Nov. 19 Daily Briefing: Affordable housing approved, additional art museum issues, our holiday guide, and more

Welcome to Wednesday, where we’ve got a reminder that you can help make the holidays a bit brighter for those in need at a special event tomorrow (Thursday). That’s when KESQ and SunLine Transit Agency team up for their annual “Fill the Bus” event, where you can drop off non-perishable food items and hygiene products from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ralph’s at Smoke Tree Village in Palm Springs (or the Walmart on Monterey in Palm Desert). There’s no better way to kick off the holiday season than by helping local families in need!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush

LEADING OFF

Planning Commission approves 82-unit affordable housing complex

The Palm Springs Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a major development permit for an 82-unit affordable apartment complex on West San Rafael Drive. The project will be 100% affordable housing with a 55-year deed restriction.

Driving the news: Red Tail Acquisitions, LLC, will build three two- and three-story apartment buildings at 305 West San Rafael Drive, a vacant lot near Palm Springs Villas 1 and 2.

• The development will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for extremely low, very low, low and moderate income residents.

By the numbers: In Riverside County, where the median income is $103,900, a family of four would qualify for these units if they earn less than $124,700 annually.

• Extremely low income: less than $15,600 per year
• Very low income: less than $33,550 per year
• Low income: less than $89,500 per year
• Moderate income: less than $124,700 per year

Why it matters: The project utilizes California’s Density Bonus Law, which allows fully affordable developments to request increased density, building height and reduced parking requirements.

• The applicant reduced off-street parking by 21 spaces to 137 total spots, creating a ratio of 1.67 spaces per unit.

What’s included: The property will feature a dog park, playground, community room and splash pad. 

• The project also requires street improvements along West San Rafael Drive, Virginia Drive and Puerto Del Sol, including road widening and sidewalk installation.

Dive deeper with Erin Rodes’ complete story

BRIEFLY

💰 LA Times: Palm Springs Art Museum faces financial crisis

• The Palm Springs Art Museum has been plagued by serious financial problems for at least six years, according to internal documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times and reported Tuesday. The museum’s Jan. 15 audit reportedly included a “letter of material weakness” citing deficiencies in internal controls, including problems with endowment spending reporting, improper recording of donated art values, and faulty admissions revenue tracking.
  
• The museum’s endowment stands at just over $17 million while drawing down roughly $8 million over the past decade, with only $500,000 in contributions, The Times said. It also reported that a trustee-led task force found a $3 million discrepancy between the 2019 and 2020 endowment statements, with notes suggesting restricted funds may have been reclassified as unrestricted to cover operating losses.
  
• Bottom line: The Times earlier reported that at least eight trustees have resigned since spring, including Kevin Comer, who stepped down Nov. 6 on his attorney’s advice. His resignation letter urged hiring a law firm and forensic accounting firm to review museum finances, warning the board “doesn’t know what it doesn’t know.”

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Chinese Mah Jong Open Play
2 p.m. | Mizell Center
Practice your skills and play with others. This is a FREE library program; you do not have to be a member of Mizell Center to attend.

Airport Commission
4 p.m. | Demuth Community Center
The commission typically meets every third Wednesday of the month. Find this month’s meeting agenda here.

Cocktails & Cabaret with Francesca Amari & Jeff Lantz
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
With a fizzy mix of mod pop, yacht rock, Broadway show tunes, classic Rat Pack gems, and interactive fun, this swinging night out is equal parts music and laughter. ($22)

Author Talk with T. Jefferson Parker
6 p.m. | Mizell Center
T. Jefferson Parker will discuss his latest book, “Wild Instinct” and will sign books following his talk. The first 50 people to attend will receive a complimentary book, other books will be for sale by the Best Bookstore in Palm Springs.

The Lives and Works of Basket Weavers
6 p.m. | Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Dr. Meranda Roberts (Northern Paiute and Chicana) presents her dissertation, “Resiliency of Native American Women Basket Weavers from California, Great Basin, and the Southwest,” and shares about her 2024 exhibition project, Continuity: Cahuilla Basket Weavers and their Legacies ($12)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• McCormick’s 79th Auto Auction starts Friday at Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
• Coachella Valley Filipino Festival on Saturday.
  
• Plaza Theatre Community Open House and Block Party on Saturday.
  
• For the Heroic, Bright and Beautiful Desert Winds Freedom Band concert at Jewish Community Center on Saturday and Sunday.
  
• Art in the Park in the Dark on Nov. 29.
  
• AIDS Memorial ceremonial groundbreaking on Dec. 1 at Downtown Park.

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

The holiday season in Palm Springs has arrived with enough shows, concerts and performances to keep even the most devoted couch potato out and about through New Year’s, and we’ve just launched our comprehensive guide to help you plan your festive fun.

Driving the news: From comedy legends and Broadway stars to drag spectaculars and jazz-infused holiday concerts, the desert is packed with entertainment options running from late November through early January.

• Shows range from intimate cabaret performances at the Purple Room to large-scale productions at the Plaza Theatre, with venues across the city hosting everything from traditional carol sing-alongs to adults-only holiday brunch shows.

The highlights: Comedy fans can catch Lily Tomlin, John Waters and Fortune Feimster, while music lovers have options including the Palm Springs Symphony’s holiday concert, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and pianist Jim Brickman.

• Musical theater enthusiasts won’t want to miss “It’s a Fabulous Life” at Revolution Stage Company or the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus production of “Bells, Brass & Sass.”

Beyond the stage: The city’s holiday festivities extend to outdoor events including the Festival of Lights Parade on Dec. 6, Wildlights at The Living Desert, and Snowtopia at the Palm Springs Air Museum featuring 60 tons of real snow.

Bottom line: Whether you prefer high-brow or campy, traditional or irreverent, there’s likely a show that fits your holiday spirit — and possibly your ugly sweater.

Dive deeper with our 2025 holiday event guide