Desert Sun Flip-Flop Editorials

Content:

In a short 128 word editorial The Desert Sun editors have reversed an earlier position with respect to the Measure J Oversight Commission selection process. They previously gave it their THUMBS DOWN because "nearly three-quarters of the applicants wouldn't be interviewed". They have now awarded THUMBS UP because the number who will not be interviewed is now only 55% of those qualified for appointment.

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Desert Sun Flip-Flop Editorials

Palm Springs, California.  Two weeks ago The Desert Sun editors reviewed Palm Springs City Council actions with respect to the Measure J Oversight Commission candidate selection process.  At that time they gave it their THUMBS DOWN in an editorial stating "...the council shouldn't be in the position of picking the oversight board in the first place. What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests? Unfortunately, not much."

The editors have again reviewed the Measure J Oversight Commission selection process and their opinion has undergone a complete flip-flop. In their "New selection process for Measure J Oversight Commission is better" editorial they now give THUMBS UP support to the process because the City Council has increased from 25 to 44 the number of candidates to be interviewed. No mention was made in the editorial of the remaining 55 candidates who will not be interviewed nor given further consideration.

The Desert Sun editors previously stated the council should not pick the oversight board. Nothing has changed! The council remains firm in their decision to be the only body that interviews and recommends candidates for appointment. No official public acknowledgement of the question about council members picking those beholden to them has been reported. Where is that better selection process the editors report?

Less than half those who were encouraged to apply will be interviewed. The only change is the decision to increase the number of interviews from 25 to 44 candidates. Is the addition of 19 candidate interviews really a "new selection process"?

The City Council's candidate selection process was arbitrary and secretive. The 55 who were not selected have been publicly identified as either "unqualified" or not "overly worthy". City Council actions in this regard have resulted in unacceptable treatment and disregard for individual reputations. None of those not selected were notified, no thanks have been extended in recognition of their participation, and no apologies have been made for disparaging remarks with respect to them as candidates. 

What has happened with the selection process that it now merits a THUMBS UP report from The Desert Sun editors? Certainly a flip-flop that leaves so much unanswered reflects poorly on the paper and its editorial staff. And they surely realize their flip-flop action brings into question their credibility. Why did they choose to reverse their position?

Bond Shands
Palm Springs - March 11, 2012

Copies of this blog are available to all on the www.DesertObserver.com website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com

CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG

Desert Sun Flip-Flop Editorials

City Council Ignores Community Input

Oversight Commission and Political Patronage

Majority of Oversight Commission Applicants Ignored by Council

Diversity Needed In Measure J Oversight Commission Appointments

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?

City Council Ignores Community Input

Content:
The Palm Springs City Council has ignored community concerns over the process being used to select members for the new Measure J Oversight Commission. The council supported Mayor Steve Pougnet's decision to reject a majority of the applicants and restrict interviews to those he personally viewed as "uniquely qualified".

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Palm Springs, California.  The Desert Sun's "Palm Springs City Council to interview 44 Measure J panel hopefuls" report confirmed the intent to interview only 44 of the 99 applicants who qualified for appointment to the new Measure J Oversight Commission. Mayor Steve Pougnet has implied the 55 who will not be interviewed are not "uniquely qualified" and Councilwoman Ginny Foat has indicated her view that some were actually "unqualified" for one of the seven commission appointments. None of the 55 has received written notice of their rejection.

Many have urged the council consider changes in the appointment process and to interview all 99 applicants. The Desert Sun editors stated their view "the council shouldn't be in the position of picking the oversight board in the first place." All to no avail! Mayor Pougnet convinced fellow council members to adopt his own Oversight Commission appointment agenda and ignore those in the community he referred to as "vocal critics". One speaker appearing before the council referred to "the firestorm" of criticism about the council not interviewing all 99 applicants. Despite overwhelming evidence of community concern the council barely acknowledged that controversy surrounded their actions and no council member indicated concern with the process. Instead the members completely disregarded all input asking for change and voted in favor of the Mayor's proposal.

Mayor Pougnet did not campaign on a pledge to place constituent's interests above his own. He did not campaign on a pledge to always be accessible, listen and represent the views of residents.

No City Council member campaigned on a pledge to place constituent's interests above their own. None campaigned on a pledge to always be accessible, listen and represent the views of residents.

Is it any wonder The Desert Sun editors asked, "What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests?" No council member has provided a public response to this question. In fact no public acknowledgement of the question, from any city official, has been reported.

Those in the community who expected the City Council to listen and modify their actions in response to that "firestorm" of criticism should now realize none on the council actually promised to act in the best interests of their constituents. Council members have certainly proved that to be the case with respect to their Measure J Oversight Commission responsibilities. 

