August 23 Daily Briefing: Holstege hits back after allegations, new shoes delivered, and more

TGIF everyone, where we’re ending our week with a giant THANK YOU to the hundreds of readers who emailed, texted, or chatted with us in person, offering support as Kendall recovers from her kidney transplant. She truly felt the love and your messages meant the world to her! Perhaps the best part of the week was hearing stories from many of you who were also organ recipients or donors, or knew somebody who was. Your stories of hope and healing were remarkable, and the fact you shared them means so, so much. If you’re considering becoming a donor, know that more than 100,00 people are on the national transplant waiting list. You can truly make a difference by signing up here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Absolutely Right” by Five Man Electric Band

LEADING OFF

Holstege hits back at DA over residency inquiry as city evaluates next steps

Palm Springs City Councilmember Christy Holstege attributed Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin’s effort to investigate her legal residency to political gamesmanship Thursday, alleging Hestrin was attempting to bolster the chances of her opponent in the race for California State Assembly.

At issue: Allegations contained in a letter sent from District Attorney Mike Hestrin to the Palm Springs city attorney on Tuesday state that Holstege has not resided at a home in District 4 for years. Instead, Hestrin wrote, she lives in District 3 and no longer owns her former District 4 home, which has been listed on Airbnb since 2022.

• If that’s true, then city rules state she is not legally a member of the council.

State of play: Holstege, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election to the council in November. Instead, she is again hoping to win the District 47 seat in the California State Assembly currently occupied by Republican Greg Wallis, whom she narrowly lost to in that race in 2022.

What they’re saying: Through a statement released by her campaign Thursday, Holstege attributed Hestrin’s actions to political gamesmanship, given the fact he has previously endorsed Wallis.

• “Republican Greg Wallis got his Republican DA buddy to change the conversation and distract voters from his record of failing the voters of AD47,” the statement read. “… He should recuse himself immediately and refer this matter to the California Attorney General where we have every confidence it will be resolved quickly.”

Behind the scenes: Hoping to see the evidence that Hestrin claimed to have in his letter Tuesday, City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger sent his own letter Thursday.

• In his letter, Ballinger requested all materials from Hestrin to substantiate his claims and highlighted that the state attorney general, not city officials, holds the authority to investigate and determine the legality of holding public office.

Bottom line: If it is proven that Holstege did not have actually reside in the District 4 residence she claimed to live in, that would mean the seat was technically unoccupied since 2022. Any 3-2 votes by the council where she was in the majority would then become ties.

• A spokesperson said Thursday that the City Clerk’s office is looking into exactly how many votes would be affected. The Post found at least three such votes in its past coverage, including those on a controversial new type of second home and the historic designation of a condominium complex.

Dive deeper with our complete story.

IN OTHER NEWS

🏈 The Palm Springs High School football team is looking to bounce back after a 2-3 league season last year. The team’s regular season starts tonight at Segerstrom. [KESQ] 

🎭 The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival has announced that the documentary “Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins” will receive the ‘PSICF Stanley Kramer Mad World Comedy Award’ at this year’s festival. [Broadway World] 

📚 A PSHS student has been honored for her superior academic and philanthropic achievements by The National Society of High School Scholars, which recognizes top students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. [Desert Sun] 

---

YOUR WEEKEND

TODAY

• Superbloom group exhibition at The Pit from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
  
  
• Summer Sunset Art Walk  at The Perez Art District from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.
  
  
• Siobhan at V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar starting at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Country Western Dancing at Dance Ranch Palm Springs at 7:30 p.m. 
  
  
• Comedy Night at Hotel Zoso starting at 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Indoor Farmers’ Market at Palm Springs Pavilion from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  
  
• Open Cockpit Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Palm Springs Air Museum.
  
  
• Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus School Supply Drive from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Dollar Tree on East Vista Chino.
  
  
• Star Wars Episode VII at Camelot Theatres at 5 p.m.
  
  
• Bingo with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at 6 p.m. at one eleven bar.

SUNDAY

• Desert Hand Car Wash fundraiser benefitting Palm Springs Animal Shelter from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Cathedral City at 67790 East Palm Canyon Dr.

---

AND FINALLY …

The community’s charity was on full display at Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) headquarters Thursday, as the first of what will be more than 2,000 pairs of new shoes were distributed to students in need.

Driving the news: With volunteers from local organizations that helped make the event happen staffing tables and assisting them, students from local schools received new shoes. 

• The event was the first of two events that will see hundreds of pairs of Converse sneakers made available to students. In total, 2,500 pairs will be distributed during the coming months. 

Why it matters: Ellen Goodman, director of The Foundation for PSUSD, which organizes the annual event, said there are multiple benefits from the program. Not only do children get a boost of self confidence from receiving new shoes, she said, but community members who don’t have children in the district and still want to help students have a way to give back.

• “These foundations really helped get us across the finish line,” Goodman said as she pointed to volunteers from several community organizations who were in the room. “But this gives everybody in the community a chance to make a difference.”

By the numbers: Each year, The Foundation must raise $85,000, which is added to a contribution from Converse to cover the $150,000 total cost of the program. That money is raised via both small, individual donations and larger contributions from local organizations and businesses.

Details: if you’d like to contribute, you can make a donation by going here.