Dec. 22 Daily Briefing: Our person of the year, reparations update, concourse renaming, and more

Happy Friday, and welcome to our last Daily Briefing of the year! We’re taking some time to rest, recharge, and reflect, and will be back to normal business on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Before the year ends, though, we’ll send one last very special Palm Springs Profiles (look for it on Sunday). We’ll also have Bruce Fessier’s annual “In Memoriam” on our website sometime next week. Make sure to bookmark that site now! 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses 

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

Meet our 2023 Palm Springs Person of the Year

Sonny Von Cleveland, a multi-hyphenate actor, photographer, author, motivational speaker, mentor, and more is The Palm Springs Post Person of the Year.

Zoom in: In person and in his memoir, “Hey White Boy: Conversations of Redemption,” Von Cleveland shares how a childhood marred by sexual assault left him with severe emotional scars and how his outgoing nature gave way to anger and rebellion.

• He faced his first felony charge at age 7 and, by 16, was in prison, where he found himself again at 21.

Looking back: During a stint in solitary confinement, Von Cleveland struck a deal. By speaking to a group of other prisoners, he would be released from “the hole” and go back to a regular cell.

• “I was supposed to be in there longer, but they said if I would teach a class I could get out,” he explained. “The class was all pedophiles — the very types of people who had abused me. I tried to teach them the consequences of their actions. I’m the result of what you did.”

Why it matters: That experience, as well as mentoring from a fellow prisoner, changed the course of Von Cleveland’s life. He now mentors youth at Indio Juvenile Hall and serves as a re-entry coach for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in Los Angeles.

Looking ahead: Von Cleveland has his sights set on continuing his commitment to helping troubled youth by building The Von Cleveland Foundation, which he launched earlier this month along with a handful of board members with similar backgrounds.

• Through the nonprofit foundation, they plan to build an empowerment center (the first of its kind in the Coachella Valley) offering resources to help released offenders both young and old successfully transition from incarceration back into society.

Bottom line: “We don’t have special powers,” Von Cleveland said of former convicts who choose to dedicate their lives to serving others upon release. “We just have somebody who cared.”

Dive deeper with our complete profile here.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Amid high profile billboard campaign, city continues work on reparations

Despite the recent launch of a highly visible campaign aimed at keeping the pressure on city leaders to make amends for events in the past, the city and the organization behind the effort are no closer to a resolution.

• Billboards along major routes into and out of the city, placed by the Section 14 Survivors organization, are designed to raise awareness of the forced evictions of Black and Latino community members from tribal land here more than 60 years ago.
  
  
• In a claim filed at City Hall, attorneys representing the Section 14 group claim damages to those communities could total millions and possibly billions of dollars. Earlier this month, however, they said talks between the Section 14 group and the city have reached a standstill.
  
  
• Yes, but: In speaking with The Post last week, City Manager Scott Stiles said he and elected leaders remain committed to providing reparations, including some that take the form of housing assistance. That work is ongoing. 

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

Snowtopia
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Palm Springs Air Museum
The Air Museum’s “Snowtopia” continues this weekend, with the museum transforming into a winter wonderland with 60 tons of real snow, crafts, hot cocoa, and Santa, of course. ($23)

Dickens Writes a Christmas Carol
Today and Saturday | 611 South Palm Canyon Drive
Revolution Stage Company presents a show that’s perfect for the whole family, based on a short note in Dickens’ own journal and follows him as he writes his most famous work. ($25-$35)

The Recorded Story of Nat King Cole
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
The Inner Circle Arts Society presents a musical production that tells the story of Nat King Cole and his buddy Jimmy Durante, featuring original music and holiday classics. ($35)

TODAY

The Roundtable: HIV/AIDS survivors
5:30 p.m. | Ken Seeley Community Room
A weekly discussion group for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors in the Coachella Valley. 

Christmas with the Crawfords
7:30 p.m. | Margaritaville Palm Springs
The holiday musical comedy is performed by Desert Theatreworks and features a mashup of silver screen icon, including Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, and Gloria Swanson. ($50)

“The Exorcist” 
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Come watch a special commemorative screening of a rare, preserved original theatrical release 35mm film print of the film. The evening also features a Q&A with actress Eileen Dietz, who played the face of the demon in the movie. This will be the only Southern California engagement for this print. ($13)

SATURDAY

Certified Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Camelot Theatre
The market returns to its outdoor location, with local farmers and vendors offering fresh agri­cul­tural and related products.

“Elf” the movie
6 p.m. | Cultural Center
Now is your chance to see the holiday classic starring Will Ferrell on the big screen. Come dressed in your finest Christmas sweater for a magical night! ($12)

SATURDAY

Festival Christmas Eve Worship
6 p.m. | Temple Isaiah 
On Christmas Eve at Temple Isaiah, join River of Hope Palm Springs, Lutheran (ELCA) Faith Community in the Desert for carols, candlelight communion, and music featuring a brass ensemble from the Desert Winds Freedom Band.

“Die Hard”
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
“Welcome to the party, pal!” Kendall’s favorite holiday tradition is quoting this movie almost word-for-word every year. What better way to experience the iconic action/holiday movie than on the big screen? ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Rock the Park: Tribute to Tina Turner at the Downtown Park on Jan. 3.
  
  
• Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 through 15.
  
  
• Mini Masterpieces Show at Desert Art Center Jan. 6.
  
  
• Agua Caliente Lecture Series at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Jan. 17

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AND FINALLY …

Staff at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) recently announced a landmark naming rights sponsorship with Agua Caliente Casinos, rebranding the RJ Concourse as the Agua Caliente Concourse. 

Driving the news: The partnership is expected to bring greater exposure to the Coachella Valley’s offerings, according to Agua Caliente Casinos COO Saverio R. Scheri III.

What they’re saying: Harry Barrett, Executive Director of Aviation at PSP, said, “Every day, our team is working to transform Palm Springs  International Airport into an innovative, industry-leading facility.”

What to expect: Set to begin in early 2024, the three-year agreement includes concourse naming rights, promotional spaces, and advertising opportunities.