June 28 Daily Briefing: City art needs your vote, navigation center update, Section 14 project, and more

TGIF everyone! Earlier this month we were on hand as the Palm Springs Police Department announced details of “Operation Rearview Mirror,” a year-long effort to address unsafe driving in the city. Since the announcement, we’ve seen reports of officers using a department drone to find speeders. While that’s an innovative way to use the drone, it’s not the only way they’ve made use of the equipment. Interested in how else it’s being used? You can turn to this log of activity that the department maintains. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue

LEADING OFF

Partially open navigation center already helping

The Palm Springs Navigation Center is still only partially open, but is already making a difference in the lives of hundreds of homeless residents in the city.

Driving the news: The navigation center, located in the north end of town off McCarthy Road, is still under construction. But a representative from Martha’s Village and Kitchen, which provides services for the navigation center, told members of the Palm Springs City Council Thursday evening that it’s already tangibly helping homeless residents.

By the numbers: The overnight shelter, or early entry facility, has been open since March and has so far served 244 unduplicated clients. Clients are brought to the early entry facility from the access center near Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). That location has been open since last summer, and has served 1,081 unduplicated clients.

• Contacted earlier this month, a Palm Springs Police Department spokesperson said 47 of the 50 beds at the early entry facility have been filled each night since March and that “we see about two to three people taking advantage of the five emergency beds the police department has available to them at the shelter.”

Context: Rosa Verduzco, chief operating officer at Martha’s Village and Kitchen, said those numbers represents hundreds of people from the streets of Palm Springs who are accessing showers, meals, transportation, and case management.

• “Those are big numbers,” she said. “The numbers for the overnight shelter are exceptional considering the short period of time we’ve been operational.”

Zoom in: As a part of her presentation, Verduzco introduced David, who was formerly homeless after leaving his job in plumbing due to a leg amputation. She said David is now housed and has a job at the airport after first coming into contact with help at the city’s warm weather shelter at United Methodist Church back in 2021.

• “He left for a year, then came back and continued using services,” she said.

Why it matters: Verduzco said David’s story exemplifies the long process and perseverance it takes to become housed. “[The City Council] did a great job starting with warm weather and cold weather shelters all the way up to this amazing facility,” she said.

What they’re saying: “[These facilities] are not just homeless services, but also homeless prevention,” she said.

What to watch for: Construction is still ongoing at the navigation center, with workers finishing the 85 modular units and landscaping. The facility will be fully open sometime in August or September.

BRIEFLY

🏙️ City launches study on Section 14 history

The city of Palm Springs has initiated a historical context study to document the complex history of Section 14, a one-square-mile tract adjacent to downtown where properties were demolished between 1956-1969.

• In addition to the study, the City Council has agreed to offer $4.3 million to residents with verified property losses and explore programmatic actions to address past inequities.
  
  
• Proposed actions include building affordable housing, increasing economic opportunities for underserved communities, and exploring the feasibility of a Healing Center dedicated to Section 14.

Bottom line: The City Council directed staff to find a qualified consultant at an April 11 meeting and work began earlier this month. Architectural Resources Group (ARG) will conduct the study, with a draft expected to be completed in September and a final presentation to the council in November.

⚖️ Palm Springs man to stand trial for attempted murder

A judge has ruled that Joel Ramirez Benitez, 23, must stand trial for attempted murder and assault with a gun following a shooting in Palm Springs that injured two people. The incident occurred on Aug. 1, 2023, in the 2600 block of East Tahquitz Canyon Way.

• Benitez faces additional charges, including a sentence-enhancing allegation of causing great bodily injury. The ruling came after a preliminary hearing Thursday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
  
  
• Police responded to reports of the shooting at 10:25 p.m. Two victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Benitez was arrested early the next morning near North Indian Canyon Drive.

Bottom line: Benitez is currently held at the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on $1 million bail. At the time of arrest, police were still investigating the motive behind the shooting.

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

• Palm Springs Power Baseball today and Saturday at the Palm Springs Stadium.
  
  
• Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy at the Revolution Stage Company.

TODAY

• “East of Eden” film screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Country Western Dancing at Dance Ranch Palm Springs at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Indoor Farmers’ Market at the Palm Springs Pavilion at 8 a.m.
  
  
• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Sale in the JC Frey Building at the Palm Springs Library at 10 a.m.
  
  
• Open Cockpit Saturdays: P-40 Warhawk at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 10 a.m.
  
  
• Palm Springs Equality Wine & Food Fest at Margaritaville at 12 p.m.
  
  
• Not Your Grandma’s Bingo at Chill Bar at 12:30 p.m.
  
  
• Evolution at the Revolution staged readings at Revolution Stage Company at 1 p.m.
  
  
• “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5 p.m.
  
  
• Dusty Strings Collectiveperformance and open mic at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Summer Sundays family day at Agua Caliente Cultural Museum at 11 a.m.
  
  
• “Fancy Pants” screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 3 p.m.
  
  
• Sunday Jams at Melvyn’s at 3:30 p.m.
  
  
• Movie Colony East Neighborhood Luau potluck at a private residence at 6 p.m.
  
  
• “The Buddy Holly Story” screening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 6 p.m.

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AND FINALLY …

A new piece of art in Palm Springs needs your help to win a popularity vote in an international art competition.

Driving the news: “Cadillactus,” a sculpture by Roger Reutimann, was recently installed on the median at East Tahquitz Canyon and Sunrise Way as part of the “Pillars of Palm Springs” Public Art Project, was selected as one of the top 100 most successful pieces of public art or architecture of 2024.

• The 100 projects come from 28 different countries.

How you can help: “Cadillactus” currently sits in second place in the People’s Choice award competition, and you can vote online here. Voting ends July 2 at 10 p.m.

Context: The piece is one of six new art “pillars” in the city. The idea behind the art pieces is to welcome visitors to Palm Springs as they drive into the heart of the city from the airport.

• Each of the six pillars represent one of six principles that guide the city: creativity, equality, serenity, diversity, civility, and community.