Oct. 1 Daily Briefing: Next steps for homeless facility, Sister Sledge performing, and more

Happy Tuesday, and not just any Tuesday: It’s National Taco Day! Why this day? Good question. Last month, a national food franchise known for its tacos successfully petitioned the National Day Calendar to change National Taco Day from Oct. 4 to the first Tuesday of October each year, aligning it with Taco Tuesday after fans voiced their desire for the change. Since any day is a good day to celebrate tacos, we’ll voice our approval for the move. We’re partial to small taco shops and encourage you to visit your favorite today. But if you want to score a deal at a national chain, check out this article on where those deals can be found.

🎶 Setting the mood: “La Muerte Por Tacos” by Pangolin (explicit language)

LEADING OFF

Palm Springs unveils second phase of navigation center

Palm Springs celebrated the completion of the second phase of its navigation center, a state-of-the-art facility aimed at addressing homelessness. The Monday ribbon-cutting ceremony drew officials from local, county, and state levels, highlighting the project’s significance.

Driving the news: The $40 million project, funded in part by the state and Riverside County, offers 80 transitional housing units and comprehensive support services for unhoused individuals.

• Monday’s ceremony marks the completion of the facility. An early entry facility with temporary beds was opened in March.

Why it matters: The initiative represents a collaborative effort between Palm Springs and Riverside County to tackle homelessness, potentially serving as a model for other cities.

• It aims to facilitate transitions to permanent housing through “wrap around services” such as mental health support, job training, life skills education, and case management.

Zoom in: The 80 modular units opened Monday provide not only a safe space for unhoused individuals as they navigate a path back to permanent housing, but also amenities needed in order to help families and individuals who have children and pets.

• Included on the grounds are a playground for children and a dog park, as well as parking for clients’ vehicles.

What they’re saying: “This is a very personal issue to me,” said Greg Rodriguez, a Riverside County official who was instrumental in seeing the project through. “I’ve been situationally homeless, as has my sister and one of my sons. I saw what this could be.”

Dive deeper with our complete story by Maggie Miles

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BRIEFLY

🎤 Sister Sledge to headline Palm Springs Pride Festival

Legendary disco group Sister Sledge will perform at the Palm Springs Pride Festival on Nov. 2. The free concert will feature their iconic hits on the main stage on Palm Canyon Drive starting at 8 p.m.

• The festival features diverse performers across multiple stages, including Neon Trees, a George Michael tribute group, Brian Justin Crum, Modgirl, Jesika Von Rabbit, and Pretty Poison featuring Jade Starling.
  
  
• Performances, which are all free, will take place on the Palm Canyon Drive Main Stage, Arenas Stage, and Oscar’s Stage.
  
  
• Details: Palm Springs Pride runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, with the Pride Parade starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 3 along Palm Canyon Drive.

Dive deeper with our complete story

🔥 Smoke from Line Fire impacts city

Smoke from the Line Fire, located 45 miles west of the city, led to an advisory in portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, but was also in the air in Palm Springs and Cathedral City for part of Monday.

• The air quality in most of the Coachella Valley was rated as “moderate” by 9 a.m. Monday. Area in the San Gorgonio Pass were classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or “unhealthy,” with Banning and Beaumont experiencing the worst air quality in the region.
  
  
• Bottom line: the Line Fire, now 83% contained after burning over 43,000 acres, is still burning within its containment lines. The fire, ignited on Sept. 5, is expected to continue consuming unburned fuels in the coming days.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

DWA Board Meeting
8 a.m. | DWA Headquarters
The Board of Directors meetings are held at 8 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Meeting agendas are posted online at least 72 hours prior.

Basic Spanish 1
1 p.m. | The Center McDonald
Basic Spanish 1 is an 8-week foundational course that teaches basic Spanish communication skills for real-life situations. The course emphasizes active learning and offers tools to accelerate language acquisition.

Election Anxiety Support Group
5 p.m. | The Center
In-person, drop-in group to help process anxiety and stress related to the upcoming presidential election and politics in general.

Queer Colon Care Collective
5 p.m. | Virtual
This ongoing virtual session supports colorectal cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers by providing a platform for sharing experiences and mutual support.

Historic Site Preservation Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall – Large Conference Room
The seven-member board identifies, nominates, and recommends potential historic sites and districts to the City Council, fostering public awareness and appreciation of the city’s cultural heritage.

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs City Hall
The Public Arts Commission meets to discuss the procurement and placement of visual art in and around Palm Springs. Tonight will be a discussion of funding for the installation of the Palm Springs AIDS Memorial.

HARP Positive Life Series: Medicare & ACA Plans
6 p.m. | Cultural Center
Join in for a free talk about Medicare & ACA options.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Car Show & Festival from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday.
  
  
• City Council Candidate Forum at Demuth Community Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
  
  
• Envision Fine Art Grand Opening Celebration from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday.
  
  
• One Night Out Rio benefiting The Foundation for PSUSD on Saturday.
  
  
• Amy’s Purpose non-profit fundraiser celebrating the legacy of Liberace on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Center Stage benefiting LGBTQ+ Center of the Desert on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker on Oct. 22.
  
  
• Human Rights Campaign Palm Springs Garden Party on Nov. 2.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 2.

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AND FINALLY …

As hot weather continues into October, one thing is for certain: Your energy bill won’t be getting a break any time soon. But for those in need of assistance, Southern California Edison (SCE) can help, and a bit of relief is coming this month.

Driving the news: SCE customers will see an $86 California Climate Credit on their October bills, bringing the total credit for the year to $172. The credit is funded by the state’s Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program.

• It has seen more than $14 billion distributed since its inception.

But wait: SCE offers several ways to help customers manage their electric bills, including: 

• A budget assistant tool that can send alerts when customers approach their spending limit, helping avoid surprise high bills.
  
  
• Payment arrangements that allow spreading out past-due charges over time.
  
  
• An Energy Assistance Fund that offers up to $200 (or $300 for all-electric homes) to qualified households.
  
  
• The Arrearage Management Plan that provides debt forgiveness for eligible CARE or FERA program participants.

Details: Customers can find additional programs and information on multiple discounts at this website.

Driving the news: Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein announced the initiative Monday evening at the Palm Springs Art Museum, aiming to position the city as a hub for creative innovation. After an hour-long presentation, attendees gathered to watch demos of technology developed here in Palm Springs.