April 18 Daily Briefing: Public project recommendations, latest crime stats, Easter lineup, and more

TGIF, everyone, where we hope you’ve got your hot cross buns ready for Good Friday, Easter eggs boiled for coloring, or have a prayer prepared for the departed as Passover concludes on Sunday. We also hope you’re planning to visit a few local shops and restaurants as many of the visitors staying in town head down to Indio for the second weekend of Coachella. We’ll see you out and about!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

LEADING OFF

Commission finalizes $6M in community project funding recommendations

The Palm Springs Measure J Oversight Commission completed an eight-month evaluation process Thursday, finalizing recommendations for spending $6 million on community projects funded from a portion of a special city sales tax.

On the agenda: The commission had earlier narrowed 52 applications to a list of approved projects totaling $5.2 million. On Thursday, they faced difficult choices allocating the remaining funds among eight final projects, needing to trim approximately $375,000-$400,000 to stay within budget constraints.

By the numbers: The $6 million available to the commission comes from a pool that typically exceeds $20 million, generated by a one-cent sales tax approved by voters over a decade ago.

• The tax will continue indefinitely following the passage of a November 2024 ballot measure removing its sunset clause.

Projects approved: Among the earlier initiatives that received the commission’s approval were solar installations for community organizations, an elevator upgrade at Palm Springs Art Museum, and accessibility improvements at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.

Driving the news: Among the projects approved Thursday, the Owen Coffman American Legion Post 519 will receive $256,000 for renovations to its historic building, and Oswit Land Trust’s “Nature in Our Backyard” initiative for Prescott Preserve will receive $234,000 for trees and irrigation repairs. 

• A mural honoring the city’s Filipino community was also approved by a 6-3 vote (with one commissioner abstaining), capping an effort that has spanned more than three years for the project’s backers, Bayanihan Desert.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendations will now go to the City Council for final approval as councilmembers work toward finalizing the next city budget by the end of June.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

👮🏽 First quarter crime statistics released; year-over-year drop reported

Palm Springs experienced a decline in criminal activity during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, newly published data from the police department shows.

• Of note were statistics that show retail and personal theft incidents dropping to 237 from last year’s 312 cases, alongside a reduction in auto-related crimes from 65 to 50 incidents, according to the police department’s recent social media update.
  
• Violent confrontations decreased slightly with 155 incidents recorded compared to 165 in the previous year, encompassing serious attacks, minor altercations, and threatening behavior. Unauthorized property entries fell substantially by about 40%, with just 24 cases compared to 49, while no fire-setting crimes were documented.
  
• Bottom line: Law enforcement officials credited the positive statistics to community policing and proactive crime prevention initiatives. Most crime was also down in 2024.

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YOUR WEEKEND

MULTIPLE DAYS

• “Beyond Therapy” at Desert Ensemble Theatre all weekend. ($40)
  
• “Falsettos” at Dezart Performs all weekend. ($53)
  
• “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at Palm Canyon Theatre all weekend. ($32)
  
• “The Shark is Broken” last chance to see the performances at Revolution Stage Company Friday and Saturday. ($29 and up)
  
• Festival Weekend Poolside at Ace Hotel all weekend. ($60 and up)
  
• Goldenvoice Surf Club at the Palm Springs Surf Club on Saturday and Sunday. ($49 and up)

TODAY

• Friends Book Club at the Palm Springs Library at 2 p.m.
  
• Kaftans & Cocktails happy hour benefiting the Palm Springs Animal Shelter at Boozehounds starts at 3 p.m.
  
• Foodie Fridays at the Cultural Center starting at 4 p.m.
  
• “Julie & Julia” free screening at the Cultural Center at 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Tahquitz Creek Cleanup at the Tahquitz Creek Foot Bridge at 8 a.m. The Tahquitz Creek Yacht Club’s annual brunch follows at 9 a.m.
  
• Certified Farmers’ Market at the Cultural Center starting at 8 a.m.
  
• GPSR Shredding Event at Greater Palm Springs Realtors at 8:30 a.m.
  
• Self-Advocacy in Healthcare Conference at the Mizell Center at 9 a.m.
  
• “Unlimited: A Wickedly Wonderful Celebration of Oz” at the Cultural Center at 5:30 p.m. ($35 and up)
  
• Country Western Dancing at 7 p.m. ($5)

SUNDAY

• The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Coloring Book release party at Oscars at 3 p.m.
  
• Screwball Sunday: “Love Crazy” screening at the Cultural Center at 3 p.m. ($14)

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AND FINALLY …

Easter is this Sunday, and there are several events throughout the city for kids and adults to keep an eye on.

Driving the news: Kicking off the weekend on Saturday the Palm Springs Fire Foundation is hosting its 39th annual Easter egg hunt at Ruth Hardy Park starting at 9 a.m open to children up to nine years old. Rumor has it the Easter Bunny planted more than 3,000 eggs throughout the park.

• The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures on a vintage fire engine, and families can enjoy a pancake breakfast in the park.

Up next: Also on Saturday, the Palm Springs Parks & Recreation Department hosts an “Egg-cellent” Duck Dive where families can dive in at the Palm Springs Swim Center starting at 11 a.m. and hunt for rubber duckies. Expect crafts and prizes as well.

What else: On Easter Sunday, early risers can enjoy a sunrise service 8,000 feet above the valley floor at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Another sunrise service is happening, this one is at the O’Donnell Golf Club where at one point a service was held every year from 1917-2017.

Dive deeper: Learn more about the history of sunrise services in the city in this fascinating historical breakdown by Tracy Conrad in The Desert Sun.

Keep in mind: This is by no means an exhaustive list! We highlighted just a few events, but there are services, brunches, and even parties held throughout the city. For more information, head to websites listed on the calendar entries.