August 20 Daily Briefing: Plan to address water requirements, Cinema Diverse returning, and more

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Remember earlier this summer when we told you where you could find the little free libraries in the city and even made a map of them? Well, we also asked that if you knew of one to let us know — and we just got our first addition! Turns out, the fine folks at Desert Water Agency have one at their headquarters located at 1200 South Gene Autry Trail (bonus — it’s super cute). It’s on the map now, but there’s plenty of room for more. There are even kits you can order if you’d like to build your own.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Kidney Now” featuring Adam Levine, Mary J. Blige and others

LEADING OFF

DWA hoping that ‘disadvantaged’ status will ease new rules

Desert Water Agency (DWA) is planning to seek “disadvantaged” community status to ease its water conservation requirements under new state regulations.

Behind the scenes: The move comes as California water officials on July 3 unanimously adopted landmark rules aimed at guiding water use and conservation across the state for years to come.

• The new state regulations, which stem from two 2018 bills, mark a shift from previous one-size-fits-all approaches to water conservation in California. They allow suppliers to consider local factors such as climate, population, and lot size when setting conservation goals.

Driving the news: Under the new “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” framework, about 400 urban water suppliers in California will be required to adopt water-use budgets and meet local conservation goals. Some agencies could face cuts of up to 20% in water usage.

• DWA, which serves Palm Springs and neighboring Cathedral City, has historically had the state’s highest or near-highest water usage. It hopes to qualify for an alternative pathway that would allow it to reduce water use by just 1% annually instead of the more drastic immediate cuts.

What they’re saying: “We’re not seeking dramatic change, but rather using our incentive and other conservation programs to show a consistent good faith effort to conserve to the state,” Clark Elliott, conservation manager for DWA, told The Desert Sun in late July.

Zoom in: The agency serves an area with a median household income of $63,467, according to a state water board database. Elliott said DWA should qualify for the disadvantaged status because they serve pockets of lower-income residents in both Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

But wait: DWA has already made some progress in water conservation. The agency reduced total water consumption by about 8% from 2020 to 2023, saving more than 800 million gallons when comparing the two years.

Bigger picture: State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel emphasized the importance of the efforts during the July 3 meeting.

• “As we think of the Colorado River, the Bay Delta, the stressed watersheds from which much of the urban supply comes into our cities and communities, we need to show — for other states and for ourselves — that we’re taking steps to ease that burden,” he said.

Looking ahead: The new regulations are set to take effect by Jan. 1, 2025, giving water agencies time to prepare and implement their conservation strategies.

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BRIEFLY

🎬 Cinema Diverse returning for 17th edition

The annual Palm Springs LGBTQ+ film festival, Cinema Diverse, is set to return this September for its 17th edition. The event will run over two long weekends, featuring more than 50 feature films and 100 short films across three theaters at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

• The festival opens on Sept. 19 with the world premiere of “BIG RAGE,” an action film set against the backdrop of the Salton Sea’s lithium gold rush. The movie introduces Fabian Arnold as a successor to Jean-Claude Van Damme.
  
  
• Cinema Diverse’s 2024 schedule includes several world premieres from both domestic and international LGBTQ+ filmmakers, many of whom are returning alumni.
  
  
• Details: Tickets and passes for the event are currently on sale at CinemaDiverse.org.

🚗 Suspect arrested for vehicle burglary while out on bail

A 21-year-old man out on bail for two different offenses was arrested by Palm Springs police on suspicion of breaking into vehicles on East Tahquitz Canyon Way early Monday morning. 

• According to PSPD, the man fled from officers but was quickly caught. He had reportedly broken into two vehicles using a rock and a tire iron, which was recovered at the scene.
  
  
• He now faces additional charges, including burglary, resisting arrest, vandalism, and committing a felony while out on bail. He is being held at the John Benoit Detention Center with bail set at $250,000.
  
  
• Bottom line: Police remind the community to take precautions against vehicle burglaries, such as not leaving valuables in plain view, locking vehicles, parking in well-lit areas, and reporting suspicious activity.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

DWA Board Meeting
8 a.m. | Agency headquarters
The board typically meets twice a month and you can attend either virtually or in person. Information on current meetings is available here.

Palm Springs Chamber Leads Lunch
12 p.m. | Sonny’s Bar and Grill
Leads Lunch is free to attend for all Palm Springs Chamber Members. The only cost to you is your Lunch.

Cribbage at Play
1 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Drop in between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. every Tuesday and find a game of cribbage. There’s no cost to play!

Gay Men’s Chorus Auditions
6 p.m. | Mizell Center
Auditions by appointment will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Fill out the online audition form here.

Industry Night Swim
6 p.m. | Hotel Zoso
Ditch your business suit for your swimsuit and join in for a lively event just for hospitality industry professionals. Savor tacos  and tequila, and groove to live music.

Toastmasters
6 p.m. | The Center
Weekly club meetings are held on Tuesdays and run by club officers and members. Members at the meetings are usually working their way through the Toastmasters’ training system called Pathways.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Auditions at the Mizell Center on Aug. 27.
  
  
• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Sale at the Palm Springs Public Library JC Frey Building on Aug. 31.
  
  
• Mrs. Frisky’s Cats & Bakewell Tart Night at Frisky Business on Sept. 6.
  
  
• PSUSD Diversity & Racial Equity Conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Sept. 7.
  
  
• Audition for the Modern Men Chorus on Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 at United Methodist Church of Palm Springs.
  
  
• Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs at Indian Canyons Golf Resort on Sept. 18

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AND FINALLY …

Now in its 40th year, DAP Health, a nonprofit healthcare provider, has expanded its reach across Southern California, offering comprehensive medical and social services to diverse communities. The organization now serves 240 urban and rural zip codes in Riverside and San Diego counties.

Driving the news: the organization has grown from its origins as an HIV/AIDS care provider to offer a wide range of medical services, including primary care, mental health, and sexual wellness.

• The organization operates 25 fixed locations and eight mobile units, serving patients in multiple languages.

Why it matters: DAP Health focuses on culturally competent care and addressing social drivers of health to improve patient outcomes.

• Services are provided on a sliding scale fee for income-qualified, uninsured individuals.

The big picture: DAP Health’s mission extends beyond medical care, offering social services such as affordable housing, case management, and food assistance.

By the numbers: The healthcare provider serves 8,400 uninsured patients and 75,000 low-income patients annually. It also provides 141 units of onsite affordable housing.

Details: Want more information about DAP Health? Find the answers to more than a dozen questions about the organization in this complete article.