Measure HH In Cathedral City

I had a great time at the Desert Sun's political pop-up event on Saturday. There were of course, a lot of local candidates there. The sane, the reality-challenged, the good, the bad and the ugly. It was great to see a lot of folks I haven't seen in quite some time. At some of these events, I feel like Methuselah. In a fast moving area like the desert, I suppose that should be expected.

There were also issue tables as well. Since many of you know I live in Cathedral City, I paid particular attention to both the sides on Measure HH, the Charter City Ballot Initiative. I found it both interesting and flattering that both groups asked me I were running for council in 2018. I'll take a flyer on that for now. What was intriguing is what I learned about HH on both sides of the issue.

No On HH

The opponents of HH are really focused on one portion of the initiative. That being the end of the direct election of mayor and going to a council rotation system, Really nothing was said about the other aspects of a charter city such as more control in state relations and better contract negotiating ability. It was all focused on the mayoral question.

Yes On HH

This is the city powers baby. Nothing wrong with that. But they have a lot of work to do. I got a great explanation on one aspect of HH that many in the public do not know. The start of the mayor's rotation does not commence till 2018. Stan Henry will serve as mayor for 2 more years.

My Thoughts

A lot of the usual players in Cathedral City politics are here. The Yes on HH say a directly elected mayor with only a 2 year term leads to division on the council. Perhaps, but the mayoral rotation system has led to problems in at least one city out here, Indian Wells.

The city fathers say they all like each other so that can't happen. Harmony on city councils is like love in spring. Wonderful while it lasts, but usually oh so fleeting. At some point a council member is going to be elected who the rest don't like.

By the way, hats off to the YES on HH video on youtube. It plays EDM music while someone who is 35 years younger than anyone on the council dances.

If you live in Cathedral City, read both the pro and con. They have both some good arguments and some not-so-good explanations. Then vote.

Steve Kelly is a blogger/broadcaster in the Coachella Valley, He can be reached at kellyscorner@gmail.com or on Twitter at @skellynj

HUUUGE Trump Supporter In The Desert To Open First Local Dunkin' Donuts

Let me state for the record I love Dunkin' Donuts. When I used to fly back home to New Jersey, I always stopped at the counter in Newark Airport for an apple crumb donut. When I was covering Angels Spring Training in Arizona, it was great to see them in Tempe. I longed for the day they would come to the Coachella Valley.

That day has arrived and like so many other days  in my life, it is bittersweet. 3 trips to the doctor in 2 weeks and 5 bags of prescription pills may mean Dunkin' and I will only have our memories. Plus like soda with no fizz, it was rather flat to find out who the new owner is.

Nachhattar Chandi is the man in the dough, literally anf figuratively. He owns a bunch of area gas stations. He also employs Tom Freeman, a long time GOP operative and former county official. And Mr. Chandi has spent half a million dollars, yes half a million dollars to fund a Donald Trump Super Pac. This even sparked protests at one of his gas stations last month.. I'll give Chandi this, it does take a lot of sprinkles to open a business in a heavily Hispanic area while giving half a million to support Trump.

In a week where Mr. Trump has made headlines for his comments on other people's weight, his biggest supporter in the Valley is getting set to open up a donut shop. Rather ironic one would say. Will East Valley Dems speak up on this? Will any Indio leaders comment on this? Or will they remain silent!!

In an intense election season, it will be interesting to find out.

Steve Kelly is a blogger/broadcaster based in the Coachella Valley and can be reached at KellysCorner227@gmail.com or on Twitter @skellynj

Road Construction In The Valley All Wet

After having a brief but needed visit from the rain gods, it is quite apparent that many of our local streets are more suited for Cambodia than the Coachella Valley. Shoddy construction, engineering flaws and ridiculously long lengths of projects combine for a witches brew of transportation poison here in the Valley. Here are a few examples:

Valley Flooding

While we are blessed to have very few days of inclement weather, it is ridiculous that the same areas flood year and after year with little or no effort being taken by elected officials or CVAG to to alleviate the situation. They should be raising hell about it. I realize that there supposedly is being a bridge scheduled to be built on Vista Chino between the Cathedral City and Palm Springs but does anyone have a timetable on that?

The flooding on the Cathedral City side of the Dinah Shore Drive Bridge is ludicrous. This bridge is only 16 years old and there has been no attempt at seriously addressing this problem.

Length Of Construction

Why is it that most Valley road construction takes a huge amount of time?  (I'll provide part of the answer blow. It's a classic.) While I am grateful that the addition of 2 lanes and a traffic light at Vista Chino and Gene Autry which commenced construction in 1951 was recently finished, I still wonder about the construction on Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra administration. Started recently, at the pace it is going. it may be completed in time for the tricentennial, in 2076!!!

