Oct. 9 Daily Briefing: Mayor’s town hall, mosquito spraying, playwrights sought, and more

Happy Thursday to everyone except the people behind the bots that messed with the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s survey. Yesterday, we told you about the survey, aimed at understanding the experiences and needs of the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ+ population. It’s an ambitious undertaking and worthy of your time. Unfortunately, at the time our newsletter went out, the survey was experiencing issues. We thought they were temporary, so shared the link anyway, hoping they would pass. Alas, it was not to be, as we were informed that a bot attack had forced The Center to take down the survey. We apologize for the inconvenience and promise to let you know when we hear the all clear!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Howling at the Moon” by Yvonne Champagne

LEADING OFF

Mayor addresses city priorities, stalled projects at town hall

Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte provided updates on development projects, infrastructure improvements and budget concerns during a town hall Wednesday evening at City Hall. Roughly 50 residents attended the meeting, where deHarte spoke for 40 minutes before answering questions.

Driving the news: DeHarte covered topics including troubled developments, the zoning code update, short-term rental regulations, homelessness programs and the city’s $3.2 billion development pipeline during his presentation.

• The mayor has two months remaining in his one-year term before Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto takes over, though he said he’ll continue championing his priorities as a council member.

Zoom in: DeHarte said he met with Dream Hotel backers in New York last week to express frustration over delays, telling them “they lost all credibility within our community.” The developer has not filed an extension notice while facing a January 2027 deadline.

• The city also issued a default notice to the Orchid Tree Hotel developer for missing key milestones and failing to submit planning applications. The developer has 30 days to cure the defaults.

Other highlights: DeHarte vowed to fight any attempt to allow five-story buildings in established neighborhoods and said the zoning code update won’t come before council until April at the earliest. 

• He also expressed concern the city’s $172 million budget relies on overly optimistic revenue projections and applauded efforts to address homelessness, noting a 63% decrease in unhoused individuals since 2023, with the Navigation Center operating at 90% to 100% capacity.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🏛️ Preservation Board recommends three properties for designation

• The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board recommended approval Tuesday of Class 1 historic designations for three properties representing the city’s architectural development from the 1940s through 1960s. The recommendations will go to city council for final approval.
  
• The properties include the Cullerton-Chaddick Residence at 572 West Santa Elena Rd., a 1948 ranch home rebuilt by architect William Cody in 1965; the Rubin Building at 457 North Palm Canyon Dr., a 1946 mixed-use structure by Albert R. Walker in Regency Revival style; and the Robinson Residence at 999 North Patencio Rd., designed in 1957 by architects A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons.
  
• Why it matters: Historic properties are subject to the Mills Act, which provides tax savings for property owners to put towards restoration and maintenance. Owners of Class 1 and Class 2 historic sites must apply for a certificate of appropriateness before any demolition or alterations.

Dive deeper with our complete story

🦟 West Nile Virus prompts mosquito spraying

• The Coachella Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District will conduct aerial and ground spraying in Palm Springs on Sunday between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., following detection of the West Nile Virus in one area of the city. Technicians will begin preparation work as early as 7 p.m. on Saturday.
  
• The spraying will take place in a wide section of the city (see a map here). Treatment routes may expand to include additional communities based on trap counts, mosquito abundance and test results. Signs for ground treatments will be posted today, once routes are finalized.
  
• Details: The spraying is weather permitting. More information and updates are available at this website. 

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Preschool and Baby Story Time
10 a.m. | Public Library at Rimrock Plaza
Children’s Librarian Nancy reads stories, sings songs, and shares early learning concepts. Preschool story time is from 10-11 AM and Baby story time is at 11 AM – 12 PM each Thursday morning.

Aspen Dental Ribbon Cutting
11 a.m. | 5200 E Ramon Rd.
This event is open to the public — come join the celebration and show your support for Aspen Dental Palm Springs, one of the nation’s largest networks of dental care providers.

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. 

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Commissioners will hear several updates on ongoing projects according to the agenda.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
Weather permitting, the street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food.

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Woodman Shimko Gallery Reopening on Friday
  
• Junior Ranger Expo at Indian Canyons on Saturday
  
• Kick Bullying to the Curb at Palm Springs Stadium on Saturday
  
• Architectural Preservation Awards on Saturday
  
• Modernism Week October starting Oct. 16
  
• Wet + Wild Party Benefitting Palm Springs Police and Fire at Desert Hand Car Wash on Oct. 23
  
• Pride Equality Walk on Oct. 25
  
• “Be A Hero For Kids” Halloween Bash on Oct. 26
  
• Pride on the Page on Nov. 1
  
• Palm Springs Pride Nov. 6 through 9
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 8

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AND FINALLY …

The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival is now accepting submissions for its ninth annual event, giving elementary, middle, and high school students across Riverside County until March 6, 2026, to submit original plays for a chance to see their work performed by professional actors.

Driving the news: Winners will receive mentorship to enhance their plays, a public staged reading at the Palm Springs Cultural Center in June 2026, and a $500 scholarship to further their careers in the arts.

• The Bent, a Palm Springs-based theater, will provide an additional $500 scholarship for the winning play with an LGBTQ+ theme, an award that will now be called the Bent Award.

Why it matters: With arts programs being cut across the country, the festival provides young writers a rare platform to develop their craft and gain real-world theater experience.

The details: Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee, with winning plays announced by March 20, 2026. The festival is supported by the Riverside County Office of Education and maintains an active alumni advisory board of previous winners who help run the event.

How to participate: Students can find more information and submit their plays at psypf.org or contact Executive Director David Youse at 310-428-3368.