Jan. 30 Daily Briefing: Parking problems, power talk planned, mentor named, and more

Welcome to Tuesday, everyone, where we’re talking power. Well, not us, but we’ll probably be tuning in tonight as representatives from Southern California Edison (SCE) talk about their power outage process, including how they notify residents and what resources are available to them if the lights go out. If you’d like to attend, head down to City Hall at 6 p.m. You can also watch it live on the city’s YouTube channel. A similar event, held last summer, was pretty well-attended.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Sunflower” by Vampire Weekend

LEADING OFF

Commission looking into PSP parkers who could be ‘camping out’

The Palm Springs Airport Commission has agreed to look into an issue concerning parking at the facility. It’s not necessarily related to the holiday crush we’ve all come to expect.

Driving the news: During their last regular meeting, commissioners acknowledged receiving feedback from residents troubled by the fact some people might be choosing to park at the airport much longer than needed.

Zoom in: At the root of the issues appears to be the fact that Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) has fairly reasonable parking rates — $20 per day — which may encourage long-term stays.

• The issue is not limited to peak travel seasons such as holidays, but it is particularly troublesome then. That’s because airport officials often need to open up auxiliary parking lots further away from the terminal during those times.

What they’re saying: “People are camping out at $20 a day,” said Commissioner Kevin Corcoran during the meeting. “It’s a great deal. But during holidays, it prevents others from finding close parking.”

• Corcoran suggested reviewing data on payments for stays longer than five or seven days and considering tiered pricing to discourage long-term parking without affecting short-term users.

Yes, but: Airport staff explained there is currently nothing preventing anyone from parking at the airport for up to 30 days, and that they can re-enter after their initial stay. 

• Additionally, staff explained, some vehicles parked for a long time belong to car rental agencies that need extra parking on airport property.

Next up: Commission members agreed to discuss the issue more formally, possibly at next month’s meeting.

IN OTHER NEWS

😋 Renowned chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken’s have launched their latest venture — Alice B. — inside the Living Out project in Palm Springs.

🤝🏽 The Palm Springs Black History Committee was among organizations receiving parts of more than $1 million in grant funding from the Inland Empire Black Equity Fund.

🏠 Suzanne Somers’ Palm Springs estate has listed for $8.95 million three months after her passing.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Walk of Stars Ceremony for Susan Stein
2 p.m. | Downtown Park
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce is set to pay tribute to Susan Stein, Creative Producer and Director of Fashion Week El Paseo and longtime Fashion/Scene Editor of Palm Springs Life Magazine.

Power Talk with Southern California Edison
6 p.m. | City Hall
Learn more about Southern California Edison’s power outage notification process at SCE’s Power Talk II presentation.

Palm Springs Toastmasters
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Toastmasters Club
Learn to speak with confidence with the Palm Springs Toastmasters and practice with friends. Guests always welcome.

Drag Story Hour
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Join Bella da Ball in the Youth Room for stories, crafting, and a dance party. It will be a fun evening for the whole family!

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Readers’ Festival from Feb. 2 through 4.
  
  
• PS Woman’s Club Annual Patio Sale on Feb. 3.^*
  
  
• Black History Committee 14th Annual Awards Gala on Feb. 3.
  
  
• “An Article of Hope” movie showing with guest speaker on Feb. 4.^*
  
  
• Palm Springs International Jazz Festival on Feb. 24 and 25.
  
  
• Palm Springs Woman’s Club Scholarship Luncheon at the Hilton on March 27.^*

*Sponsored placement

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AND FINALLY …

Broadway actor, TV executive producer/writer, and playwright Jack Kenny has been announced as the mentor for the 2024 Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF). Kenny will guide the winning student playwrights in finalizing their plays for a staged reading later this year.

Driving the news: PSYPF, a program that encourages theatrical creative writing among students in Riverside County, will accept submissions for the 2024 festival until March 31. 

• The winners, to be announced in April, will receive mentorship, a free public staged reading by professional actors, and a $500 scholarship for their arts career.

Career highlights: Kenny, who recently retired from television writing to focus on plays, has had a diverse career. He served as a consulting producer on multiple TV shows and, as an actor, has performed on television, on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional theatres across the country.

What’s next: The sixth Annual Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival will take place in June 2024 at The Palm Springs Cultural Center. More details can be found at psypf.org.