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

Black Lives Matter Comes To Palm Springs

The Black Lives Matters Movement came to Palm Springs last night and their protest march and rally was a complete breathe of fresh air in the Valley. This group, which has been maligned and labeled as a hate movement similar to the KKK by right wing media, put on a well organized, friendly rally. If these people are a hate movement, so is your local church choir.

It was a completely diverse crowd, that included people of all stripes braving the heat. Protests tend to draw interesting types but fortunately there was only a few such at the march. I was struck by what a wonderful job the organizers did. Everyone was made to feel welcome. Even an aging white guy like myself. I can not stress enough that the young people who were the organizers were just terrific.

As I said last night, a big tip of the hat to PS Councilman Geoff Kors, his partner PSUSD member James Williamson and future PS Council candidate Lisa Middleton for showing up to support the protest. I did see representatives from Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia's office but none from Chad Mayes or Jeff Stone's office.

The Palm Springs Police Department was out and they did a nice job. Lt. Mike Kovaleff is a great role model to newer officers. He mingled with the crowd and was totally professional. I do wish other officers would have followed his cue but since a forum is being planned between BLM and the police, the issue should right itself.

Before the march, I was curious to see whether local LGBTQ groups would show up. I have often wondered in the past 6 months whether Palm Springs is turning into a single issue 1% community. I am pleased to say I may be jumping the gun on that. There were many LGBTQ members and groups who showed up last night.

Having lived in the Valley for a quarter century, it was completely rejuvenating to see how much the Valley has grown politically.

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com or on Twitter @skellynj





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BLM March To Test Progressive Movement In The Valley

How progressive is the Coachella Valley? That question is about to be put to the test with a Black Lives Matter protest scheduled in downtown Palm Springs next week. The event starts on Monday, July 25th at 7PM at Frances Stevens Park.

Of course, participation may be less than can be expected depending on how warm the weather is and people being out of town. So far BLM has done a good job of using social media to get the word out. And to their credit, the PSPD has acted professionally. The PSPOA (Palm Springs Police Officers Association) has uncharacteristically also been restrained. This is also welcome.

This being Oz with a plethora of new residents, many do not realize the problems faced historically by Latino and African Americans in the Valley. It was only a few years ago that Palm Springs finally apologized for the disgraceful behavior used in clearing Section 14 of minority residents back in the 60's.

My late brother Tom was an avid car collector. One of his pride and joys was a 1960's Chevy low rider. One weekend in the 90's, while he was visiting me in Palm Springs, we were pulled over twice by PSPD in the span of 4 hours. Imagine both officer's surprise when the passengers were 2 red headed Irishmen!!! The first official reason given was an obstructed plate and the 2nd was a faulty tail light. Neither was remotely true and we went on our way. I imagine that if we were Latino, the result would have been different.

If white readers want a surprise, ask your friends from the Black and Latino community how many times they have been pulled over or had their license plates run by local police.. I bet you willed be shocked at the answer.. I was working on a radio program last week when a black gay rights activist who lives in Palm Springs explained how many times he has had his plates run when a police car is behind him at a red light. He was obviously a perfectly respectable man and you could feel his sadness whilst recalling this?

Now this is not to imply that we are living in the Jim Crow South. But it does imply that we have some of the issues that BLM is protesting about right here. I am also wondering if any local elected officials will join the protest? There are no council meetings scheduled for Monday Night. Some are attending the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia but some will be at home.I bet that answer is zero.

This Wednesday, I will have lived in the Valley for 25 years. There has been much change for the better. The West Valley has become more diverse with a heavy import of LGBTQ residents. That diversity has greatly improved the landscape of the West Valley with a corresponding taking of political power, But that occurrence has not bridged the racial divide in the Valley. Monday night, a large diverse crowd at the protest would go long way to doing so.

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com or on Twitter at @skellynj

Tribe Parks It In Palm Springs

The announcement yesterday that the Agua Caliente Tribe is building a parking structure in downtown Palm Springs has thankfully generated little if no comment. This stands in marked contrast to the hysteria that occurred when the tribe tore down the Spa Hotel. The outcry from the modernist movement in town was such that cats from Beaumont to Blythe fled in terror.

Much of that can attributed to the fact that many of the newer residents of Palm Springs have no idea that Palm Springs sits partially on an Indian Reservation. Since a lot of the residents are retired they get active in city affairs. While that is to be commended, it would be more helpful if people would actually learn local issues. The "I have been coming to the desert for years, or I have owned a home here for years", statements irk me.In reality that makes one a tourist or a part time resident.

