BROUGHT TO YOU BY
We are grateful for our advertisers. Become one today
Thursday, May 7 | ☀️ 97°/69°
Happy Thursday, folks, where just when you thought it would be sweater weather forever ... it won’t! Today marks the start of a five-day period that will see highs more in the triple digits than the double digits. In fact, a severe heat warning has been issued starting on Mother’s Day (Sunday) through Tuesday May 12. Our advice? Start planning now for an indoor Sunday brunch!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Rollercoaster" by Bleachers
Leading Off
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez spoke to about a hundred residents who gathered to learn about the budget process and give their priorities.
Riverside County's $10 billion budget faces uncertainty as residents demand housing relief
Riverside County officials presented a $10 billion spending plan at a community workshop last week, warning residents of mounting financial pressure from potential state and federal funding cuts.
Driving the news: At a community meeting in Palm Desert last week, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said rising costs and flattening revenues are making it difficult to predict the county's economic future. Of the total budget, $8.6 billion is fixed by law, leaving $1.4 billion in discretionary funds for the Board of Supervisors to allocate.
"It's hard to look ahead when we don't know how this week is going to end or the next month is going to end," Van Wagenen said.
Why it matters: District 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, whose district covers most of the Coachella Valley, warned that the county must serve as a safety net even as cuts loom at higher levels of government. The county serves 2.5 million residents across 7,300 square miles — a population that has grown faster than almost anywhere else in the nation.
What residents said: More than two dozen people spoke at the meeting, and nearly all identified affordable housing as their top concern or said it was a root cause of other problems they raised.
One speaker representing Spanish-speaking childcare providers said 85% of children in the county lack access to quality care, prompting Perez to pledge more funding for locally owned childcare micro-businesses.
What's next: County staff will present a condensed summary of resident priorities to the Board of Supervisors at its May 12 meeting. A draft budget will be posted online before a final budget is adopted by the end of June.
Briefly
A Palm Springs Disposal Service truck makes the rounds. (File photo)
♻️ Sustainability subcommittee takes up composting, plastics, STR badge
The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission Subcommittee on Waste Reduction discussed composting compliance, a potential ban on single-use plastic water bottles at city events, and a proposed sustainability badge program for short-term rentals at its monthly meeting this week.
The sharpest exchange centered on composting enforcement, with a subcommittee member noting that Palm Springs Disposal Services has never issued a fine for non-compliance despite earlier materials promising an enforcement period. Multi-family housing was identified as the biggest compliance gap, with high tenant turnover and the city's large seasonal population cited as obstacles.
Details: The subcommittee discussed using portable hydration stations as an alternative to plastic water bottles at city-permitted events, with VillageFest and Palm Springs Pride — scheduled for Nov. 5–8 — mentioned as potential pilots. Members agreed more research was needed before approaching event organizers.
A MESSAGE FROM
PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER
Step into the shadows May 7–10 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Opening night kicks off with Slightly Scarlet (7:30PM), followed by a weekend of classic noir—including rare 35mm screenings of City Girl, The Mob, and Let Us Live. Experience these films the way they were meant to be seen — on the big screen.
📆 Featured Events
Lesbian and Queer Women's Chat
10:30 a.m. | The Center
A welcoming chat group for queer women to connect, share support, and build community. Contact Candice at 760-416-7790 or [email protected].
Mahjong Meetup
12 p.m. | Market Market
Join others for a weekly mahjong game. Two mats and sets are available, but feel free to bring your own as it can get busy.
Lesbian and Queer Women's Chat
2 p.m. | The Center
A welcoming chat group for queer women to connect, share support, and build community. Contact Candice at 760-416-7790 or [email protected].
RAW Talk: Body Talk!
4 p.m. | Saffron Restaurant & Lounge
DAP Health hosts an open panel discussion exploring body dysmorphia, desire, self-worth, and sexual wellness, creating space for meaningful dialogue around body image and its impact on health, relationships, and confidence.
CTE Showcase 2026
4–7 p.m. | Palm Springs Air Museum
The Palm Springs Unified School District hosts its Hollywood-themed CTE Showcase, "Be the Star of Your Own Future," featuring student-led exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, and culinary creations.
Free Museum Admission
5–8 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum
Free Thursday Night offers free admission to galleries at the Palm Springs Art Museum (101 N. Museum Dr.), where a DJ will perform, and at the Architecture & Design Center (300 S. Palm Canyon Dr.), featuring exhibitions and community programs. Grab a drink, explore the collections, and socialize with fellow art and music lovers.
Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The commission holds its regular monthly meeting, responsible for procuring and placing visual art in and around Palm Springs.
HooDoo - Thursday Night Live Music
6 p.m. | Hyatt Palm Springs
Thursday nights at HooDoo bring live music and handcrafted cocktails in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs.
VillageFest
6–10 p.m. | Palm Canyon Drive
VillageFest runs every Thursday along Palm Canyon Drive with art, entertainment, shopping, and food. Hours run through May; the fair shifts to 7–10 p.m. starting in June.
Black Market Jazz
7 p.m. | Cipolline
A jazz quartet performs drums, bass, keys, and guitar with an international mix of music in the lounge.
📌 Save the Date
Friends of the Palm Springs Library sidewalk book sale on Friday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church starting at 9 a.m.
PSPsychedelic Society Presents Joe Tafur on Saturday at Mizell Center ($15)
Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on May 14 at the Palm Springs Convention Center ($95)
Agave Paradiso Cocktail Party benefitting Palm Springs Animal Shelter on May 16 ($25-$250)
Ride of Silence at Ruth Hardy Park at 6:30 p.m. on May 20
🚠 And Finally …
Shutterstock image
This month is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert is shining a light on a problem that affects far too many people — loneliness and isolation — and pointing those who are struggling toward help that's closer than they might think.
Driving the news: The Center's Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic is encouraging LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing loneliness or isolation to reach out and explore support options, which range from individual, couples, and family therapy on a sliding-scale fee basis to no-cost and low-cost support groups covering topics such as bereavement, sleep support, setting healthy boundaries, and transgender experiences.
About one in three U.S. adults report feeling lonely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — and research shows LGBTQ+ individuals experience those feelings at even higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.
The numbers: Surveys of support group participants tell a compelling story. Three out of four reported feeling lonely or isolated when they first joined a group. After participating, 83% said they felt less lonely or isolated, and 91% reported feeling more connected to their community.
What they're saying: "All of our clinicians are trained in LGBTQ+-affirming care that helps clients feel less alone," said Dr. Sean Ferri, a licensed clinical psychologist and the clinic's senior manager of clinical support.
How to connect: Visit thecentercv.org or call the clinic at 760-281-2613.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
🪪 Kendall has some air travel planned and is facing the inevitability of either getting a new passport or finally getting the Real ID.
⛓️💥 Mark finally had enough of the users, takers and spammers on LinkedIn and nuked his account. It feels like … freedom!
WORK WITH US
Our network of publications has nearly 50,000 email subscribers and we send 125,000 newsletters each week! That gives advertisers unmatched reach to engaged local readers across the Coachella 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!
Proudly produced in District 1. Typos are intentional.