Is it too much to ask for a City Council comprised of those who pledge to place constituent's interests above their own? Is it too much to ask for a City Council whose members pledge to always be accessible, listen and represent the views of residents? When the City Council ignores its constituents interests, is there any recourse available to the community?

Bond Shands

Palm Springs - March 9, 2012

Copies of this blog are available to all on the www.DesertObserver.com website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com

CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG

City Council Ignores Community Input

Oversight Commission and Political Patronage

Majority of Oversight Commission Applicants Ignored by Council

Diversity Needed In Measure J Oversight Commission Appointments

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?

Oversight Commission and Political Patronage

March 6, 2012

Oversight Commission and Political Patronage

Content:

The Palm Springs City Council's inept Measure J Oversight Commission appointment process continues without answering the question "What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests?"

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Palm Springs, California. The gang that can't shoot straight! That pretty much sums up City Council actions with respect to the Measure J Oversight Commission appointment process. The new citizens' watchdog commission concept The Desert Sun said "exuded noble intentions and goodwill" is turning into a political fiasco entirely of the council's making. In response to extensive advertising the council received ninety-nine (99) qualified applications from citizens seeking appointment to the new commission. Some council members viewed the large number of potential applicant interviews with distaste. Their solution resulted in a secretive arbitrary selection process that vastly eliminated the number to be interviewed. Mayor Steve Pougnet has described the forty-four (44) selected candidates, none of whom has been interviewed, as "uniquely qualified". The remaining fifty-five (55) rejected applicants will not benefit from interviews or further consideration.

In an earlier Thumbs Down editorial The Desert Sun editors stated "...the council shouldn't be in the position of picking the oversight board in the first place." Mayor Pougnet responded in a morning Valley Voice op-ed piece titled "Only the Palm Springs City Council can make board appointments." In it he notes the City Charter requires that board or commission appointments be made by the City Council. The mayor's statement represents a bit of subterfuge. All that has been suggested is that another body handle interviews and then recommend candidates for appointment by the council. No one disputes appointment authority rests with the council, but the only way the public can be assured the process is open and independent is for the council to delegate the interview and preliminary selection process.

Mayor Pougnet's op-ed asserts the Oversight Commission selection process has been transparent. It clearly has not! Trimming down the pool from ninety-nine (99) to forty-four (44) applicants was done in secret and without explanation of the selection process used. The council had earlier decided to select and interview twenty-five (25) candidates during a special morning session. That process was cancelled and the decision to do so made in secret. The mayor intends to recommend the council now interview forty-four (44) applicants but the criteria to be used during the selection process remains secret. The Oversight Commission selection process is not and has not been transparent! Instead it has been arbitrary and secretive.

Mayor Pougnet was one who encouraged citizens to apply for Oversight Commission appointment but he never indicated he had no intention of interviewing all qualified applicants. The reputations of the fifty-five (55) fine citizens whose applications have been rejected has not been enhanced by this arbitrary action on the mayor's part. Those who have been denied interviews deserve an apology.

The Palm Springs community is not being well served in these proceedings. The council's failure to do the right thing could easily mean the commissioners they appoint will enter into office under the dark cloud of political favoritism with the appearance those appointed will have benefited from political patronage. The action of the council may be one a great many will never approve nor forget. As The Desert Sun editors asked, "What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests?"

Will "The gang who can't shoot straight!" take a step back, decide that all applicants should be interviewed and then assign the actual selection of applicants to others before ending the process and exercising their appointment authority?

Bond Shands
Palm Springs

Copies of this blog are available to all on the www.DesertObserver.com website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com

CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG
Oversight Commission and Political Patronage

Majority of Oversight Commission Applicants Ignored by Council

Diversity Needed In Measure J Oversight Commission Appointments

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?

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Majority of Oversight Commission Applicants Ignored by Council

March 2, 2012

Palm Springs, California. The City of Palm Springs extensively solicited applicants for appointment to the new Measure J Oversight Commission. Over a hundred residents responded and ninety-nine (99) qualified applications were received by the January 12, 2012 filing date. The City Council subsequently announced there were too many applicants and too much time would be needed to interview all who had applied. They devised a closed-door procedure that allowed council members to arbitrarily eliminate a majority of the applications from both the interview process and further consideration. That procedure concluded with the production of a "Short List" of forty-four (44) applicants who will be scheduled for interview.

The "Short List" of forty-four (44) applicants found worthy of interview includes six (6) women and thirty-eight (38) men. Thirty (30) have residences in North Palm Springs (zip 92262) and fourteen (14) reside in South Palm Springs (zip 92264). The "Short List" includes disclosure of each council member's choice of applicants. A majority of the names, twenty-four (24), only appeared on a single council member list, but eight (8) names appeared on three (3) or more member lists. A copy of the complete "Short List" with more details may be viewed or downloaded by clicking here or from the www.DesertObserver.com website.

