Nov. 28 Daily Briefing: Calls for more shade, nurses to speak out, carolers take to the streets, and more

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🎶 Setting the mood: “Time Warp” by Richard O’Brien

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LEADING OFF

Public art would provide health benefit through proposed initiative

Hoping to transform the landscape of city parks, city leaders have floated the idea of public art with a purpose. 

Driving the news: Last week, Gary Armstrong, chair of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission, presented the “Beautiful Shade” idea to the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission.

At issue: The idea is to combine attractive public art with functional shade structures in an effort to improve the city’s “shade equity,” ensuring everyone in the city has access to safe and comfortable shaded areas while also bringing in more public art.

Zoom in: Armstrong pointed to Victoria Park, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, and Demuth Park as those that would be high on the list to receive these structures. They would be in addition to shades being installed over playground equipment.

Details: The project’s initial prototype and design phase could be funded by the public arts fund, and the actual manufacture of the structures could eventually be paid for with Measure J taxes. 

Why it matters: Heat exhaustion and even heatstroke can start to set in after too long in the sun, but shade can reduce heat stress in the body by up to 30%.

• People of color and low-income residents are disproportionately affected by heat-related illnesses due to the unequal distribution of shade and vegetation.

View our full coverage online

BRIEFLY

🏥 Nurses call on district to slow process of potential hospital sale

Nurses at Desert Regional Medical Center are calling for increased transparency and public and staff involvement as Desert Healthcare District negotiates potential sale or lease terms with Tenet Healthcare.

• In a website posting Monday, the healthcare providers claim that the Palm Springs hospital is among the most profitable for Tenet — in part, they said, due to a high “charge-to-cost ratio” — but that issues with facility maintenance and staffing levels persist.
  
  
• Those claims are similar to those made earlier this year during a sidewalk vigil, and are part of the reason behind a request to slow the process of a lease renewal and possible purchase of the hospital by Tenet until the public can weigh in.
  
  
• Bottom line: The nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association, are calling for a public vote before any sale goes through. They plan to raise the issue during a meeting of the Desert Healthcare District board this evening.

🎬 Gerwig to receive director award at PSIFF

Greta Gerwig will be presented with the Director of the Year award at a Palm Springs International Film Festival ceremony on Jan. 4, it was announced Monday.

• Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said Gerwig created “the cinematic experience of the year” in directing the record-breaking film Barbie, which she also co-wrote.
  
  
• Details: The film awards will take place on Jan. 4, 2024, with the festival running through Jan. 15. Complete details, including ticket options, can be found here.

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FEATURED EVENTS

Coffee with a Cop
9 a.m. | Café La Jefa
Join Palm Springs Police Department officers for coffee and refreshments and learn more about policing in your neighborhood.

Free Immunization Clinic
12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
The public is invited to receive free Covid, flu, and monkey pox vaccines for several hours today at the library.

The Roundtable: HIV/AIDS survivors
4 p.m. | Online
A weekly discussion group for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors in the Coachella Valley. 

Jazz on the 2nd Floor
5 p.m. | Cultural Center
Leanna & The Jazz Collective perform every Tuesday with the top players in their craft, and even some masters that come as guests and get invited to sit in. 

View more events in our community calendar

SAVE THE DATE

• 2023 wreath auction on Wednesday at Eight4Nine.
  
  
• Tree lighting and banner awards Friday at Frances Stevens Park.
  
  
• Wine ‘n’ Wags benefit event on Saturday.
  
  
• Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday.
  
  
• Swim Center community meeting on Dec. 5.
  
  
• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Holiday Bazaaron Dec. 9.

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AND FINALLY …

Need an extra dose of holiday cheer this season? The city and some local performers have you covered.

Driving the news: Through early January, carolers will be strolling the streets downtown on most Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, stopping to perform at multiple locations from either 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. or 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

• Currently, those performances are scheduled for this Wednesday (Nov. 29), and then on Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 13, Dec. 17, and Dec. 20. Performances on Dec. 6 and Jan. 6 are still being finalized.

Behind the scenes: The effort, dubbed “Tinsel Times,” comes courtesy of the city, which arranged for local school choir members and the Desert Winds Freedom Band to perform.