Nov. 8 Daily Briefing: Slow going for sidewalk vendor efforts, city seeks people to honor, our pet of the week, and more

💉 Happy hump day! If you still haven’t gotten your latest COVID-19 vaccine yet, the city of Palm Springs has got you covered. Head down to the Demuth Community Center today from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. for updated Covid and RSV vaccines to make sure you dodge the “tripledemic.” No appointment is needed.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Call It Fate, Call It Karma” by The Strokes

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LEADING OFF

Efforts to regulate sidewalk vending fall flat so far

One month after new city rules designed to regulate sidewalk vending officially went into place, city staff said efforts at encouraging compliance have been less than ideal.

Driving the news: Deputy City Manager Flinn Fagg said Tuesday that while a workshop and other efforts at educating vendors about the rules have gone well, only three vendors have chosen to seek the full set of permits now required.

Looking back: The new regulations, approved by the Palm Springs City Council 4-1 in September, require sidewalk vendors to have a business license, liability insurance, and a Health Department permit. Additionally, they must leave a 48-inch accessible pathway and cannot operate on Palm Canyon Drive or Arenas Road on weekend evenings during the busiest time of year.

• While state law prohibits cities from banning food carts on sidewalks, it does allow them to adopt regulations. Critics say the city’s rules are discriminatory and harm immigrant business owners.

State of play: During the past month, Fagg said code compliance officers have contacted roughly 30 vendors, encouraging them to comply. With the grace period expiring, however, he said 18 warnings and four citations have been issued.

• “Code compliance officers have been in the community hand delivering copies of the ordinance and information materials,” Fagg told local business leaders during a Main Street Palm Springs meeting. “They’ve made contact with roughly 30 vendors who are here regularly, but the uptick has been relatively small.”

At issue: Of particular concern right now is a vacant lot at the intersection of North Indian Canyon Drive and Racquet Club Road. It’s there that vendors set up without the property owner’s permission, hawking everything from tacos to cactus, most often on weekends.

Up next: Fagg said city staff are working to create “vending zones” throughout the city, where vendors will be encouraged to set up shop. Those should be ready for consideration, along with new rules for food trucks, after the first of the new year.

BRIEFLY

🏆 City commission opens nominations for community service award

The Palm Springs Human Rights Commission wants residents to submit nominations for a person or organization they think should be recognized for “Promoting Universal Human Rights Close to Home.”

• The commission said it also wants to hear about locals who have worked to foster equality and fought against hate crimes.
  
  
• Details: The deadline for submissions is Dec. 8, and you can find the form and criteria online here.

🎬 Students encouraged to submit films (for free)

The American Documentary and Animation Film Festival will be held in Palm Springs from March 21-25, and organizers are waiving entry fees for local students to submit their work to the festival. 

• “Since our founding 13 years ago we’ve worked with the local school districts to provide educational opportunities for students to meet and participate in workshops with professional filmmakers as well as attend festival screenings at no cost,” said Ted Grouya, festival director and founder.
  
  
• There will also be opportunities for students to volunteer, attend screenings, intern, and participate in other mentorship programs. 
  
  
• Details: The deadline for admissions is Jan. 6 and the submissions can be made online here.

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FEATURED EVENTS

Palm Springs Noir Reading and Book Signing
5 p.m. | Best Bookstore
Join Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, JD Horn, Kelly Shire, and Rob Bowman – the editors and contributors of Palm Springs Noir – for a reading and conversation about the darkness lying beneath the sun of the Coachella Valley. 

Pickleball Community Meeting
5 p.m. | Demuth Community Center
The city plans to build 12 new pickleball courts and wants residents to come and meet the design team to provide feedback.

Palm Springs Planning Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
At this regularly scheduled meeting, commissioners will consider several matters related to the Escena development. Check out the agenda here.

I’m Speaking: Reflections on Veterans Day
6 p.m. | Mizell Center
Three speakers share their stories of service. Hosted by Sina Ebinger and Jannine Young. 

AI and ChatGPT
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Dominique Fruchtman will give a presentation on the everyday uses of ChatGPT and will also do a live demo of the tech.

British Film Invasion: “Dunkirk”
7 p.m. | Camelot Theatre
This latest offering in the ongoing “British Film Invasion” series features Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film “Dunkirk,” a colossal epic depicting the Dunkirk evacuation of World War II. ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Veterans Day Drive-Thru Appreciation Lunch on Friday at 1 p.m.
  
  
• Veterans Day Parade on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
  
  
• ONE-PS Lip Sync Battle on Sunday at 3 p.m.
  
  
• Jews do the Blues benefit concert on Nov. 15.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks series with Temple Grandin on Nov. 17.

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today we invite you to meet Churro, an eight-year-old labrador retriever mix who’s been at the shelter since August.

• Staff at the shelter say even though she’s a senior on paper, you’d never know it from her energy on walks and while playing. And she does all that on just three legs!

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Tuesdays (open for intake and clinic only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.