A Big Thank You

In the title song from the movie "To Sir With Love", singer Lulu poses the question, "How can you thank someone who  has taken you from crayons to perfume?" While there has been no Chanel for me, I need to say thank you to a lot of people for my broadcasting period in the the Valley.

I have been on the air for 19 years here in the Valley. I have been at RR Broadcasting for 17 of those years, working for the wonderful Ric and Rozene Supple. What a classy duo. That association unfortunately will be soon coming to an end. Technology, changing demographics and market considerations have led to this development. While being future endeavored at 56 is never a good thing, I would not trade my radio past for anything.

I have worked with radio giants: Grammy Award Winners Dave Hassinger and Don Wardell. 4 time Emmy Award Winner Tom Buchanan as well. Terrific local broadcasters, Gary Stone, Bud Furillo, Mike Meenan, Gene Nichols, Dennys Arcury, Paul Mitchell, Stan Layne and Rich Gilgallon. I have interacted with a great many talented local media colleagues at events like PGA Golf Tournaments and the BNP Paribas. I have had the great privilege of talking to the people who make our Valley great from Raul Ruiz to Ray Moore. I had a million laughs and a million smiles as well. Not bad for guy from New Milford, New Jersey.

You know when I shifted my specialty from sports to primarily local politics I thought it could be a little dicey. But I have always been treated with kindness and professionalism by local politicians, even those who didn't see eye to eye with me. I have enjoyed my interactions with the listeners as well.

I was in our anchor chair for 16 hours on 9-11 talking with all sorts of officials and trying to keep my emotions in check. 5 years later, I broadcast from that very site on KPSI. It was a special moment I will always remember, all made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Supple.

Our Valley is a special place. A place where you can get to start over. Even at 56. Again I want to thank all of my colleagues. Also I want to tell you while I have no idea what the future bodes, I eagerly await it. If it is half as good as the last 17 years, I am in for a ride. One I hope to continue with you.

Steve Kelly is now available for Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and general housekeeping. He can reached at svericker@yahoo.com

Does Ricky Have The Wright Stuff?

In a very interesting move, former Palm Springs Hish School Principal Ricky Wright has decided to enter the race for Palm Springs Mayor. He joins Rob Moon, Bob Weinstein, Doctor Guy Burrows, Michael Bimberg and of course, Ginny Foat.

Ricky Wright is a popular and well known figure locally who already attracted a small buzz. He did an outstanding job at the  high school which had experienced some racial violence before he came in as the principal.

His major challenge is to see whether he can break through the money and power machine that is behind Ginny Foat. Actually that is the challenge for all of the mayoral candidates. How do they break through? I think it will take a Herculean effort considering that hotel associations, power brokers and many in the LGBT community are behind Ms. Foat with both moral support and cash.

In actuality, Ms. Foat is running as a third term of current Mayor Steve Pougnet. Pougnet remains a popular figure in many corners of the city despite his recent travails. And Ms. Foat who has promised to run for only one term, will be able to say that she wants to finish the revitalization of Palm Springs.

Ricky Wright has a ton of charisma and deep roots in the community. It will be impossible for him to be attacked as a carpetbagger or someone who "needs to pay his dues." But in this case charisma better equal cash or Mr. Wright may not get a passing grade.

Steve Kelly can be heard 4 to 6p PDT Monday thru Friday on 1450 KPTR or on I Heart Radio

Palm Springs Election 50 Shades Of Blah

There is an election coming up in November in Palm Springs. With the city going through a downtown revitalization and many important issues, one would think that a mayoral and council election would be a chance for divergent views to come forward. A real debate about where Palm Springs is headed. Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case.

4 candidates, Ginny Foat, Paul Lewin, Geoff Kors and J.R. Roberts appear to have all the money and power brokers behind them. They will have access to oodles and oodles of cash plus I am sure the upcoming support of the municipal unions. Remember it is interest of all council candidates to support Ms. Foat as her election to mayor will open up a 2 year council seat.

All this does not bode well for the poor souls who attempt to take on the above 4 in either the mayoral or council races. I am sure they will be branded as cranks and kooks. I for one salute their bravery. About the only chance some of these people will get for exposure is via press interviews and the One PS/Chamber debate. And that probably won't be enough.

It is ironic that a city that prides itself on diversity will have an election period that will be about as exciting as an East German election in the 1980's.

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR Daily from 4 to 6p PDT and on I Heart Radio. You can e mail him skelly@rrbroadcasting.com

Keeping Up With Negative Appearances

One of my late Mom's favorite TV shows was the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances. Every time I would visit, we would watch and laugh at the Hyacinth Bucket character who would go careening about. She never had a clue as to what people really thought, only what she felt looked good. And sometimes while at first glance, what looked good was okay, it later turned out to be silly.

That appears to be the case here for 2 local cities.

In Cathedral City, despite the best efforts of a group of enthusiastic citizens, the city continues to allow the sale of fireworks. Absolutely oblivious to the dangers of both fire and living in the desert, there is little if any consideration to the absurdity of the situation.

In Palm Springs, a city well known for style before substance, the city council has decided to restart 2 public fountains. We are in a drought. This is dumb. The city voted unanimously after getting the go ahead on a 3 2 vote from the DWA. 

Now proponents of the idea state that a minimal amount of water is wasted and besides, the pumps could be damaged after a long layoff. Well there may be a small amount of truth on that point, the optics are terrible. We are in a drought. This is a desert. Trying to make it look like Versailles is ludicrous.

Perhaps a compromise in Palm Springs could be reached. The fountain at the airport could become Le pas d'eau, nous sommes dans une période de sécheressecome neighborhood. That way we could keep the fountains off while Keeping Up Appearances.

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

Ginny Foat Running For Steve Pougnets 3rd Term

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

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.

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.