Dec. 19 Daily Briefing: Readers choose the biggest news of 2023, where to see spirit-lifting lights, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, where we are less than one week away from Christmas Day (gulp). The good news is that you have this entire weekend to shop for all those special people in your life. The even better news is that there’s an entire downtown (and beyond) full of small businesses stocked with unique gifts, foods, and more. Need a few suggestions? Try this guide, created by the folks at Visit Palm Springs.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey

---

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

Readers choose their top stories, predict next year’s

Yesterday we told you which stories were the most popular on our site based on data. Today, we bring you the results of our third annual reader survey.

We asked readers what they think the most important story of 2023 was in Palm Springs and what the most important story will be in 2024. 

What they said: Tropical Storm Hilary and the ongoing homelessness crisis were consistently what readers thought were the biggest stories of 2023. For next year, residents said homelessness will continue to be an issue in the city.

Tropical Storm Hilary: For those who thought the storm was the biggest story, residents noticed how prepared the city was and commented on the impact of seeing neighbors and city leaders come together to fill sandbags.

• “Palm Springs leadership protected us so much better than many of our neighboring jurisdictions based on lessons learned during 2019 Valentine Day floods.” – Ed Dube, Canyon Estates

Bridge funding: Many residents thought the severity of the tropical storm put a greater emphasis on the need for infrastructure, like the new bridges coming to Indian Canyon, that can withstand changes in weather due to climate change.

• “For the 25 years that we have lived here, Indian Canyon and Gene Autry have been problems and this [money for the bridges] is a very big deal for commuters and emergency traffic, long overdue.” – William Ashmore, Deepwell Estates

Homelessness: For the third year in a row, homelessness was one of the most popular answers in the survey. This year, residents seemed more hopeful than ever. 

• “The year started out with a terrible homeless challenge – and it looks like at least a partial solution has been initiated. [Because] the navigation center won’t be open this year, Police Chief Mills will continue to have to focus on this issue.”  – Mark Fried, Los Compadres

Election: A few respondents noted that next year is an election year, and several local and regional elections could have an impact on the city.

• “In the general election we have a real chance to elect people to the State Assembly, Senate and Congress who are better suited to represent our progressive, community values following redistricting.” – T Santora, The Mesa

Read what else your neighbors had to say in our complete story online.

BRIEFLY

🎨 Unveiling of ‘Pillars’ project set for World Art Day

A new public art initiative, “Pillars of Palm Springs,” featuring six art installations representing core community values, is set to be unveiled on World Art Day, April 15, 2024, along the median of Tahquitz Canyon Way running from the airport to Palm Canyon Drive.

• The core values the pillars represent are creativity, serenity, diversity, civility, community, and equality. The artwork will replace sculptures of horses that were put in place in 2021.
  
  
• The project, commissioned by the City’s Public Arts Commission, attracted 87 applications with six artists selected, including four from the Coachella Valley. Interactive QR codes will accompany each installation, providing detailed information about the artworks and their creators.
  
  
• Details: Click here to learn more about the artists and see what each pillar will look like.

---

FEATURED EVENTS

Desert Water Agency Board Meeting
8 a.m. | DWA Operations Center
DWA board members meet for the final time this year to discuss applications for state funding, among other items on the agenda.

Coffee Meet-Up
8 a.m. | Koffi Central
Join the Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters for coffee and conversation at the Koffi on East Tahquitz Canyon Way. You can join the group by going to its Meetup page here.

Meditation & Mindfulness
3 p.m. | Public Library
Instructor Lisa Botts guides participants through the basic principles of meditation and mindfulness. 

Sustainability Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall 
According to the agenda, commissioners will be discussing the turf conversion initiative. About 40% of the public turf conversion matching funds have been committed and commissioners will work on refining the requirements for large projects.

Snowtopia
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Air Museum
It’s opening day for Snowtopia at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Every day between today and Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Air Museum will transform into a winter wonderland with real snow, crafts, hot cocoa, and Santa, of course. ($23)

SAVE THE DATE

• “Die Hard” at the Cultural Center on Dec. 24.
  
  
• Rock the Park: Tribute to Tina Turner at the Downtown Park on Jan. 3,
  
  
• Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 through 15.
  
  
• Mini Masterpieces Show at Desert Art Center Jan. 6.

---

AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs may not have a Candy Cane Lane like Cathedral City, and RoboLights is long gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find multiple merry scenes as you drive through town.

Driving the news: There may be no finer way to get in the holiday spirit than by driving past the scene found at the corner of South Compadre Road and Avery Drive in the Los Compadres neighborhood.

• Bond Shands has been erecting the display in the 1500 block of South Compadre every year since he moved to the home. He’s done it again this year (pictured above) with the help of neighbors Tom and Anna Kanarr, and their son.

Looking back: “I’ve lived at this location for nine years and have done it each year,” he said by email. “I’ve done something similar for the entire Halloween (October) month since 2015. I post photos on my Facebook page, Nextdoor and emails to acquaintances (some don’t use Facebook).”

Bottom line: “I encourage and welcome all who walk or drive by,” Bond said. “So far, none who have seen it after dusk has expressed regret at searching me out for their viewing.”

• The display will be in place through Jan. 6.