The announcement today that PS Councilman Paul Lewin will fight to keep his council seat and not run for mayor in Palm Springs is a real coup for fellow council member and mayoral candidate Ginny Foat.
Ms. Foat, who has pledged to run for only one term, held a fundraiser last night at Spencer's restaurant. This is significant because a number of Palm Springs heavy hitters were in attendance. Harold Matzner a man of huge influence introduced her to the crowd. (On a side note, despite what the Mayor says, I believe he decided not to run in part because Mr. Matzner in his capacity as head of the Film Festival threatened to sue the city over the Aberdeen project. It was a message.) The local big shots who supported Pougnet are now in Ms. Foats's camp.
With the tourist industry on board, Ms. Foat has checked all the boxes except the public safety unions who have yet to weigh in. Those unions tend to have a disproportionate level of influence in election matters. Ms Foat's current crop of opponents Robert Moon, Bob Weinstein and Michael Bimberg are facing an uphill battle
Since Mr. Lewin has now decided to run for re-election to the council, he now may have an even more difficult time than if he ran for mayor. Geoff Kors is checking all the right boxes and appears to be a shoo-in. JR Roberts, a former Sausalito mayor and current planning commissioner is close with Ms. Foat. Paul Lewin isin the fight of his young political life to hang onto his seat as only 2 city council seats are at stake.
All may not be peaches and cream for Ms. Foat though. She has made a few statements that have angered the Agua Caliente tribe and if they weigh in against her, it could pack a great counter-punch.
Steve Kelly is on from 4 to 6p Monday through Friday on 1450 KPTR and also IHeart radio
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Crunch Time Coming In Palm Springs
The city of Palm Springs has experienced a remarkable renaissance in the past 4 years. Attributable to both city government polices and the end of the Great Recession, there is no doubt a boom has been going on. The good times appeared to be rolling. But similar to an impolite guest at a dinner party, questions about the city and embattled mayor Steve Pounet and his ties to developer Richard Meaney will continue to be dominant in the near future. Supporters of the mayor will claim all of this is "old" news and "Let's move on." To paraphrase the mayor from the last council meeting, "Ain't gonna happen. No way."
Council member and potential mayoral candidate Paul Lewin is pushing for an independent outside audit of the city's business incentive program. Palm Springs big shot Film Festival head Harold Matzner is threatening to sue the city over the proposed Nexus inspired Aberdeen project which modernists have vowed to stop. Then word came early today that the Riverside County Grand jury may start it's own city investigation into Palm Springs. (This may sound more ominous than it is in reality because any person can fill out a form and send it in to the grand jury and request an investigation.)
What is interesting is the cracking of the political elite in Palm Springs.4 members of the council have been together for 8 years. It has acted more like a convivial club at times with their being little dissent. Those days are coming to an end with the retirement of the mayor and council member Rick Hutchinson Also for may years now, the council has relied heavily on the advice of city attorney Doug Holland and city manager David Ready. They too are caught up in some of the doings at City Hall and Mr. Ready was as quiet as church mouse at the last council meeting.
The next few weeks are going to be interesting as the script which has been adhered to pretty successfully over the last 4 years is going to be subject to being re-written on the fly down at City Hall.
Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR from 4 to 6 daily.
Council member and potential mayoral candidate Paul Lewin is pushing for an independent outside audit of the city's business incentive program. Palm Springs big shot Film Festival head Harold Matzner is threatening to sue the city over the proposed Nexus inspired Aberdeen project which modernists have vowed to stop. Then word came early today that the Riverside County Grand jury may start it's own city investigation into Palm Springs. (This may sound more ominous than it is in reality because any person can fill out a form and send it in to the grand jury and request an investigation.)
What is interesting is the cracking of the political elite in Palm Springs.4 members of the council have been together for 8 years. It has acted more like a convivial club at times with their being little dissent. Those days are coming to an end with the retirement of the mayor and council member Rick Hutchinson Also for may years now, the council has relied heavily on the advice of city attorney Doug Holland and city manager David Ready. They too are caught up in some of the doings at City Hall and Mr. Ready was as quiet as church mouse at the last council meeting.
The next few weeks are going to be interesting as the script which has been adhered to pretty successfully over the last 4 years is going to be subject to being re-written on the fly down at City Hall.
Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR from 4 to 6 daily.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
CV Link Getting Real
Yesterday was a monumental day in the CV Link project. It appears that it finally is getting more realistic and concrete in its planning. In my opinion, that is thanks in no small part to the continued questioning of the project and the funding of it after it was built. Spear heading the charge was Rancho Mirage's Mayor Dana Hobart. There were 3 major points that came out of yesterday's meeting.
1.) Each of the 9 Valley cities will now come up with their way to make budgetary contributions to the project. It will give a clearer message to residents as to their cities cost in the project.
2.) The potential involvement of Goldenvoice in the long term operation and maintenance of the project. While it is curious that it took CVAG director Tom Kirk a year to make this offer public, it is a positive development.
3.) The allowing of alternative routes in Rancho Mirage. This gives the proposal a better chance of being built. Next up is Palm Desert where Monterey Country Club has balked at the Link going through it.
CV Link is starting to take shape with less nonsense and ridiculous hype. And that is a good thing.
Steve Kelly is on 1450 KPTR Monday Thru Friday From 4 to 6P. PDT and on I Heart Radio.
1.) Each of the 9 Valley cities will now come up with their way to make budgetary contributions to the project. It will give a clearer message to residents as to their cities cost in the project.
2.) The potential involvement of Goldenvoice in the long term operation and maintenance of the project. While it is curious that it took CVAG director Tom Kirk a year to make this offer public, it is a positive development.
3.) The allowing of alternative routes in Rancho Mirage. This gives the proposal a better chance of being built. Next up is Palm Desert where Monterey Country Club has balked at the Link going through it.
CV Link is starting to take shape with less nonsense and ridiculous hype. And that is a good thing.
Steve Kelly is on 1450 KPTR Monday Thru Friday From 4 to 6P. PDT and on I Heart Radio.
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