The real disappointment in this process has to be the council's decision that fifty-five (55), a majority of the applicants, have been found unworthy of a short interview. One council member used the term "unqualified" in her assessment of these applicants. The council has chosen to deliberately insult a majority of those who were encouraged to participate in the Oversight Commission application process. Fine upstanding citizens who answered the call by volunteering to serve their city have been deemed unworthy of the council's time. These residents are all of good character and reputation with expertise in such fields as Real Estate, Clinical Research, Communications Analyst, Small Business Owner, Retired Executive, Project Manager, Teacher, College Instructor, Accountant, Consultant, Law Enforcement, Housewife, Attorney/Lawyer, Government, Investor, Construction, Budget Analyst, Urban Planner, and Sales. Surely they deserve better from our city council - and a genuine apology should top that list.

Those who have stepped up to the plate by responding to the city's call for service, only to be found unworthy of an interview or further consideration for Oversight Commission appointment, are deserving of community thanks. Their names appear below, all are definitely "qualified", and none should have been singled out by the Palm Springs City Council as of less importance or concern than those on that arbitrarily concocted "Short List".

MEASURE J OVERSIGHT COMMISSION APPLICANTS NOT ON SHORT LIST

Frank Alvarez - K. Magdalena Andrasevits - Bernd (Ben) K. Bauer
Ron Berger - James R Jim Bronkema - Bruce Bushore
Mark P. Butzko - Vince Calcagno - Thomas A. Clause
Jim Crotts - Ross Crowe, CPM - Alexander Diaz
David Doyle - Philip Fleck - Jeremy Gabriel - Vic Gainer
John D. Garrity - Glen N. Gertmenian - Wayne Alyn Gottlieb
Kurt Handshuh - Katharine Anne Harradine - James W. Hayton
Barbara Foster Henderson - Douglas Cecil Jones - John F. "Jack" Kimberling
Dr. Gary J. Kinley - Steve Krauss - John M. Lea
Jay Irwin Lippmann - James McPherson - Mary R. Maher
Michele A. Mahoney - Dick Mandell - Lisa Middleton
Marc Modrow - Deborah Hinton Money - Anthony C. Newland Ph.D.
Nathan Otto - Robert Pacholke - J. Everette Perry
John T. Pivinski - Vincent Price - Bruce J. Purdy
Bradley Rivers - Jonathan Rosenblatt - Donald J. Soja
Heather Stout - Paul J. Titcher - Nicoletta M. Tripodes
John Tymon - Teri Webb - Jack Webster
David A. Weiner, CPA - Kathy Weremiuk - Kenneth R. Wong

The Desert Sun editors have stated their view that "the council shouldn't be in the position of picking the oversight board in the first place. What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests?"

The entire process needs to be reviewed, all applicants should be interviewed, and firm measures taken to ensure that the views or interests of council members are not allowed to dictate the process or the appointments.

Bond Shands
Palm Springs

Copies of this blog are available to all on the www.DesertObserver.com website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com


CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG

Majority of Oversight Commission Applicants Ignored by Council

Diversity Needed In Measure J Oversight Commission Appointments

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?

Diversity Needed In Measure J Oversight Commission Appointments

Palm Springs, California.  In a recent editorial The Desert Sun editors turned Thumbs Down on the Palm Springs City Council’s plans for picking members of the new Measure J Oversight Commission. While they found that officials “exuded noble intentions and goodwill” when the idea of a citizens’ watchdog commission was enacted into ordinance, the current member selection process raises questions about government transparency. It is their view “the council shouldn't be in the position of picking the oversight board”.

It’s important to review the discussions and decisions that led to creation of the Oversight Commission ordinance. They included the following:
 

• This Commission will be comprised of Palm Springs residents and charged with serving as community watchdogs.
• The members will be appointed to provide various local perspectives and ensure that taxpayers have their voices heard.
• Each of the members will be independent-they will not be City employees or contractors.
• The commission shall include, but not limited to, residents with accounting or financial backgrounds and expertise.

The role of the commission will be to hold meetings and hearings, make recommendations, oversee and monitor expenditures, and review financial reports with respect to “projects, programs, services, and other opportunities that have been or would be unfunded or underfunded under current and anticipated budget restrictions”. (Desert Fashion Plaza funding is not in the purview of the Oversight Commission). The commission, though envisioned as an important component of city government, is an advisory body for the City Council bears final responsibility for accepting or rejecting specific recommendations.

The desire that appointed commission members “provide various local perspectives” speaks to community diversity and representation. The members of the commission should not be selected for their Blue Ribbon qualifications for such background, education and training are but one aspect of the credentials appointees should possess. Their ability, as a commission, to represent the diversity that is the Palm Springs community has to be the ultimate basis on which appointments are made.

