April 4 Daily Briefing: What to do with vacant buildings, police launch new text system, and more

Welcome to Thursday, where we’re thinking about all the different ways drivers can be distracted other than by their phones. Yesterday in this space we told you that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and that police are stepping up enforcement. One reader wrote in to ask if having a dog on your lap while driving is illegal, so we looked it up. Turns out, while there’s no law specifically about dogs on your lap, the existing distracted driving law “includes having a pet on the driver’s lap or any activity that diverts attention from the road.” We won’t get into whether cats should be behind the wheel, but the writers at SNL tackled that in 1989.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Digital Witness” by St. Vincent

---

LEADING OFF

Renewed interest in tackling problem of vacant commercial buildings

One of the biggest concerns for Palm Springs residents is the amount of abandoned and boarded up commercial buildings dotting city streets. There’s some indication the city wants to confront the issue and find solutions.

Driving the news: Members of the Business Retention/Economic Development standing subcommittee met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the proliferation of vacant commercial buildings in the city, and strategies for addressing them.

• Attending the meeting were business leaders, Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, and Councilmember Christy Holstege. 

Why it matters: Vacant buildings bring down nearby property values and can attract trespassers and other using the building for illegal means. Holstege said the issue of vacant buildings is one that is frequently brought to her attention. 

By the numbers: Code enforcement said there are currently 30 vacant commercial buildings officially registered in the city. 

• The Araby Commons neighborhood has the highest number of registered vacant commercial buildings at five, followed by downtown, Tahquitz River East, and Desert Highland Gateway Estates, which each have three

How it works now: Vacant buildings must be registered with the city and properly maintained following city rules including clean landscaping, secured doors and windows, and good exterior condition.

Worth noting: Anyone can report suspected vacant buildings to the city via the myPalmSprings app or on the Code Compliance website. The city will eventually send out a code enforcement officer to determine whether or not the building meets the city’s criteria for being deemed vacant.

• Mitch Nabhan with Code Compliance acknowledged there are certain problem properties in the city with large repeated issues, including people trespassing and conducting illegal activity. If that’s the case, the police will get involved to make arrests or monitor the location. 

What to do: The subcommittee mentioned some of the strategies for addressing the vacant buildings, including a vacancy tax, adaptive reuse, demolition, and the city taking legal action on the properties.

What they’re saying: Bernstein said the vacant buildings deter economic growth in some parts of the city, adding, “There’s a lot of areas that are really primed for more vibrant commercial district.”

Up next: No formal vote on the issue was taken, but Bernstein and Holstege were motivated to tackle the issue and requested more detailed information on the vacant properties, including specific geographic information and the inclusion of non-registered vacant commercial properties.

BRIEFLY

📱 Palm Springs police roll out text-message-based feedback service

You might start getting texts from the police, but don’t panic! The Palm Springs Police Department has introduced PowerEngage, a text messaging system designed to collect citizen feedback following non-life-threatening interactions with law enforcement.

• The service, one of the first of its kind in the state, aims to strengthen community relations by sending out surveys to gather insights on the public’s experiences with police responses.
  
  
• How it works: Surveys will arrive hours or days post-incident, offering recipients an avenue to comment or extend thanks to officers involved. Not limited to those who receive an automatic text, PowerEngage invites any citizen interaction comments, ensuring inclusivity in feedback.

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

PALS Circle
2 p.m. | Online
Hosted by Planning Ahead for LGBTQ+ Seniors, this informal drop-in conversation is meant for connection, support, and friendship.

Tween Event: Solar Eclipse Viewer
4 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Tweens (grades 4-8) are invited to make their own solar eclipse viewer for the partial eclipse on Monday. 

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
According to the agenda, commissioners are discussing two murals, the George Floyd mural and the James O. Jessie Mural by Richard Wyatt, Jr.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

• Super Bloom Art Show on Friday at Desert Art Center.
  
  
• Faux Fur Ball on Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
  
  
• DA Spring Festival on Sunday at DA Computers.
  
  
• Opera in the Park on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Sunrise Park.
  
  
• Drive the Plaza Theatre into the Future on April 19 at the Prescott Collection Hangar.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.

---

AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs is pulling out all the stops to celebrate World Art Day.

Driving the news: The Parks and Recreation Department is putting on the World Art Festival, a free day of family fun at Demuth Park.

What to watch for: Attendees can see artists in action, learn about city art programs, and of course participate in hands-on projects.

• There will also be live entertainment, food, vendors, a student art gallery, and more.

Here’s why: The event is part of a global celebration of World Art Day, in honor of Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday.

Details: The event is on Saturday, April 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Demuth Park next to the pickleball courts.