July 11 Daily Briefing: Former mayor’s pension question answered, meet the new superintendent, and more

TGIF, folks! Heads up that the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District has scheduled a series of early morning mosquito treatments for Palm Springs starting July 19, using an organic larvicide that’s completely safe for people, pets, and wildlife. So while you’re sleeping soundly between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. on those Saturday mornings, the trucks will be out making sure your summer evenings are a lot more enjoyable!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Crofts

LEADING OFF

New superintendent brings empathetic leadership to diverse district

Dr. Marcus Funchess started as Palm Springs Unified School District’s new superintendent this month, becoming the first Black leader of the district serving nearly 20,000 students. The 52-year-old educator brings nearly 30 years of experience and a “people first, process second” leadership philosophy rooted in his childhood instinct to include everyone.

Driving the news: Funchess spent more than 25 years in San Bernardino City Unified School District, rising from elementary teacher to assistant superintendent of human resources before taking the PSUSD role.

• Born in Jackson, Miss., he moved to Riverside at age 1 when his father pursued teaching opportunities in California.

His approach: Funchess plans to spend his first six months learning about the district’s people and systems before implementing major changes, emphasizing listening over immediate action.

• “Before you can change a system, you need to understand it, because systems are put in place by people,” he said.

Building trust: The new superintendent acknowledges the need to build relationships with three key communities: African American families concerned about feeling valued, Latino families adjusting to a non-Spanish-speaking leader, and LGBTQ+ community members who comprise a significant portion of district staff.

The big picture: Funchess has set three goals for his first year: developing a shared community vision, raising academic standards for all student groups, and creating a positive district atmosphere.

• “These scholars here are our future in Palm Springs,” he said. “What we do with these young people here will determine what happens out in this community.”

Dive deeper with our full story

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BRIEFLY

🎭 Two local theaters announce shows for upcoming season

Dezart Performs will open its new Palm Springs venue with a West Side Story concert while Coachella Valley Repertory will present four productions including Dear Evan Hansen. Both theater companies announced their upcoming seasons featuring well-loved productions and special events.

• Dezart Performs debuts the Dezart Playhouse at 605 South Riverside Drive with “A Gala Celebration: West Side Story in Concert” Nov. 13-15, featuring live orchestra and vocal ensemble. The venue, formerly First Church of Christ, Scientist, was designed in 1957 by Robson Chambers and Albert Frey. 
  
• CVRep’s season at 68510 East Palm Canyon Dr. in Cathedral City begins with “Dear Evan Hansen,” the six-time Tony Award winner, running Dec. 3-21. The season continues with “One Man, Two Guvnors,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Ernest Shackleton Loves Me” through May 2026.
  
• Details: Ticket sales begin Aug. 1 for CVRep and Aug. 15 for Dezart’s gala, with regular season tickets available Sept. 12. Find more details on the Dezart Performs website here and the CVRep website here.

Dive deeper with our full story

🏛️ City addresses concerns as Oak View Group CEO faces federal charges

The Justice Department has indicted Oak View Group co-founder and CEO Tim Leiweke on federal antitrust charges related to alleged bid-rigging for the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Oak View Group owns Acrisure Arena and is expanding operations in Palm Springs, including negotiations to manage the Palm Springs Convention Center.

• Leiweke was charged with violating the Sherman Antitrust Act for allegedly orchestrating an effort starting in 2018 to persuade a rival company to withdraw from bidding on the arena contract in exchange for receiving subcontracts.
  
• Leiweke will step down as CEO and become vice chairman of the board while remaining a shareholder. Chris Granger, president of OVG360, was appointed interim CEO by the board.
  
• What they’re saying: Palm Springs officials said Thursday that the allegations are “entirely unrelated” to the city’s dealings with Oak View Group, which manages the Plaza Theatre and is negotiating to take over convention center operations.

Dive deeper with our full story

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YOUR WEEKEND

MULTIPLE DAYS

• Palm Springs Power at Palm Springs Stadium Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. 
  
• Falsettos at the Palm Canyon Theatre all weekend ($20)

TODAY

• Carmela Ice Cream Reopening Ceremony at the store on Palm Canyon Drive at 12 p.m.
  
• Game Night at 505 Starbase at 4 p.m.
   
• Dead in the Desert Live at Music Heals Inc. at 7 p.m. 

SATURDAY

• Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market plans to be outdoors at the Palm Springs Pavilion due to power issues indoors. It’s slated to start at 8 a.m. and last “until it’s too hot for our product,” according to organizers.
  
• Overeaters Anonymous at the Sunny Dunes Clubhouse at 11:30 a.m.
  
• Your Extraordinary Mind: An Afternoon with Zach Leary at the Cultural Center at 2 p.m. ($10)
  
• Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan at the Camelot Theatre at 6 p.m. ($14)
  
• Country Western dancing at 7 p.m. at Step by Step ($5)

SUNDAY

• Soulful Sunday at PS Underground at 11 a.m. ($99)
  
• The Music Man at the Cultural Center at 3 p.m. ($14)

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AND FINALLY …

We end our week with an answer to a question many of you have been asking us recently: Why does former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet still get to draw a pension after pleading guilty to bribery charges? The answer lies in timing and a 2013 state law.

What we know: The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 says that public officials convicted of felonies related to their duties must forfeit CalPERS pension benefits earned only after the date of their first criminal act — meaning Pougnet, who served the city between 2003 and 2015, keeps benefits from his years of service before his illegal conduct began.

The details: Pougnet was recently sentenced to probation and fined $325,000 after pleading guilty to accepting bribes between 2012 and 2014. He served as both a City Council member and later mayor.

• Based on his publicly available salary, he most likely receives about $49,000 annually in retirement benefits but could lose up to two years’ worth in the calculation, potentially dropping his annual pension to around $41,000–$43,000.

What happens next: The city, as his former employer, is required to notify CalPERS of the guilty plea, and the pension system will determine exactly how much of Pougnet’s benefits must be reduced and when the disqualifying conduct began.

• A spokesperson said earlier this week that the city is currently in the process of notifying the state.