Nov. 16 Daily Briefing: Commission turns focus to mural project, city earns top marks, upcoming holiday events, and more

Happy Thursday, where we hope you enjoyed the light and sound show put on by Mother Nature last evening. As predicted, the Coachella Valley saw its first rainfall in more than two months on Wednesday, with .37 inches measured at Palm Springs International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. The thunder and lightning, however, was a bit more than usually accompanies such storms. Roughly five dozen cloud to ground lightning strikes were measured!

🎶 Setting the mood: “It Never Rains in Southern California” by Albert Hammond

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LEADING OFF

Back to square one for community hoping to restore mural?

A city commission on Wednesday voted to form a subcommittee dedicated to solving issues surrounding the restoration of a faded mural with significant meaning to members of the Palm Springs Black and African-American community. 

Driving the news: During its regular monthly meeting, the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission voted unanimously to create an ad hoc subcommittee that will work hand in hand with the Desert Highlands Gateway Estates Community on the restoration of a large mural painted by Richard Wyatt Jr. on an exterior wall of the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.

Background: The mural was created during the summer of 1997 by Wyatt with help from neighborhood kids. The massive mural is on a south-facing wall, exposed to the unrelenting desert sun and damaged by water sprayed on the wall during irrigation of a nearby lawn.

• Over the years, the community has repainted the mural, and Wyatt himself restored it in 2014, but the mural has once again faded and will continue to fade unless a solution is found.

How we got here: Last year, the Palm Springs City Council approved $286,000 for Wyatt to recreate the mural using ceramic tiles, but he informed city officials he could not participate in its restoration.

State of play: Now, the community is back to square one. Because the money was specifically set aside for Wyatt and his project, it can’t simply be reallocated to a new artist. 

What happens next: The newly formed subcommittee, made up of three commissioners, will work with the Desert Highland Gateway Estates community to figure out a new solution, whether that be a new artist working on a similar project with tiles, a completely new piece of art, or similar art in a different medium. 

What they’re saying: Commissioner Shawnda Thomas Faveau, who lives in the Desert Highland community and is now on the ad hoc subcommittee, told commissioners not to expect significant changes in opinion. 

• “They’re really adamant about this particular mural being refurbished,” she said of neighborhood residents. “I don’t know what other solutions can come from this. …They’ve been fighting for this mural for two decades. There’s a lot of heart and passion behind this.”

Dive deeper with our complete story.

BRIEFLY

🎄 City to light up holidays with annual events

Palm Springs is gearing up for its festive season with the 31st annual Festival of Lights Parade on Dec. 2 and the lighting of its grand 22-foot tall Holiday Tree the night before.

• The Saturday evening parade starts at 6 p.m. and runs along Palm Canyon Drive. It’s estimated to draw about 100,000 attendees, who can expect the usual iconic floats, celebrity grand marshals, marching bands, and of course a special appearance from Santa Claus.
  
  
• On Friday, Dec. 1, the city will light its official tree at Frances Stevens Park, starting at 5:15 p.m. The event will feature caroling, free cookies, hot cocoa, and holiday arts and crafts for children.
  
  
• Details: If locals don’t want to head to Palm Canyon Drive for the parade, they can enjoy the magic from the comfort of their home on NBC Palm Springs. Diver deeper with our complete coverage here.

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FEATURED EVENTS

Giving Thanks to the World
12 p.m. | Palm Springs High School
Join the Palm Springs High School World Languages Department in a celebration of culture and linguistic diversity during this public program at the school gymnasium.

Coffee with a Cop
5 p.m. | Starbucks Reserve
The Palm Springs Police Department regularly holds these coffee with a cop sessions to give residents the opportunity to meet and chat with neighborhood officers.

Measure J Oversight Commission
5:30 p.m. | Online
At this regular meeting, commissioners will discuss the airport project as well as community-initiated projected. Check out the rest of the agenda here.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

Machine Dreams: “War Games”
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
The Cultural Center continues its cinematic voyage into the world of artificial intelligence with 1983’s “War Games,” starring Matthew Broderick playing an unwitting hacker toying with the fate of the world. ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Speaks series with Temple Grandin on Friday.
  
  
• McCormick’s 75th Car Auction from Nov. 17 through 19.
  
  
• 2023 Props and Hops Craft Beer Festival on Nov. 18.
  
  
• Desert Winds Freedom Band Music in Motion Concert on Nov. 19
  
  
• Palm Springs Wild Turkey Trot on Nov. 23.

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AND FINALLY …

City officials announced Wednesday that Palm Springs has once again earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index Scorecard, released this week.

What it matters: The scorecard evaluates over 350 cities on inclusivity related to laws, policies, and services affecting LGBTQ+ individuals, including non-discrimination laws, employment practices, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership.

What they’re saying: “Palm Springs prides itself on being one of the most inclusive and welcoming communities in the country,” said Mayor Grace Garner. “We as a city are proud to lead the way as a champion and role model for other municipalities to follow when it comes to protecting the rights of our LGBTQ+ community and ensuring all feel welcomed, celebrated, and safe.”

Details: You can read the entire 2023 report by going here.

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