August 2 Daily Briefing: DAP speaks about UBI program, hospital negotiations, a win for ‘Cadillactus,’ and more

TGIF everyone! Below, you’ll find our fifth in-depth story in the past two weeks — and third in the past three days — about issues surrounding a Universal Basic Income program that the city committed $700,000 to in 2022. If you’re growing tired of this story, we apologize, and you may not like that we will have much more to report in the coming days and weeks. While we prefer to write about simpler, happier news in our city, in this case it’s warranted that we stay on this story. If you’d like to spend this weekend catching up, we’ve rounded up all our stories at this link, and future stories will be there as well. Thanks for sticking with us on this!

🎶 Setting the mood: “All Day And All Of The Night” by The Kinks

LEADING OFF

DAP Health: Only $30K of $700K meant for UBI program available when it assumed control

DAP Health, a Palm Springs-based healthcare organization, is trying to pick up the pieces of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program at the center of an investigation into alleged misappropriation of taxpayer money and sharing new information about its current status.

Looking back: Hoping to secure a portion of millions of dollars in state funding that could be used for the program, the Palm Springs City Council approved an initial $200,000 payment to Queer Works and its CEO Jacob Rostovsky to support the effort in March 2022. It split its vote in approving an additional $500,000 four months later.

• The program did not roll out as intended, and now Rostovsky and Queer Works are under investigation by the Riverside County District Attorney. The DA is also looking into issues with funds Riverside County officials awarded Rostovsky.

Behind the scenes: Hoping to land that state grant money, members of the council approached DAP to help direct the program with Queer Works, a less-experienced nonprofit, DAP officials said.

• As the highly-anticipated state funding failed to materialize and DAP stepped back, officials there said they tried to give Queer Works advice on how best to manage the program, but their communication went unanswered.

Driving the news: In a statement released on its website Thursday, DAP said that when it assumed full responsibility for the UBI pilot program on July 12, only $30,000 remained from the original $700,000 that the Palm Springs City Council approved and the city paid out.

What we’re watching: As the UBI program moves forward under DAP’s guidance, the organization’s representatives said measures to improve transparency and efficiency, such as direct communication channels for participants and monthly group meetings, are being implemented. 

Dive deeper with our complete story online.

IN OTHER NEWS

🏥 Negotiations over a 30-year lease to operate Desert Regional Medical Center between Tenet Health and the Desert Healthcare District have stalled as they face a crucial deadline for voter approval. Another meeting on the issue is planned for next Tuesday. [Desert Sun]

💰 A drop in taxes collected from hotels, motels and vacation rentals in Palm Springs might be more than seasonal, although record numbers of travelers coming to the city as the pandemic eased helped create a spike that couldn’t be sustained, Jennifer Franco reports. [KESQ]

🛫 Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) announced Thursday that it will provide nonstop service to Toronto beginning in December via Canadian provider Porter Airlines. [MyNewsLA]

---

YOUR WEEKEND

TODAY

• Move & Groove at The Center at 8:30 a.m.
  
  
• Who Cares? Caregiver Support Group at The Center at 3 p.m.
  
  
• TGIF Trivia at Play Lounge and Cafe at 6:30 p.m.
  
  
• “Strangers on a Train” film screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Country Western Dancing at Dance Ranch Palm Springs at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Indoor Farmers’ Market at the Palm Springs Pavilion at 8 a.m.
  
  
• “Integrated” Summer Dance Concert at Nickerson-Rossi’s Dance House at 3 p.m.
  
  
• “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5 p.m.
  
  
• Piano Riot at Revolution Stage Company at 5 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Summer Sunday: Weaving Patterns at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Sunday at 11 a.m.
  
  
• “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” film screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 6 p.m.

---

AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs residents made their voice heard, and helped a new piece of local artwork win an award in an international art competition.

Catch up fast: “Cadillactus,” a sculpture by Roger Reutimann, was recently installed on the median at East Tahquitz Canyon and Sunrise Way as part of the “Pillars of Palm Springs” Public Art Project It was selected as one of the top 100 most successful pieces of public art or architecture of 2024.

Driving the news: The sculpture was sitting in second place in the People’s Choice Award competition run by CODAworx, but thanks to everyone that voted, it came in first!

What they’re saying: “Mid-century aesthetics meets public art. What an iconic way to welcome visitors to Palm Springs!” said Ilene Shaw, Executive Director, NYCXDesign; Founding Producer, Design Pavilion and CEO, Shaw & Co. Productions.

Context: The piece is one of six new art “pillars” in the city. The idea behind the art pieces is to welcome visitors to Palm Springs as they drive into the heart of the city from the airport. Each of the six pillars represent one of six principles that guide the city: creativity, equality, serenity, diversity, civility, and community.