Partial Reason For Glacial Delays

This s a good one. For 15 years, I have been arguing that the Valley via CVAG needs to partner with and engineering school and get an underground schematic map. Then add to it as new utility lines are installed. There is currently no such map. Many a road project in the Valley is delayed when they hit unmarked utilities. It would be worth spending up to 500 grand to get this started. It would make a huge difference in our Valley. What makes this situation even more disturbing is the fact many of these pipes were laid so long ago. In the 1980's and 90s. Yes many of our towns have no idea what lies beneath.

Political Will

Roads are neither liberal or conservative. gay, straight or bisexual. They will get you to your destination whether you are white, back or brown. Your net worth or lack thereof means nothing. To wrap it up, safe transportation should be the top priority of every elected official. The staffs of all should co-operate in this manner, Will they?

Hold on while I get my scuba mask and oxygen tank while I traverse down Cathedral Canyon.

Steve kelly is a blogger and broadcaster in the Coachella Valley. He can be reached at KellysCorner227@gmail.com or followed on twitter at @skellynj

Rotating Mayors Make Me Spin Right Round In Palm Springs and Cathedral City

One of the benefits of modern communication is the ability to keep up to date as to what is going on at home. While on my trip to the Northwest I was able to keep up on local events. As we head down the stretch in the local election season, voters in Cathedral City will be asked to vote on whether or not to become a charter city. There are benefits to doing so.

I remember this debate well almost 2 decades ago in Palm Springs. I think there is merit in becoming a charter city as far as city state relations and the negotiation of municipal contracts. Now please bear in mind I never tell anyone how to vote as I feel you are far too intelligent to be swayed by any word written or spoken. What I don't understand is why the abolition of the direct election of mayor is tied into this? It really has nothing to do with a charter city. I think there is a driving force and I will get to that soon.

Currently La Quinta, Cathedral City, DHS and Palm Springs all have directly elected mayors. In DHS and Cathedral City, the directly elected mayor serves only a 2 year term while the council serves 4 year terms. In Palm Springs and La Quinta, the mayor does a 4 year stint like the rest of the council.

I will be the first to admit, that the currently structured system for electing mayors in both DHS and Cathedral City has caused chaos. Too many times. a sitting council member with nothing to lose has taken a "free shot" at a sitting mayor. This does cause disharmony as sometimes local politicos have thin skins. Shocking I know.

Now proponents of rotating the mayor among council members say it is more efficient and since the posts are largely ceremonial, it should be no big deal. The arguments pro and con are laid out well in this piece by Hank Plante. (Note to my friend, while the age joke about the Rancho Mirage council is funny, the members of the Palm Springs council all have fully paid up AARP cards.)

In Palm Springs, the move to a non-elected city council appears to be being pushed by the 876, er 241, er 53 members of the Ethics Task Force. (I'm sorry, the number of members is still ridiculous.) I think this is an end around campaign finance limitations. Let's face it, the last election was ludicrous with Council member Ginny Foat's run being financed well into 6 figures by one man, Harold Matzner. By eliminating the direct election of mayor, you eliminate this problem. Clever and it will be interesting to see if it comes out in the wash shortly.

In Cathedral City unfortunately it appears that the end of the direct election of  mayor is being touted for a different reason. Many of the pro comments on both social and traditional media either obliquely or openly refer negatively to former mayor Kathy DeRosa. Some current city council members had a difficult relationship with her. Kathy has been out of office for a few years. If the council is serious about changing the role of mayor, the debate on the charter and the change to a mayoral rotation system has to be elevated.

In my 21 years of living in Cathedral City, this has been one of the best councils I have ever seen. But right now, the argument in favor of a rotating mayor seems to be based more on past grievance than on positive governance. If this continues, it may affect the vote on the charter question.

Steve Kelly is a writer and broadcaster based in the Coachella Valley. He can reached at KellysCorner227@gmail.com or #skellynj on Twitter.

Foat And Mills Misfire In Gun Debate

Last night the Palm Springs City Council voted 3 to 2 to enact in my opinion, some sensible gun control ordinances. Basically they involve basic safety procedures and the reporting of missing or stolen firearms. As can be expected these days, NRA zealots protested the move. Kudos to Geoff Kors for proposing the legislation. It will come back for a final vote n a few weeks.

As far as the gun safety aspect of using trigger locks or locking up a weapon, I have had some personal experience. My father was in law enforcement for 36 years and every night he came home, the gun went into a locked box. Then he gave up his gun when he retired. There were 6 boys in the house and my dad was very safety conscious. 

