Dec. 5 Daily Briefing: Warehouse vote, post-election fears addressed, 111 work, and more

Welcome to Thursday! One of the best parts of the holidays is the giving spirit of our community. Nowhere is that spirit more visible than during The Well In The Desert’s annual Christmas celebration at the convention center. This year, staff at the nonprofit say they hope to feed 1,200 people on Dec. 25, and in addition to gifts for children and gift cards for seniors, there will be a Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Village, petting zoo, and more. They can’t do it alone, however, and need more volunteers. If you can help, and are able to get to the event at 11 a.m. that morning, please call 760-656-8905 to sign up.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon

LEADING OFF

Officials address safety, inclusivity concerns at community meeting

Palm Springs city leaders and police met with residents to discuss safety measures and inclusivity Wednesday evening, reinforcing the city’s commitment to being a welcoming community amidst concerns of becoming a target for hate crimes.

Driving the news: The meeting, led by Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein, City Manager Scott Stiles, City Attorney Jeff Ballinger, and Police Chief Andy Mills, focused on current and future initiatives to ensure Palm Springs remains a safe haven. 

• The discussion, prompted by fears of hate crimes in the post-election landscape, attracted a diverse group of attendees at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Zoom in: Mills outlined new law enforcement strategies, including the launch of a cutting-edge technology center to prevent hate crimes and enhance public safety. the center will integrate various camera systems and databases, allowing for rapid response to incidents and tracking of suspects. 

• Additionally, a dedicated intelligence team will focus on hate crimes, with residents encouraged to submit tips via a new email address.

By the numbers: Mills also addressed staffing improvements within the police department, noting significant progress towards full staffing after overcoming previous shortages. 

• The department’s proactive measures also include monitoring the Dark Web for potential threats and deploying snipers as a precautionary measure.

What we’re watching: Community concerns about safety in LGBTQ+ areas and potential immigration enforcement were addressed, with Mills emphasizing the department’s commitment to not conducting immigration enforcement in line with SB54. 

• The meeting also touched on tensions related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the community’s collective effort to maintain peace and inclusivity.

Bottom line: “This city should be a beacon of hope and a shining star that others look to, saying, ‘I don’t need to cower in my community — I can come to Palm Springs and I can live my authentic life. I can be everything that I was intended to be,’” Mills told the crowd.

Dive deeper with our complete story by Maggie Miles

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BRIEFLY

🏗️ Commission approves major warehouse development

The Palm Springs Planning Commission voted 4-0 Wednesday to approve a permit for a 739,360-square-foot warehouse at North Indian Canyon Drive and 19th Avenue, despite environmental concerns. The project is expected to create over 700 jobs.

• In greenlighting the development, commissioners added conditions to mitigate impacts, including requirements for employee break areas, electric vehicle charging, and adherence to environmental agreements.
  
  
• Residents who spoke during public testimony expressed concerns about visual impacts and effects on the tourism-based economy during public testimony. The commission ultimately concluded the project’s benefits outweighed its drawbacks.
  
  
• Next steps: The project now moves forward unless appealed to the City Council. If constructed, it would be one of the largest warehouse developments in the Coachella Valley.

Dive deeper with our complete story

🌟 Ariana Grande to receive rising star award

Ariana Grande will be honored with the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards for her performance as Glinda in the film adaptation of the musical “Wicked.” The award recognizes her first starring role in a major studio film.  

• The Grammy-award-winning, multi-platinum singer joins a list of previously announced honorees for the event, including Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, and Angelina Jolie. 
  
  
• “In Wicked, Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda elevates her to new heights with a powerful acting performance that beautifully combines her outstanding musical talent, brilliant characterization and impeccable comedic timing,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi.
  
  
• Details: The Palm Springs International Film Awards will take place on Jan. 3 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the Palm Springs Film Festival running from Jan. 2 to Jan. 13.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Animal Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Animal Shelter  
You do not need to be a Palm Springs resident to attend, but you do need to make an appointment. To do that, please call (760) 416-5718.  

Women’s Chat Group
10:30 a.m. | Online
This chat group is for all women (no matter how you identify) to discuss topics of interest and find connection. Register online here.

Mixed Feelings Lecture Series
5 p.m. | Annenberg Theater
The Mixed Feelings lecture series features talks on seemingly unrelated topics that are somehow connected. Tonight’s lectures are “Sibling Worlds” by Stephen Kane, Professor of Planetary Astrophysics at UC Riverside and “The Art of Laddie John Dill” from painter and sculptor Laddie John Dill. ($20)

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. Then, head outside to the sculpture garden, where a DJ will set the mood with a carefully curated playlist that blends genres and eras. 

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. Tonight, there will be an opportunity to have cookies with Mrs. Claus!

PSP Master Plan Presentation
5:30 p.m. | Convention Center
The city will host the next in a series of informational meetings designed to help residents and others understand the master plan for Palm Springs International Airport. Meet in Smoketree Rooms A – E.

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Commissioners will hear several updates on ongoing projects according to the agenda.

“Mary Poppins”
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Theatre
Theatergoers can take a trip back to the England of 1910 where the magical Mary Poppins flies in on the wind, bringing with her a combination of whimsy and disciplined common sense to the Banks children’s lives. Running through Dec. 22. ($40)

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs holiday tree lighting on Friday.
  
  
• Santa Paws 5K on Saturday.
  
  
• Desert Film Society Screenings on Saturday (Dec. 7) and on Dec. 21.
  
  
• The Leslies’ 36th Annual Toy Drive & Fundraiser on Saturday.
  
  
• Breakfast with Santa at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on Saturday.
  
  
• 32nd Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday.
  
  
• PS Concerts: Svetlana Smolina on Sunday.
  
  
• Joint Holiday Preview Concert with Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus and Modern Men on Sunday.
  
  
• Grand Opening PROULX galleries | studios on Dec. 10.

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AND FINALLY …

Caltrans will soon begin work on a $17.7 million state-funded project to improve pavement conditions on Highway 111 in Palm Springs, including sections of Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino.

Driving the news: The project, funded through the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, aims to rehabilitate the roadway and enhance driving conditions for residents and visitors.

What to know: Work will begin at Golf Club Drive at East Palm Canyon, proceeding west on East Palm Canyon to Gene Autry Trail, north on Gene Autry Trail to Vista Chino, west on Vista Chino to Highway 111 (North Palm Canyon), and then north to West Gateway Drive.

Timeline: The rehabilitation work is expected to take up to 240 working days, with construction sign placement beginning on Monday, Dec. 9. All work should be complete by early spring 2026.

• Residents and businesses will be notified in advance when work is set to begin on their segment of the roadway.

Impact on traffic: Work operations will require lane closures during daytime work hours from Monday through Friday. One lane in each direction will remain open during the rehabilitation work.

• In commercialized areas, work will start at 6 a.m. and finish by 6 p.m. Near residential communities, crews will work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

🤓 Fun fact: If you’ve ever wondered why Vista Chino and Gene Autry Trail are called Highway 111, that dates back to 1991 when the city asked to take control of a section of the highway (Palm Canyon Drive) that ran straight through downtown.

• The state Transportation Commission approved re-routing Highway 111 onto Vista Chino and Gene Autry Trail, south to where it reconnects with the old route.