September 17 Daily Briefing: Voter drive launched, bike lane meetings planned, and more

Happy Tuesday, everyone! If you’d like to meet one of the best authors around — who may also hold the record for both upsetting and delighting the most people on local Facebook pages — may we suggest heading to The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs tonight at 5 p.m. for an appearance by Tod Goldberg. He’s out promoting the paperback launch of “Gangsters Don’t Die” (part of his acclaimed gangster series), and would love to see you. If you enjoy his jokes claiming that a Fuddruckers is under construction every time somebody asks on a local Facebook group what’s being built on this corner or that, here’s your chance to tell him. If you do not enjoy those jokes, this is also your chance to tell him.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett

LEADING OFF

Local group launches nonpartisan voter registration drive

A local political organization is kicking off a nonpartisan voter registration drive, with a special focus on encouraging those with prior felony convictions to learn about their rights. 

Driving the news: The Courageous Resistance of the Desert, a grassroots activist group, aims to register voters through Oct. 16.

• The drive, which starts today, will be held every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at at Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City, with no movie ticket required for participation.

Why it matters: The organization focuses on empowering underrepresented and marginalized communities to engage in the political process. A key focus of this latest effort is educating those with prior felony convictions about their restored voting rights.

• Interest from residents, volunteers, and local businesses is reportedly unprecedented this year, according to Becki Robinson, coordinator of the organization’s Voter Registration Committee.

What they’re saying: “Everybody’s like, OK, let’s get registered. Let’s do something. And so it’s been amazing. It has been absolutely amazing. I’m shocked at what the response has been,” said Robinson.

But wait: The Courageous Resistance maintains a strict nonpartisan approach, registering voters regardless of political affiliation.

• “It is 100% nonpartisan,” Robinson said. “All of my volunteers are totally aware of that… We register everybody, whatever political party that they want to be in, or no political party.”

Dive deeper with our complete story by Maggie Miles

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IN OTHER NEWS

🥵 School administrators throughout the country are shifting calendars to keep students from commuting to school in high heat and learning in sweltering classrooms. One Palm Springs parent has been campaigning for that, but has so far been unsuccessful. [Hechinger Report]

📽️ Headed to Cinema Diverse this year? Ema Sasic runs down everything you need to know about the LGBTQ film fest. [Desert Sun]

🏫 Two open seats on the Palm Springs Unified School District’s five-member board will automatically be filled by the incumbents, who are unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election. [Yahoo!]

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Student performance: “Before The Bell”
10 a.m. | CVRep
Students from local high schools are presenting this performance aimed at addressing bullying. The community is welcome to attend. Read more about the event here.

Public Arts Commission Special Meeting
11 a.m. | City Hall
The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission will meet to discuss submissions for the Artscape in Parks proposal.

Sustainability Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
To view/listen/participate in the meeting live, please contact Lindsey-Paige McCloy at this email address or 760-323-8214. An agenda can be found here.

Bike Lanes Community Meeting
5:30 p.m. | Demuth Community Center
The city of Palm Springs plans to install bike lanes on two miles of South Palm Canyon Road and three miles of Racquet Club Road. But first, city officials will be listening to the community in three sessions. The first session takes place tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. at Demuth Community Center.

Sunset Yoga
6 p.m. | Ace Hotel & Swim Club
A mellow flow in the mighty mountain’s shadow, led by Power Yoga Palm Springs. All ages and abilities welcome. BYO mat. This event is outdoors, free and open to all.

SAVE THE DATE

• Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs at Indian Canyons Golf Resort on Wednesday.
  
  
• Healthy Desert, Healthy You summit on Friday and Saturday.
  
  
• Palm Springs Police Department open house on Sept. 28.
  
  
• Boo2Bullying Wellness Festival at Palm Springs Stadium on Sept. 28. 
  
  
• City Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 5.
  
  
• One Night Out Rio benefiting The Foundation for PSUSD on Oct. 5.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Center Stage benefiting LQBTQ+ Center of the Desert on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker on Oct. 22.

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AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs is gearing up to add bike lanes to two roads: South Palm Canyon Road and Racquet Club Road. But first, it wants to hear from you.

Driving the news: To gather feedback on the proposed bike lane additions, the city has scheduled three community meetings this month, starting tonight:

• The South Palm Canyon Drive improvements will be discussed from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. this evening at Demuth Community Center located at 3601 East Mesquite Ave.
  
  
• The Racquet Club Road project will be the subject of a meeting on Wednesday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at James O. Jessie Community Center located at 480 Tramview Road.
  
  
• Finally, Racquet Club Road will again be discussed from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sept. 23, at James O. Jessie Community Center.

At issue: The addition of the bike lanes is part of a larger city initiative to provide residents with more ways to engage in “active transportation.” 

Details: As currently proposed, the project includes two miles of bike lanes on South Palm Canyon Road and three miles on Racquet Club Road.

• During the meetings, the public will get a chance to review designs and weigh in with their thoughts.