Key Issues

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Address Homelessness with Multiple Strategies:

There are many reasons why a person may become unhoused. A lack of stable housing often due to financial instability and a shortage of affordable housing; and the impacts of addiction, mental health, and inadequate access to recovery and treatment services are contributing factors. We must act swiftly and in partnership with the County, State, and Federal agencies to prevent a further increase in homelessness.

• A comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness with a balance of compassion, firmness, and respect for the quality of life for all Palm Springs residents and business owners.
• Building out the Navigation Center and implementing its goals as quickly as possible. It will provide 80 units of long-term temporary housing for homeless individuals and families seeking assistance and services to get back on their feet.
• Providing strategic guidance and oversight of the operations of the Navigation Center and working closely with Martha’s Village and Kitchen to insure the city’s commitment to minimize the impact onsurrounding neighborhoods.
• This summer, California enacted CARE Court legislation that focuses on people with schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders. It allows relatives, roommates, close friends and others to petition the CARE court to intervene on behalf of afflicted loved one’s. Riverside County was one of 6 counties selected to have this new program up and running by October 31, 2023.  Palm Springs has to be a vital partner with the county to make use of these services and to ensure that no one’s civil rights are violated in the process.
• Support our police in their on-going efforts to balance compassion with the need to address unacceptable behavior and encampments which impact the quality of life across Palm Springs.

Make Our Neighborhoods Safer:

Residents and business owners are concerned about recent spikes in crime in the Downtown Business Districts and across Palm Springs neighborhoods. I will continue to:

• Work closely with our new Police Chief and support his efforts to conduct a top-to-bottom assessment of how Palm Springs deploys our police officers across the city in order to protect residents, business owners, and property.
• Continue to support increased foot and bike patrols in downtown and work to expand patrols to all commercial districts to make our businesses, residents, and tourists safer on our streets.
• Invest in programs, especially evening programs for our youth, to keep them engaged in safe activities.
• Continue to support efforts to curb gang violence and keep illegal guns off the streets.
• Work with residents and police officers to deepen a sense of community policing and create trust between beat officers and the neighborhoods they serve.

Support Housing for All Income Levels:

The lack of housing options for buyers and renters is impacting Palm Springs’ long-term stability and vitality.  We must support the creation of new housing for people of all income levels to ensure Palm Springs can be a place that everyone from working families, to a city librarian, teacher, or firefighter, can find a place to call home. We must continue to address the housing crisis with every resource, such as:

• Promoting policies to Increase our supply of market-rate rental apartment buildings and single-family homes to provide housing opportunities for renters and working families.
• Place the highest priority on building new apartment buildings by allowing higher density in appropriate locations and by providing incentives. No new large rental complexes have been built in the last 30 years and 6.9% of our apartment stock (638 units) has been lost to conversion of hotels and condos.
• Continue to partner with non-profit affordable housing developers to build more subsidized units for our lowest income residents.
• Pass the inclusionary housing ordinance that the city council is studying to require that new housing developments provide some lower priced units either on or off site for our working families.

Invest in Aging and Underfunded City Infrastructure:

Our city’s infrastructure is suffering from many years of underfunding.  I will continue to seek funding for:

• Street repairs, potholes, sidewalks, and bridges. All streets were surveyed and rated in 2016. Palm Springs has 243 miles of streets and thoroughfares. Since 2016, 56% of all streets have been repaved, but it could take another 12 years to repave the rest. In order to catch up, additional Measure J funds can be used to complete the project in less time.
• Connect neighborhoods still on septic systems with the City sewer and storm drain system.
• Continue to fund the modernization and repair of our library to ensure seismic safety and bring our library into the 21st century to ensure that all generations can take full advantage of our library resources.
• Provide needed repairs for all city buildings, including updating the bathrooms and kitchen at City Hall.
• Continue to support street improvements that are pedestrian and cyclist friendly which will reduce emissions and improve health conditions.

Planning for Climate Change as Soon as Possible:

Climate Change is real and we are already experiencing its impacts across the Coachella Valley and the State of California.  Our hot days are hotter and the number of sweltering days are increasing.  We are grappling with an electric grid which puts us at risk of rolling blackouts and the problem of rising urban heat which can be life threatening to our residents.

• Palm Springs has been a leader in the use of renewable energy sources as well as sustainable practices. I will continue that work.
• I support new solar incentive programs to increase the energy efficiency for existing residential and commercial properties, as well as providing additional funds to the water agencies program to incentivize the use of water efficient landscaping for both residential and commercial buildings.

Prioritizing Public Health and Safety:

Our city’s quick response to the COVID crisis protected our residents and preserved our tourist industry which allowed us to avoid what may have been drastic reductions in tax revenue related to tourism in 2020 and 2021. Instead, because of our diligence, tourists felt they were safe to visit Palm Springs and our city budget was relatively stable. I will continue to work to:

• Prioritize the needs of Palm Springs’ priority populations like seniors, the LGBTQ+ community, and youth to ensure Riverside County is prepared and ready to provide a robust response to ongoing public health crises like the COVID variants and Mpox (Monkeypox).

Modernize District 1 Parks, City Facilities, and Open Spaces:

The City facilities in District 1 have lacked investment for too long, which is why I will continue the work I’ve started to significantly upgrade our parks.

• Review and implement the recommendations of the Parks Master Plan that is currently being prepared, including upgrading our bathrooms, play equipment for safety and enjoyability, athletic facilities, dog parks and providing soccer fields and additional pickleball and tennis courts.
• Change our zoning requirements to require pocket parks and/or dog parks in all new developments.
• Provide parks in areas of the city without adequate park space.
• Work with our environmental organizations to protect our open spaces, especially our hill sides, and preserve our natural assets and protect desert wildlife.

Economic Development and Tourism:

• Work with the College of the Desert to build the promised West Valley college campus. We need to ensure that higher paying jobs in all sectors are available for our youth and working families.
• Support workforce development at City Hall, with our unions, and our local businesses and non-profit organizations to create a pipeline of mentorship and job opportunities.
• Diversify our economy and develop new revenue sources to supplement the income we receive from our tourist economy.
• Fully staff our city’s Economic Development Department and create a position devoted to our small businesses.

Ensure District 1 is a Community for all Generations:

District 1 is the most diverse district in Palm Springs. It is home to residents of all income levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, and new and multi-generational residents. We must ensure that every resident of District 1 is getting their fair share of City resources and services. I will continue to:

• Push College of the Desert to sell its property at the north end of the city so that we can envision and create a new neighborhood with housing for all income levels, parks and open space, a city facility that provides space for programming and services, and other community benefits.
• Work with City staff and the grocery industry to create the economic conditions to support a full-service grocery store in north Palm Springs.
• Expand programs and services for youth and seniors to keep them safe, healthy, and active.
• Expand partnerships with the Palm Springs Unified School District to ensure students are learning and able to go on to college or get good jobs locally that pay a living wage.
• Prioritize talking up a review of the noise ordinances to balance community quiet and serenity while still providing opportunities for larger outdoor events for everyone’s enjoyment.