Now the 3 2 vote was one to take note of. Kors was joined by JR Roberts and Mayor Rob Moon. Moon is interesting because he was a career military man. Roberts said he was a gun owner.

On the other side both Chris Mills and Ginny Foat were equally interesting albeit misguided in their stated reasons to oppose the ordinances. Let me make it clear, both of these representatives have the right to vote their conscience. What was jaw dropping for me were the reasons the duo stated.            

Mills stated he felt the new laws could only work in a reactive manner. There would be no active deterrent. There is no way he can know that. A long and distinguished public career in Palm Springs seems to be ending as a contestant in an Abe Simpson sound-a-like contestant.

Next up was Ginny Foat who said as a gun owner there was no way she was not removing the gun she keeps next to her bed.  Given her "colorful" past, (No I am not going in full detail but you thought it about too.) one may have thought Ms. Foat would have been a tad more measured in her comments. And as it appears to be more and more, one would be wrong.

Both Foat and Mills are up for re-election next year and it is hard for me to see either one of them running again. But it is Palm Springs and as we all know, anything can happen. And usually does.

Steve Kelly is a logger/podcaster based in the Coachella Valley. He can reached at kellyscorner227@gmail.com or on twitter @skellynj,

Shots Fired Against The NRA In Palm Springs

2 proposed ordinances in Palm Springs, spear headed by Councilman Geoff Kors  involving firearms safety legislation may be seen as opening salvo against Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff.  Basically they would call for guns to locked securely and to be reported immediately when missing or stolen. This all seems to be very reasonable.

Now some have mentioned that these proposed ordinances are a reaction to the mass killing of LGBTQ members at the Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida. In the past few years we have seen mass murder occur at not only a gay night club, but also at an elementary school. a movie theater, and a holiday party. Gun control,like no other issue we face, transcends identity politics. It is an issue that with the exception of a few zealots almost all the American people agree on. More safeguards on firearm ownership.

How Sniff will react to this is unfortunately predictable. Our Sheriff constantly badgers our local elected officials on any sort of sensible gun legislation. His own Facebook Page is full of pro-NRA propaganda. You can rest assured Palm Springs will be hearing from him soon.

And when that time occurs, I trust that the city will stand firm. I hope other Valley cities will follow Palm Springs as well and pass similar ordinances. Though I am not holding my breathe on Indian Wells.

Steve Kelly is a broadcaster and blogger ased in the Coachella Valley. He can be reached kellyscorner227@gmail.com or on twitter @skellynk

How Will You Commemorate The Raid On Palm Springs City Hall?

It will be one year on Thursday since a joint Federal-County Task Force raided Palm Springs City Hall. I will be in the Northwest but in keeping with the spirit of Palm Springs, I propose several activities to which those of you who are still here can partake in to mark this momentous occasion.

The Chris Mills Prediction Sweepstakes

In keeping with the tradition of Councilman Chris Mills saying in May 2015 that anyone who thought the DA would raid Palm Springs was "ridiculous", contestants can make predictions as well. I for one, predict that the City will collect not one dime on the Hacienda Cantina lawsuit.

The Find Steve Pougnet Contest

Joined by Broadway Celebrity Carol Channing, contestants can try to find the former Mayor who is at the heart of the probe. He did promise to return here often, but like Forever Marilyn he has vanished. Unlike Marilyn, I doubt he is coming back soon.

The Hamilton Burger Contest

Join soon to be let go City Attorney Doug Holland as you attempt to give out the worst possible advice to fellow contestants. Then deny you gave the advice. This game comes with its own Freedom Of Information Act request forms.

Nothing To See Here

You and your fellow revelers will be told that something that happened is "no big deal" or "get over it" by a helpful chorus of PS "Insiders".

Congratulate Yourself On Breathing

Take a cue from Palm Springs City Officials and congratulate yourself for doing what you have no choice but to do.  In their case, it is co-operating with document requests and other items. They are being transparent, true but they have no other choice.

Blame The Messenger

Just like some in the community blame the Desert Sun for the problems Palm Springs faces, blame someone in your life for what you have done. Assume a false aura of moral superiority and  with a smidge of condescension.

The Mid-Modern Red Carpet

My favorite. Stroll down the red carpet with other VIPS while listening to Frank and Dean at the Prairie Schooner Lot. You will feel like the million bucks that Palm Springs undercharged Rich Meaney when he and his partners purchased that lot.

All in all please have yourself an Aftab Dada Doo time.

Steve Kelly is a writer/podaster based in the Coachella Valley. He can be reached at kellyscorner227@gmail.com or via Twitter at @skellynj