Oct. 8 Daily Briefing: Section 14 payment, ballot drop boxes, LGBTQ+ survey, and more

Welcome to Wednesday! Today is National Walk & Roll to School Day, where students across the country are walking, biking, or rolling to school to promote healthy habits, road safety, and community connections. Morning commuters: please be extra alert for students, staff, and others on the move!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Desert Island Disk” by Radiohead

LEADING OFF

City completes $5.9M Section 14 settlement payment

Palm Springs has transferred its $5.9 million settlement to Section 14 survivors and descendants, fulfilling the financial commitment approved by the City Council last November. Nearly 1,500 claimants signed legal waivers, exceeding the required 1,200.

Driving the news: The payment resolves decades-old claims tied to the redevelopment of Section 14 during the 1950s and 1960s, when the predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood was razed.

• “Our goal from the beginning has been to resolve these longstanding claims in a way that is fair, equitable and with a focus on healing and progress,” City Manager Scott Stiles said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

The big picture: The comprehensive settlement extends beyond direct payments to include long-term community investment and cultural recognition programs.

By the numbers: The agreement includes $20 million in affordable housing programs over the next decade, prioritizing former Section 14 families, plus $1 million in small-business support.

What’s next: The city plans to establish a public memorial and dedicate a future park honoring Section 14 families.

• Palm Springs will also support efforts to create a Section 14 Cultural and Racial Healing Center through letters of support, though the city is not obligated to provide funding.

How it works: The named claimant and attorneys will handle individual payment distribution, with the city not involved in how proceeds are shared among claimants.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

🗳️ Ballot drop-off sites open for November special election

• Palm Springs has opened ballot drop-off locations for the Nov. 4 statewide special election, where voters will decide on Proposition 50, a measure that would temporarily suspend California’s congressional district boundaries and authorize creation of a new district map for the 2026 through 2030 elections.
  
• State officials are warning voters to mail ballots early and avoid waiting until Election Day to drop them in USPS mailboxes. Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber said postal processing delays in certain areas, including Palm Springs, could prevent ballots mailed on Nov. 4 from being postmarked in time to be counted.
  
• Details: Vote-by-mail ballots began going out Monday to all active registered voters, with the last day to register being Oct. 20. Voters can return ballots by mail, at ballot drop boxes at City Hall or the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, or at the Demuth Community Center vote center, which opens Oct. 25. Find more locations here.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Core & More
9 a.m. | The Center
Are you ready to step up your fitness game and conquer the art of balance while having a blast? Look no further! The “Core & More” class is designed to not only improve your stability and prevent falls but also to bring a whole lot of fun and excitement to your workout routine. ($15)

Water Aerobics
10 a.m. | Palm Springs Swim Center
Get some low-impact exercise at the swim center! This event is held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. ($5)

Sustainability Subcommittee on Climate Action
1 p.m. | City Hall
According to the agenda, committee members will discuss the CVAG Green House Gas Reduction Report and hear an update on the heat and shade study.

Endeavor With Jase
3 p.m. | Demuth Park Community Center
Join a free, fun, low-impact aerobics workout designed for all fitness levels. 

L-Fund Town Hall
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The L-Fund has been in discussions with the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert (The Center) about a possible merger. Tonight’s meeting is the second of two meetings being held to inform the public on the move and get feedback. 

Mayor’s Town Hall
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Join Mayor Ron deHarte for an interactive forum providing a direct channel for residents to address concerns, ask questions, and contribute ideas for the city’s future. 

Opera Exposed
 7 p.m. | Revolution Stage Company
Join Metropolitan Opera Singer Valerian Ruminski for “Opera Exposed,” an evening of song and untold stories from his 30+ years of performing in opera houses around the world as he takes you backstage dispelling the popular sentiment of the stiff upper lip of the opera genre. ($30)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Woodman Shimko Gallery Reopening on Friday
  
• Junior Ranger Expo at Indian Canyons on Saturday
  
• Kick Bullying to the Curb at Palm Springs Stadium on Saturday
  
• Architectural Preservation Awards on Saturday
  
• Modernism Week October starting Oct. 16
  
• Wet + Wild Party Benefitting Palm Springs Police and Fire at Desert Hand Car Wash on Oct. 23
  
• Pride Equality Walk on Oct. 25
  
• “Be A Hero For Kids” Halloween Bash on Oct. 26
  
• Pride on the Page on Nov. 1
  
• Palm Springs Pride Nov. 6 through 9
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 8

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert wants to hear from you — and they’re willing to pay for your time.

Driving the news: The Center has launched a quality of life survey aimed at understanding the experiences and needs of the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ+ population, with results helping shape future programming.

• The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete and can be done anonymously. The first 1,000 respondents are eligible for a $15 electronic VISA gift card.

Who can participate: Any valley resident — full- or part-time — who identifies as LGBTQ+ is encouraged to take the survey, which is available in both English and Spanish.

What it covers: Questions address topics including access to local services, community connections, personal safety, and experiences with discrimination.

The timeline: The survey runs through Oct. 31, with preliminary results to be shared as they become available along with community meetings in early 2026.

How to participate: Take the survey online here, but note that as of the time this story was posted the survey site reports that it’s experiencing technical difficulties.