The city has very little control over tribal land. The billboards one sees on Dinah Shore Drive or on Gene Autry Way are on tribal lands. The city has no jurisdiction on these parcels. That is just a one example of some of the nuances in Palm Springs.

In the past few years, the relationship between the tribe and the city deteriorated. Regardless of who was at fault, it is extremely important that this not occur again. For Palm Springs to succeed, the city and tribe must be on the same page. Tribal rights must be respected. The tribe was here long before the city and will remain long after.

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com or followed @skelly

Boom Goes The Dynamite And Common Sense In Cathedral City

Well here we go again. Another July 4th in the desert. I was driving today with an non-political friend of mine in Cathedral City and she remarked, "Why are they selling fireworks in the middle of a drought?" Why indeed?

I have been fighting the battle against "safe and sane" fireworks for at least a decade. It defies common sense. In the last few years, a lot of citizens in Cathedral City have joined in the fight. To his credit, Councilman Shelly Kaplan fulfilled a campaign promise to bring it to the Council's attention last year. It failed.

The reason give for that failure wass the fact that non-profits in the city raise money selling fireworks. A few years ago, St, Louis Church used the money they raised to send kids to see the Pope!! Today's Desert Sun even chimes in with a planted article on how a local church is feeding the homeless by selling fireworks. Ex Cathedral City Councilman Chuck Vasquez is prominently featured in the story. Is this the only way to raise money?

The Desert Sun, opining on this topic last year somehow equated fireworks sales with military service!!! Yeah there will be no Pulitzer for that editorial.

The sale of fireworks in the desert, suffering through a drought of biblical proportions is absolutely insane. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that. It is lunacy.

The city needs to work with non-profits to ensure that they can have safe and sane fundraising!! The sale of fireworks is an action that contains no sparkle. None at all

Steve Kelly can be reached at @skellynj or at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com

RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF DOES NOT PASS SNIFF TEST ON GUNS

As the fallout continues from the shooting at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, once again responsible Americans are asking how did Omar Mateen legally purchase the AR 15 Assault Weapon that he used in part to slaughter 49 innocent people?

As usual; the NRA and their fellow travelers are trying to block any sensible look at stopping these weapons from getting into the hands of terrorists or lunatics or both. Somehow, this all Barack Obama's fault.

As a journalist, I am strong believer in the Bill Of Rights. But as a citizen of Riverside County, I am perplexed by the fascination with firearms by Sheriff Stan Sniff Jr. A look at his official, not private Facebook page show a complete and rather unhealthy obsession with guns. It contains ads for gun shows. NRA propaganda. Sniff uses both his official position and stationary to write letters opposing any attempts at sensible gun legislation. I didn't realize all this was part of his official duties. I am pretty sure it isn't.

Now even though he is Sheriff, Mr. Sniff doesn't lose any of his rights as a citizen. But his political positions belong nowhere on official stationery. It is baffling to me why the Board of Supervisors hasn't asked him to cut this out. This isn't his first time.

In 2013 the Sheriff attacked Senator Diane Feinstein for proposing an assault weapons ban after the massacre in Newtown. Connecticut. I wrote a Valley Voice piece on the subject then. I was attacked not be Sheriff himself but his pals in the Cowboy Action Shooting group to which he belonged. These people dress up like Wyatt Earrp and Annie Oakley and fire guns. Think Zane Grey on LSD.

As part of his vocal attack on Proposition 47. Sheriff Sniff constantly brings up that the stealing of a firearm is now treated way too leniently under the statue. You know what, I agree with him. I think the law should be changed in regards to firearms. What I do not agree to is a Sheriff who is using his office to further the objectives of a rabid band of irresponsible zealots. Who may one day use legally purchased Assault Weapons against the brave men and women he commands.

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting or followed on Twitter @skellynj

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Unsocially Yours In Palm Springs

Drama on social media involving Palm Springs and elected officials seems to be a recurring issue. The fact that a recent event has now hit the local press is embarrassing. I encourage all elected officials in that town to think seriously about what they post. Yes there are unfair things said on these sites. But as public figures,because you have a bruised ego, a petty disputs should never be fought out on the internet. For a few reasons:

First as a public figure, part of the price you pay for office is sometimes people act unpleasantly. Want to wear the fake construction helmet and hold a shovel while getting your picture snapped at a projec? Then be prepared to be yelled at if there are potholes. 

Secondly, No one likes a martyr or excess drama. And some of the responses I have seen on social media by public officials are more melodramatic than Days Of Our Lives. Palm Springs is a nice place. Nice people too for the most part. Think before you type.

Finally, do what I do. If I find someone is getting too personal or ridiculous I block the person. Life gets simpler. 

Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasitn.com or followed on Twitter @skellynj