Except For Shelly Kaplan Common Sense Goes Boom In Cathedral City Fireworks Fight

It is very easy to develop a cynical attitude towards local politics. Most of our local leaders here in the Valley are honorable people. Now politics tends to excite some and bore others. I have been watching and reporting on the political scene here for almost 2 decades. And last night, the whole Coachella Valley saw a shining example of courage and political cowardice.

Back in the fall, I interviewed political candidates who were running for Cathedral City Council. All of the candidates said they wanted to end the practice of non-profits selling fireworks in the desert for July 4th. That included the 2 winning candidates, Shelly Kaplan and Mark Carnevale.

In the ensuing months since November, Mr. Kaplan kept his promise and pushed the issue. He was aided in the effort by local citizens who were not only concerned about a potential public safety threat but also the problem pets face with fireworks.

In the other corner was the fireworks company, the non-profits involved, the Desert Sun editorial board and former councilman Chuck Vasquez. A divergent group to be sure. The editorial the Desert Sun wrote was ludicrous. It basically failed to address the common sense issue of fire prevention and the facts that these fireworks pop up all over the Valley after being sold in Cathedral City. A simple call to Palm Springs Fire Chief Blake Goetz asking his opinion would have been enlightening. Also, for some reason the Desert Sun seems to think that fireworks have a special meaning to veterans. No proof of that is offered and while unlike the Desert Sun,I  do not purport to speak for veterans, I have never heard one say, "The only thing that got me through Danang or Kandahar was the the thought of getting home to light a sparkler on Cathedral Canyon Drive."

Also not to be mean but Mr. Vasquez has lost any credibility as far as public matters are concerned for his plea agreement regarding misuse of city funds. He agreed to resign his seat on the council. If you read local press coverage on the fireworks story, there was no mention of that despite it occurring only 8 months ago.Yet he appears to still have influence among his former council members Greg Pettis, Stan Henry and John Aguilar.

So last night when Mr. Kaplan kept his word and proposed doing away with the fireworks, I was not surprised when no one would second his motion. What did surprise me is that Mr. Carnevale stated that he had changed his tune after doing research. Seriously? He has owned a business in Cathedral City since before the city was incorporated. How much "research" was necessary to figure allowing the sale of fireworks in a desert was not a good thing?

In an overt act of political cowardice 4 members of the Cathedral City Council shirked their public duty last night. One member, Shelly Kaplan did not. And for that, I thank him.

Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR Daily from 4 to 6pm Pacific Daylight time.

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

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