BROUGHT TO YOU BY
We are grateful for our advertisers. Become one today
Monday, March 16 | ☀️ 86°/65°
Happy Monday, everyone, and congrats if you won an Oscar last night! If you've ever white-knuckled it through a Palm Springs intersection while someone blew a red light, the city's new Operation Desert Zero is for you. Police are launching a zero-tolerance crackdown on DUI, speeding, and unsafe driving — starting with aggressive red light enforcement this week — and they want to hear from you: head to their Facebook post here to share which busy intersections you think need the most attention.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Wrong" by ANNIE & THE CALDWELLS
Leading Off
The Palm Springs Public Library's temporary home at Rimrock Plaza on its opening day in 2025. (File photo)
Library faces outsized budget cut; city says reduction reflects actual spending
The Palm Springs Public Library is absorbing a $93,600 budget cut this year — a larger dollar reduction than the one imposed on other city departments, including one whose budget is more than 13 times the size of the library's.
Driving the news: Director of Library Services Jeannie Kays told the Library Board of Trustees at its most recent meeting that the library absorbed nearly 3% of its total budget in cuts, compared to 0.14% for the police department and 0.3% for the fire department. The three departments combined accounted for 52% of all citywide cuts, with the library alone accounting for 19%.
The police department's cut was $65,000 despite a $46 million budget. The library's total budget is approximately $3.5 million.
Why it matters: The affected accounts cover adult fiction, nonfiction, and new best-seller purchases — the core of the library's collection.
Kays warned that gaps in annual book purchases create long-term problems, pointing to a period around 2008 when no books were purchased, leaving a visible information gap in the collection for years.
The backdrop: The cuts stem from a citywide reduction applied to a budget category called "materials and supplies." Because the library consolidated its book, programming, and supply accounts into that single category to simplify accounting, the percentage reduction hit it far harder than other departments.
What's next: Kays said the projected cut for fiscal year 2026-27 could reach $157,000 — an amount she said cannot be absorbed the same way she managed this year's reduction. The Library Board of Trustees voted earlier this month to invite City Manager Scott Stiles to meet with the board to discuss the issue directly.
Chief Communications Officer Amy Blaisdell said staff will reassess department budgets this June and provide an update to the City Council regarding fiscal year 2026-27.
Briefly
Palm Springs City Hall. (File photo)
📰 What to watch for at City Hall this week
Three Palm Springs advisory bodies convene this week to consider decisions on airport infrastructure, building efficiency rules and a property owner's fee dispute.
The Airport Commission meets Wednesday at 4 p.m. to vote on recommending roughly $695,000 in contracts with SKIDATA to replace the airport's 26-year-old parking system — a recommendation that heads to City Council on April 8 if approved. Commissioners will also receive a briefing on the city's $1.7 million acquisition of an off-site administrative building at 550 South Paseo Dorotea, with escrow closing March 30.
Details: The Sustainability Commission meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to review a proposed energy-efficient building ordinance and a climate roadmap update, both expected to reach City Council in coming months. The Administrative Appeals Board meets Wednesday at 2 p.m. to hear a property owner's challenge to $20,000 in city-assessed abatement fees at 1442 Padua Way.
A MESSAGE FROM
DAP HEALTH
For “Golden Years, Rainbow Tint,” an article about the specific health struggles faced by LGBTQ+ elders, which appeared in Issue 6 of DAP Health magazine last fall, we spoke to DAP Health Wellness Navigator Clay Cross and his husband, artist Steve Wybenga.
📆 Featured Events
HangingOUT! — Men's Monday Coffee
4:30 p.m. | The Social Cafe & Lounge
Drop in for coffee, chat, and a drink and snack Happy Hour menu — no RSVP needed. Plan to arrive by 4:45 p.m. if you'd like to join the group for dinner afterward.
Mon Petit Salon
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
An evening of live music featuring the award-winning Mon Petit Mojave from the high desert. ($22)
Monday Night Dance Party with Leanna and Miguel
5 p.m. | V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar
A weekly locals' dance night featuring jazz, Latin, pop, disco, covers, and more. ($5)
PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBTQ+ Seniors) Circle
6 p.m. | Online (Zoom)
An informal weekly drop-in for connection and support — no agenda, no topic. Contact Billy Moss for Zoom instructions.
My Husband Makes Movies II: Pacific Heights
6:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Michael Childers presents a benefit screening celebrating the work of his late husband, director John Schlesinger, in support of the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Sing-A-Long "GREASE"
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Theatre
Belt out your favorite songs from Grease at this interactive sing-along — come dressed as your favorite character and bring props or use theirs. Sing-alongs are on select Mondays.
📌 Save the Date
Bloom in the Desert annual fundraiser at Palm Canyon Theatre on Friday
17th Annual ONE-PS Picnic & Community Expo on Saturday at Ruth Hardy Park
PRIDE For the Pride Party on March 26, benefiting The Living Desert’s Lion Bridge project
AmDocs Film Festival on March 26
Palm Springs Book Festival from March 27 through 29
Trans Pride 2026 on March 28 and 29 at Frances Stevens Park
Palm Springs Fire Foundation’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 29 at Ruth Hardy Park
Palm Springs Speaks: CeCe Moore on March 30
🚠 And Finally …
The Easter service ran for a 100 years from 1917 to 2017 and was revived last year.
A Palm Springs tradition dating to 1917 is returning for Easter Sunday. The annual Easter Sunrise Celebration comes back to O'Donnell Golf Club on April 5, with a non-denominational service open to the entire community.
Driving the news: The free event runs from 6:15 to 7:05 a.m. above the fourth fairway of the historic golf club, parking and grounds open at 5:45 a.m.
Seating is limited — guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.
The program: Mayor Naomi Soto will offer a welcome, with worship music by Michelle Fiori, a sunrise reading by Interfaith Chaplain Ritch Colbert, and an Easter message from Dr. Kephyan Sheppard.
The history: The first service was held on the hillside behind The Desert Inn in 1917, hosted by Nellie Coffman. It continued uninterrupted through wartime and economic hardship until 2017 — and was even broadcast nationally during World War II. The tradition was revived last year.
Getting there: The entrance is at 421 West Alejo Road. Parking is available at Temple Isaiah, 332 West Alejo Road, plus street parking.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
👩🍳 Kendall doesn’t know how she’d survive without frozen Trader Joe’s food.
⛄ Mark landed in Seattle to find … snow! Another reminder why he moved to Palm Springs.
WORK WITH US
Our network of publications has nearly 50,000 combined email subscribers and we send out 125,000 newsletters each and every week! Our advertisers get unmatched reach to engaged local readers across the valley. Click the button below to learn more or receive our rate card.
EXPLORE & SUBSCRIBE
We deliver free news to communities throughout the Coachella Valley and a roundup on Saturdays. Click below to subscribe to our other newsletters!