Dec. 18 Daily Briefing: Top stories of 2023, shelter opened, Santa flyover, and more

Welcome to Monday and the start of our annual year in review and look ahead week. We kick things off today with a look at the stories you read the most in 2023 and finish on Friday by naming our Palm Springs Person of the Year. In between, we report on what our readers had to say and what city officials had to say as they looked back (and ahead). On Sunday, we close out our year with one last very special edition of our Palm Springs Profiles series. Stay tuned!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce

YEAR IN REVIEW 2023

Our top 5 stories of the year, according to the data

We’re fortunate that our business model doesn’t depend on clicks. But readers still clicked a lot in 2023. Similar to previous years (see 2022 here and 2021 here), a majority of our most popular stories had to do with development, as residents are always curious about what’s being built (and not being built) in the city.

Below is a countdown of the stories you clicked on the most — which are not necessarily the biggest stories of the year — dating back to January and ending on Sunday. Interested in looking back? Make sure to click on each title to read the stories.

5. Residents struggle to find doctor’s appointments amid provider shortages, pandemic impacts
There was a lot of talk around town about how hard it was to see a doctor in 2023, so we asked reporter Maria Sestito to look into it. What she found was a statewide shortage of primary care physicians — and little hope that would change.

4. AIDS Memorial Sculpture faces public backlash; redesign being discussed
During a few weeks in September, the design and process of a planned AIDS Memorial Sculpture came under fire, leading to some rethinking.

3. Palm Springs bank closures imminent but limited
While two major banks closing branches in Palm Springs made in-person banking more difficult for some, we found out it wasn’t surprising. Brick-and-mortar banks are disappearing throughout the nation.

2. Outgoing Planning Commission members pan Miralon condo project
Our readers always enjoy a little snark or a swipe during government meetings, and some Planning Commission members gave them plenty to enjoy as they weighed in on a 242-unit condominium project at the Miralon development. “The problem is the individual buildings are just aggressively ugly,” said one.

1. Cancelation of plans for Soho House, claims of troubles with city, catch officials by surprise
The announcement of plans for an exclusive Soho House at the Colony 29 historic property site was number five in our 2022 list of most-read stories. Its eventual demise, announced in February, was our most-read story in 2023.

Click here to see the complete rundown, including a bonus: our most shared social media posting.

BRIEFLY

🛏️ City opens overnight winter shelter

The city and Martha’s Village and Kitchen are once again partnering to provide overnight shelter for unhoused residents during the winter months.

• As approved by the City Council last week, a total of 20 beds will be available between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. seven days a week at the former Boxing Club located at 225 El Cielo Rd.
  
  
• Free dinner, breakfast, and hygiene items will be available. The beds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  
  
• Bottom line: The temporary shelter began last Friday and is scheduled to conclude on March 15, 2024.

🏗️ Planning Commission applicants sought

Looking to fill the seat recently vacated by a former member who is leading the efforts at restoring the down Plaza Theatre, the city is putting out a call for applicants to serve on the Palm Springs Planning Commission.

• J.R. Roberts, who is also a former City Council member, stepped down from the Planning Commission earlier this month in order to free up more time to focus on restoration efforts at the historic theater. 
  
  
• The seven-member commission meets twice a month on Wednesdays at City Hall to review development applications and make recommendations on land use, zoning, and General Plan policies. 
  
  
• Bottom line: Applicants must be Palm Springs residents and registered voters. They cannot be employed by or have a current job application with the city. To complete an application online, head to this page on the city website.

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FEATURED EVENTS

City Council Finance Subcommittee
9 a.m. | Virtual
The two-person subcommittee will participate in a quarterly review of the city’s investments from Chandler Asset Management.

Bingo with Bella Da Ball
7 p.m. until 9 p.m. | Kings Highway
Come to the Ace Hotel where the lovely Bella da Ball will be calling numbers and giving away prizes. Then stay for trivia from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

• Snowtopia at Palm Springs Air Museum starting Tuesday.
  
  
• “Die Hard” at the Cultural Center on Dec. 24.
  
  
• Rock the Park: Tribute to Tina Turner at Downtown Park on Jan. 3.
  
  
• Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 through 15.
  
  
• Mini Masterpieces Show at Desert Art Center Jan. 6.

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AND FINALLY …

If you’re a healthcare worker in the Coachella Valley, you’ll want to watch the skies today for a very special holiday greeting.

Driving the news: None other than Santa Claus himself will be departing the Palm Springs Air Museum at 12 p.m. on his annual flyover of local hospitals. He’ll take to the skies in a helicopter instead of his sleigh.

• He plans to visit Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs, as well as Eisenhower in Rancho Mirage, JFK in Indio, and High Desert Regional Hospital in Joshua Tree.

Why it matters: The tradition was started more than two decades ago as a way to thank local healthcare workers. It became even more important during the pandemic, when many hospital were overwhelmed with work.

But wait: On Sunday, Santa actually left his helicopter while still in flight, rappelling into the Palm Springs Police Department’s  annual Shop With a Cop event. Check out the footage here!