June 23 Daily Briefing: Escalator issues addressed, legal battle over a closed club, and more

Happy Monday, everyone. If you didn’t catch our preview of today’s sold out AI & Creativity Expo on Friday, we hope you consider taking a look now, because expo day has arrived! We’re particularly excited because our founder is a speaker and panelist and will get to demonstrate how AI helps us produce The Post. It was a similar presentation he made with another local tech veteran, Peter Loforte, last year that sparked the idea in then-Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein that the city could become a hub for technology innovation, particularly AI. You don’t have to be a tech expert to get something out of today’s event. You just need to be curious. We hope to see you there!

🎶 Setting the mood: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

LEADING OFF

Airport Commission approves $1.4 million escalator renovation

The Palm Springs Airport Commission unanimously approved a $1.4 million escalator renovation project Wednesday to address ongoing mechanical failures. The escalators provide access to the airport’s Sonny Bono Concourse and 10 gates.

Driving the news: The commission selected an “in-truss modernization” that will strip existing escalators to their structural framework and rebuild them with equipment designed for outdoor conditions.

• One escalator suffered eight maintenance-related failures this year while the other had 10 breakdowns, far exceeding the expected rate of about four per year.

Ay issue: The current escalators were installed nine years ago but were not originally designed for outdoor use, leaving them vulnerable to desert heat, sand and dust.

• Temperatures in the escalator units exceed 100 degrees from sun exposure, and maintenance contractors can take hours to respond to operational issues.

By the numbers: The commission considered three options before settling on the $1.4 million renovation. A repair-in-place option would have cost $350,000 but offered uncertain reliability, while full replacement was estimated at more than $7 million.

The big picture: The renovation fits within the airport’s broader $2.2 billion, 20-year expansion plan and is expected to provide more than 20 years of reliable service.

What’s next: Engineering processes will begin later this summer , followed by installation starting in early 2026. The project will take approximately 20 weeks, with one escalator remaining operational during phased work.

Dive deeper with our complete story

IN OTHER NEWS

🎸 A Palm Springs music venue opened by veteran promoters was forced to close permanently after a pandemic-era investment deal devolved into a bitter legal battle, highlighting the fragility of independent clubs in an era of corporate live music dominance. [Los Angeles Times]

👑 The Kings & Queens Pageant returned to the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center on Friday, honoring local youth with an evening of dance, spoken word, and pageantry that has been a cherished tradition for over 30 years. [KESQ]

🏍️ Colby Raha jumped over 23 cars at the Palm Springs Surf Club on Saturday. The 197-foot jump broke a world record that stood for 51 years. [NBC Palm Springs]

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregiver Support Group
2:30 p.m. | Mizell Center
This weekly support group offers a safe, confidential, supportive environment for individuals caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.

Parks and Recreation Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The commission advises City Council on everything related to the planning and monitoring of the city’s 11 parks and rec services and facilities.

Conversational Spanish
5:30 p.m. | The Center
Join a dynamic and diverse group of people who get together to chat and strengthen their language skills. New attendees, register online here.

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs International ShortFest Thursday through June 30.
  
• Swim Center Community Meeting on Thursday at 5 p.m.
  
• Virtual traffic signal installation meeting Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
  
• 2025 All American 4th of July Weekend July 3-5 in Palm Springs.
  
• Your Extraordinary Mind on July 12 at the Cultural Center.

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

If you missed the latest installment in our special Palm Springs Profiles in your email inbox Sunday, we’d encourage you to go read it now, or click here to read it online. In it, we introduce you to Tiffany Xa. 

Some people spend years searching for their purpose, but Tiffany found hers at age 7 when she first walked through the doors of the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs. Eleven years later, she’s gone from learning to swim in their pool to helping guide the organization’s budget and fundraising efforts.

Driving the news: The recent Palm Springs High School graduate was named the 2025 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club, earning a scholarship of more than $12,000 from the Palm Springs Pathfinders through the Harold and Judy Stack Scholarship Fund.

• Xa maintained a GPA above 4.0 throughout high school, completed several AP classes, and logged nearly 300 volunteer hours while serving as a mentor and leader at the Club.

What’s next: She plans to attend Cal State San Bernardino in the fall to study Business Administration, with hopes of becoming a forensic accountant.

Why it matters: “We have the power to change the lives around us for the better,” Xa said. “I believe it is our duty to create the path for those after us.” Her journey from Club member to leader exemplifies how youth programs can shape the next generation of community leaders.

The bottom line: As Margaret Keung, the Club’s executive director, noted: “Great futures truly do start here” — and Tiffany Xa is living proof of that promise.

Read our complete feature, including a Q and A with Tiffany here