But even so, here are a few things I would like to make clear about it.

1.) For those of you who are going vegan or gluten free at the event, the health benefits will be offset by consuming large quantities of alcohol and/or drugs.

2.) For those who think Coachella is some ground breaking fashion statement, get a copy of Harper's Bazaar from about 1971. Pretty much the Coachella Fashion.

3.) For any celebrity who complains about lack of privacy while tweeting non-stop from Coachella, a special place in TMZ hell is deserved.

4.) A note to local music reporters and bloggers. Profiling obscure bands usually overlooks the most obvious reason for their obscurity, they aren't very good.

Anyway, enjoy Romanian Pig on Sound Stage 17 while drinking a Gluten Free Micro brew and downloading the Coachella App while wearing your fedora and retro clothes. Yikes.

Steve Kelly can heard weekdays 4 to 6p on 1450 KPTR and I Heart Radio

Cathedral City Goes Kaboom Again

It was with great interest that I read of the attempt last week by some residents and Council member Shelly Kaplan to stop the sale of fireworks in Cathedral City. Mr. Kaplan had first brought up his opposition to fireworks when he was being interviewed on my radio program during his successful campaign. Also agreeing with him was his fellow rookie council member Mark Carneveale.

With a cynicism born of following Cathedral City and local politics for almost 2 decades, I figured there would be no way the council would actually ban fireworks. But I wanted to see what reason they would come up. I was sure it would define credulity as the rest of the city council would have to try and defend the ludicrous policy of allowing non-profits to sell fireworks in a desert.

After the public comments, the city council decided that since most non-profits had already counted in July 2015 sales in their budget, they would be adversely affected by a ban. That of course is patently ridiculous as they can not have any idea how much they will make off of fireworks sales. (Point of disclosure. I am a member of St. Louis Parish which participates in the fireworks sales. 2 years ago, money raised was to send kids to World Youth Day in Brazil where they would see Pope Francis. Yup, we sold fireworks to meet the Pope,)

If that wasn't bad enough, the council voted to revisit the measure May 13th and possibly put it on the ballot in November. I will wager anyone a nickel that in May that it will be either be pulled from the study session agenda or we will be lectured on how the city can't afford to pay for a ballot measure or both. Of course the only reason there is even mention of a possible citizen's vote is to provide political cover to a council to afraid t o act on such an obvious common sense measure.

Some newer members in hte community hailed last fall's elections as some sort of  break through in city government. The 10 second re-appointment of John Aguilar to the city council last year and the way this matter was handled lead me to think otherwise


Steve Kelly can be heard from 4 to 6P Daily PDT on 1450 KPTR and on I Heart Radio

Fact Checking The Palm Springs Police Officers Association Again

After a brief hiatus out of the public eye, the Palm Springs Police Officers Association (PSPOA) returned to public media with a fallacious analogy to an LAPD story last week. Unfortunately, reportage by Megan Terlecky of KESQ was not complete in that it left out germain facts.

The report involved 2 LAPD officers who shot to death a homeless man on skid row. The 2 officers were victims of a new practice called "Doxxing". This means their names and addresses were put on line as well as where their children go to school. This was clearly wrong and should be illegal.

But on the KESQ report, William Hutchinson the head of the PSPOA said this justified the PSPOA's restraining order against the city releasing the names of cops in Officer Involved Shootings or OIS. This lawsuit currently involves the Desert Sun. The Desert Sun and in particular reporter Brett Kelman and editor Greg Burton have stood up to the bullying tactics of the PSPOA. (Full disclosure, I have had to block William Hutchinson from my Facebook account because of his vituperative comments on my posts. Many having to do with the now disgraced Ferguson, Missouri PD.)

Let it be known that I understand as much as the PSPOA does about the safety of Law Enforcement and their families. My father was a 23 year veteran of the FBI and an expert on the Mafia. His badge and his commendation from Attorney General RFK hang in my office. So yes growing up there was a sense of insecurity However we were  even listed in the phone book!! This is a different era so maybe a law against doxxing is necessary.

But comparing the disclosure of OIS to doxxing is not accurate.

1;) The recent article highlighting PSPD Officers Chad Nordem and Michael Heron and the shooting of Corporal Allen DeVillana in 2012 was based on information from the Riveriside County DA's office, not subject to any legal restraint and certainly not doxxing.

2.) If someone shot by a PSPOA member or their survivors chooses to exercise a civil remedy, the officers names will be disclosed in any lawsuit. No restraining order will apply.

3.) If a reporter finds out through sources, trying to stop publication of the names of the OIS involved will become a legal fight that will be very hard for the PSPOA to win. 

What also makes it interesting in this case is the PSPOA's choice of venue. One of Megan's fellow on air personalities is married to a PSPOA member. When the PSPOA attacked PS Councilman Lee Weigel viciously 4 years ago, the only venue they went on was with this person. The PSPOA has recently stated that it wants to have its own "media forum". I wonder if Channel 2 and 3 are it.

The safety of Officers and their employers the general public must always be a high priority. If the CHP and other law enforcement agencies can disclose OIS names in a regulated manner, the PSPOA can work to achieve that as well. To throw up side issues such as doxxing will ultimately not serve any constructive purpose but rather are a temporary sideshow.

Steve Kelly can be heard weekdays from 4p to 6p PDT on 1450 KPTR or on I Heart Radio.

Put Out The Fireworks In Cathedral City

Despite all the recent rain, we are only a few months away from sunshine and triple digit temperatures are on their way. And of course being the desert, all of our green will soon be turning brown as we head into the heat.

For years now, Cathedral City has allowed the non-profits within its borders to sell "safe and sane" fireworks as a fundraiser leading up to July 4th. Neighboring towns are upset by this as are local residents.Fireworks and the desert can be a very combustible matter.

It is high time this practice be put to an end. Surely the non-profits can come up with a better way to raise funds than this dangerous practice.

Appearing on my sho, new council members Shelly Kaplan and Marl Carneavale both expressed support for banning fireworks. Now is the time to hold their feet to the firecracker as it may be and get that elusive 3rd vote to end this once and for all..

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR 4p to 6p Pacific and on I Heart Radio