April 12 Daily Briefing: Proposal to right wrongs, ‘beautiful shade’ for parks, wave pool back open, and more

Happy Friday, and happy first weekend of Coachella! As you are probably aware by now, the desert gets a little more crowded for the next three weekends as music festivals take place. That typically means Palm Springs hotels and vacation rentals fill and buses packed with concertgoers take to our streets. But it also means that the people packing into that lodging and those buses are down in Indio rocking out. So, let this be another friendly reminder that downtown businesses, especially restaurants, would love to see locals pay them a visit.

🎶 Setting the mood: “BODYGUARD” by Beyoncé

LEADING OFF

Council moves to address city’s role in Section 14 evictions through new initiatives

The Palm Springs City Council pledged Thursday to address historical injustices, including the displacement of minority groups from Section 14 in the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, through new initiatives aimed at promoting equity and healing.

Driving the news: In a statement released Thursday evening, councilmembers acknowledged that city funds were previously used to clear land housing tenants, particularly minorities, in the Section 14 area. They have agreed on several steps to rectify these past wrongs.

Zoom in: The Council’s plan includes contributions to a Community Land Trust for affordable housing, reviewing a new small business entrepreneur pilot program, and considering the feasibility of establishing a healing or cultural center.

• Other proposed measures include dedicating an art installation, renaming a community park, a day of remembrance, and a historical context study.

Looking back: Section 14, which belongs to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, housed a majority of the city’s minority population roughly 60 years ago. Residents were forced out when white business owners sought to develop the land following the 1959 Indian Leasing Act.

• In September 2021, the City Council formally apologized for the city’s role in the evictions and approved removing a statue of the city’s mayor at the time from City Hall.

The latest: In 2022, a nonprofit partnered with the Section 14 Survivors group, filing a claim against the city seeking potentially billions of dollars in reparations. City officials agreed to consider several approaches to settling the claim.

Up next: City staff have been directed to coordinate with various levels of government for potential funding for these projects. 

• City officials said the proposed measures aim to acknowledge and learn from past actions while promoting equity and healing for the affected communities.

Bottom line: “My colleagues and I recognize that city funds were used to clear land which housed individuals and families who were tenants on the property, including minority groups,” Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein said. “We know that we as a city need to right that wrong and in today’s Closed Session we collectively agreed on a number of steps to accomplish that goal.”

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

🌳 ‘Beautiful Shade’ coming to Palm Springs parks

New pieces of art will soon be popping up in the city, bringing color and shade to local parks, after the Palm Springs City Council voted to approve $80,000 for the Public Arts Commission’s “Beautiful Shade” project.

• The project, designed to encourage shade equity and beautification in city parks, comes with stipulations: All pieces should feature imagery and a color palette that is welcoming and focuses on themes that promote community, healthy living, family, and sustainability, and offers maximum shade.
• The commission suggested splitting the funding up into three different tiers, — $5,000, $25,000, and $50,000 — so that artists of different levels can apply. The call for artists will go out in June, and the pieces will be installed a year from now.
  
• Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein added his support for the project, stating, “I want to emphasize how important shade is in all our discussion for our city, for sustainability, and for our climate action plan.”
  
• Looking ahead: With such enthusiasm for the project, councilmembers mentioned expanding the idea of additional shade projects to commercial districts and the Palm Springs Convention Center.

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

“Nice Work if You Can Get It”
Friday – Sunday | Coachella Valley Repertory
CVRep says this will be the biggest production ever mounted on their stage. A classic Broadway blockbuster filled with actors, singers, dancers, and beloved Gershwin tunes. ($50)

“Sherlock Holmes Confidential”
Friday – Sunday | Palm Springs Cultural Center
It’s the world premiere of a new play by award-winning playwright Tony Padilla. The story centers around an alternative version of the Holmes origin story, a spurned romance leads to someone threatening to unmask the young detective as a fraud. ($37)

“Mr. Parker”

Friday – Sunday | Palm Springs Woman’s Club

It’s opening night for “Mr. Parker,” a new play by Michael Mckeever. At 54 years old, Terry Parker finds himself at a crossroads in his life. After the loss of his partner of 30 years, he finds himself suddenly single and unable to adjust to a world that has moved on without him. ($48)

“Billie! Backstage with Lady Day”
Friday – Sunday | Revolution Stage Company
This NAACP award-winning musical, “Billie! Backstage with Lady Day,” s a musically haunting, unpredictable journey into the winding road of love, joy, blues, racism, and astounding hit songs that tell the story of the amazing Billie Holiday. ($35)

“The Boys in the Band”
Friday – Sunday | Palm Canyon Theatre
In his New York City apartment, Michael throws a birthday party for Harold, a self-avowed “thirty-two-year-old, pockmarked, Jew fairy,” complete with a surprise gift: “Cowboy,” a street hustler. ($32)

TODAY

Razzle Dazzle
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Elevate your evenings with the magic of Broadway at the VIP Lounge. “Razzle Dazzle: A Broadway Revue” is your ticket to an unforgettable experience, featuring Bonnie G. and Douglas Graham and showcasing special guests from the vibrant world of Broadway. ($10)

SATURDAY

Certified Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The farmers’ market is open for business on Saturday with local farmers and vendors offering fresh agri­cul­tural and related products.

Little Beverly Hills Neighborhood Garage Sale
8 a.m. | Little Beverly Hills Neighborhood
The Little Beverly Hills Neighborhood Organization is hosting their annual multi-home garage sale, this year 10 homeowners are participating at eight homes throughout the neighborhood.

Flagging in the Desert
11:30 a.m. | Ruth Hardy Park
Flagging in the Desert returns to Ruth Hardy Park where local DJ Mark Tarbox will provide an exciting soundtrack to dance, to flag, or just to watch. 

World Art Day Festival
4 p.m. | Demuth Park
Bring the whole family for a free day filled with fun hands-on art activities, live entertainment, food vendors, and more.

SUNDAY

“Different Drum: The Music of Linda Ronstadt”
1 p.m. | Temple Isaiah
Temple Isaiah & The Jewish Community Center present Francesca Amari’s “Different Drum: The Music of Linda Ronstadt, a fund-raising effort to support Twice Blessed, the synagogue’s LGBTQIA+ membership activities. ($35)

Screwball Sundays: “After the Thin Man”
3 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Don’t miss the next round of hilarity as the Film Society presents another season filled with the wacky plots, witty dialogue, and zany characters of the great screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age. This week they screen 1936’s “After the Thin Man.” ($12) 

SAVE THE DATE

• Drive the Plaza Theatre into the Future on April 19 at the Prescott Collection Hangar.
  
  
• Free Shredding Event at Palm Springs City Hall on April 20.
  
  
• Coachella Acappella performs at Palm Desert High School on April 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Entertainment Convention on May 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Desert Winds Freedom Band Concert on May 4 at Temple Isaiah.
  
  
• PSUSD Multicultural Festival on May 4 at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.

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AND FINALLY …

Surf’s up once again as the Palm Springs Surf Club reopened its doors after being closed since January.

Driving the news: The club was open for less than two weeks in January before closing due to a technical malfunction. The club reopened just in time for this weekend’s pool party at the club hosted by Goldenvoice, the promoters behind Coachella.

What’s new: With the reopening comes new sessions, price changes, and the introduction of general admission, allowing anyone to come in and enjoy the atmosphere.

Dive deeper: General admission will cost $40 each for guests of any age to enjoy the resort amenities and waterpark attractions including the lazy river, splash pad, and water slides.