Jan. 2 Daily Briefing: Looking back on those we lost, city hires for key role, an honor for us, and more

Happy Tuesday and Happy New Year! We’re back after our annual week off — the one time a year we take a chunk of time to step back, rest, relax, and recharge. We hope you’ve been doing the same. This year promises to be another busy one in the city, and we’re looking forward to bringing you as much news and information as we possibly can. Let’s do this, 2024!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Happy New Year” by ABBA

LEADING OFF

A last look back at those we lost in 2023

Even though the new year is underway, we didn’t want to start 2024 without acknowledging some of the losses our community experienced in 2023. 

Driving the news: Veteran journalist Bruce Fessier went in-depth to do that, authoring his annual tributes to philanthropists, entertainers, athletes and others who died in 2023 and had ties to our desert. 

• This year, the look back came in two parts and featured 20 heartfelt tributes along with stories about their time in the desert and the local impact they made.

Zoom in: In alphabetical order, Fessier starts the series with filmmaker Kenneth Anger and ends it with actress Cindy Williams. Along the way, he recalls a former colleague, the leader of Well In The Desert, a member of the Beach Boys, and a few legendary football players.

• Read part one of the series here.
  
  
• Read part two of the series here.  

BRIEFLY

⚖️ Court grants pause in ‘Marilyn’ battle

A Riverside County Superior Court judge temporarily paused the legal dispute over the “Forever Marilyn” statue in Downtown Palm Springs on Dec. 22, pending the results of an application to permanently vacate a portion of Museum Way.

• A city-approved temporary closure of the street is set to expire next year.  But the City Council voted last month to begin the process allowing for a permanent vacation of the street, asked for by the statue’s owner, PS Resorts. 
  
  
  
• The closure is at the crux of a lawsuit brought by The Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa), which claims that the city acted out of order when approving the temporary closure. 
  
  
  
• Bottom line: For now, a judge agreed to temporarily pause proceedings until the closure application is decided. 

🏢 City hires first chief economic development officer

Palm Springs has named Wayne Olson, former senior development manager for economic development in Palm Desert, as the city’s new chief economic development officer. Olson’s appointment, announced by City Manager Scott Stiles last week, is effective today.

• Olson brings a diverse background to Palm Springs, having previously headed a consulting firm and worked with the City of Minneapolis Community Development Agency on projects worth over $1 billion.
  
  
• During his time in Palm Desert, Olson played a crucial role in securing a $90 million state gift for the Palm Desert campus of Cal State San Bernardino. He also led negotiations on development projects totaling $200 million and oversaw a citywide incentive program worth $2 million.
  
  
• Bottom line: “Over the past decade, Palm Springs has undergone an incredible economic renaissance as one of the premiere resort destinations in Southern California and beyond,” Olson said in a news release. “…I am honored to be chosen to serve the City Council and our community as the city’s first ever chief economic development Officer.”

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FEATURED EVENTS

DWA Board Meeting
8 a.m. | DWA Operations Center
Members of the public who wish to comment on any item within the jurisdiction of the agency or any item on the agenda may submit comments by emailing sbaca@dwa.org or may do so during the meeting.

Sunshine Sisters Coffee
8:30 a.m. | Koffi Central
Join other Sunshine Sisters for coffee and conversation. Find out how to join the organization on Meetup here.

Tiki and Trivia
8 p.m. | Quadz
Join hostess Aunt Lyla and enjoy tiki-style cocktails during this weekly event.

SAVE THE DATE

• Rock the Park: Tribute to Tina Turner at Downtown Park on Wednesday.
  
  
• Palm Springs International Film Festival Jan. 4 through 15.
  
  
• Mini Masterpieces Show at Desert Art Center Jan. 6.
  
  
• Agua Caliente Lecture Series at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Jan. 17.

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AND FINALLY …

Each year for the past few Decembers, The New York Times has chosen to single out some of the best local reporting in the nation. We’re proud to say that we were part of the 100 stories chosen for publication on Dec. 22.

Driving the news:  Kendall Balchan’s story on the founding of Let’s Kick Ass Palm Springs, written last July, was chosen by editors at The Times for its portrayal of a unique organization doing important work in our community. 

• In the story, Balchan writes about the organization’s efforts to help stave off loneliness that is pervasive in older communities dealing with the impacts of the AIDS crisis.

Details: You can read the full list of stories here. It includes reporting not only from The Post, but also from some other Southern California outlets, including the Riverside Record, founded by our friend Alicia Ramirez 🙌🏽.

💭 Our take: Since our founding, we’ve been telling anyone who would listen that despite the headlines about layoffs and closures in the media business that you read, journalism is not dead — just the newspaper business model. 

• Many of the stories that made the Times’ list were done by small, local, digital outlets just like The Post. We’re in great company!