Diversity has many definitions and the one that should apply with respect to the  Oversight Commission has not been defined. An acceptable definition may prove difficult to achieve but that should not deter one from being sought and implemented. The following is an example of seeking representative community diversity in the appointment of the seven (7) members Oversight Commission. The appointments should include:
 

• 2 members with financial and/or budgetary expertise;
• 1 member representative of the business community;
• 1 member representative of the neighborhoods;
• 1 member representative of the youth and education community (including PTA);
• 1 member representative of the senior and retirement community;
• 1 member representative of infrastructure-related outdoor activities (parks, hiking, biking, walking, etc.)

Interviews of appointment candidates should include an opportunity for each to identify the area of the community she or he best represents. Whatever form of diversity and categories are used the goal has to be a commission that is truly representative. The Desert Sun’s editorial asked “What's to stop the council members from picking participants who are beholden to their own views or interests?”  Without a stated intent to seek diversity it must be concluded picking commission participants may represent little more than political patronage.

Bond Shands
Palm Springs

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs, California.   The new Measure J Oversight Commission member appointment process is currently underway. The application filing deadline was January 12th and Palm Springs city officials reported one hundred and two (102) qualified applications have been received.

The City Council has decided against granting interviews to all who applied and instead have instructed the applicant pool be whittled down to around twenty-five. The "whittle down" process will be arbitrary for the only stated qualifications to serve are to be a registered voter and a Palm Springs resident.

The five (5) individual council members are expected to select fifteen (15) applicants from the full applicant pool so, if there are no duplications among council choices, it should whittle the pool down to no more than seventy-five (75).  City staff will then create a "short list" of undetermined number. Individual council members will each select five (5) applicants from the "short list". A public interview has been scheduled for March 7th and it is assumed those applicants who were selected by the council members will be the ones interviewed. The published time-line calls for the appointment process to conclude with the March 21st City Council meeting.

The following is a listing of ninety-nine (99) of the applications on file with the Palm Springs City Clerk. The applications and their information are matters of public record. To view an expanded listing that includes occupation, length of residence, employer and local reference information, visit DesertObserver.com.

Bond Shands
Palm Springs - February 24, 2012

LISTING OF APPLICANTS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE MEASURE J OVERSIGHT COMMISSION

Frank Alvarez   -  K. Magdalena Andrasevits   -   Jacqueline (Jackie) Autry
David L. Baron   -    Bernd (Ben) K. Bauer  -   Ron Berger
Dr. Thom Bettinger  -  Kristin Bloomer  -   Frederick S. "Ted" Briggs
James R Jim Bronkema  -   Bruce Bushore  -   Mark P. Butzko
Vince Calcagno  -   David Cantwell  -   Eric S. Chiel
Thomas A. Clause  -   Leo S. Cohen  -   Jim Crotts
Ross Crowe, CPM  -   Aftab Dada  -   Alexander Diaz
Edward J. Dietrich  -   David Doyle  -   Philip Fleck
Jeremy Gabriel   -   Vic Gainer  -   John D. Garrity
Glen N. Gertmenian   -   Adam Gilbert  -   Elizabeth Liz Glass
Blake G. Goetz   -   Wayne Alyn Gottlieb  -   Christine Hammond
Kurt Handshuh   -   Keith Harwood  -   Katharine Anne Harradine
Bruce B. Harry, Jr.  -   James W. Hayton   -   Barbara Foster Henderson
Douglas Cecil Jones  -   Terrence A. Jones   -  Robert S. Kalin
Thomas M. Kanarr  -   Bruce Kassler   -   John F. "Jack" Kimberling
Dr. Gary J. Kinley  -   Steve Krauss   -   John M. Lea
Dr. Andrew M. Levine  -   Jay Irwin Lippmann   -  Antonio Lopez III
Michael T. McLean, CCIM  -  Keith G. McCormick   -   Ulrich R. McNulty
James McPherson   -   Mary R. Maher  -   Michele A. Mahoney
Dick Mandell  -   Mark L. Marshall  -   Joy Brown Meredith
Lisa Middleton  -   Marc Modrow  -   Deborah Hinton Money
Robert L. Moon  -   Anthony C. Newland Ph.D.  -   Nathan Otto
Robert Pacholke  -   J. Everette Perry  -   John T. Pivinski
Vincent Price  -   Bruce J. Purdy   -   Bradley Rivers
Greg Lucas Rodriguez  -   Steve Rosenberg  -   Jonathan Rosenblatt
Ronald Siegel  -   Donald J. Soja   -   John Stiles
Heather Stout  -   Fred Straeter  -   Dr. Bridgette Sullenger
Dan Thompson  -   Paul J. Titcher  -   Anthony Toia
Kevin R. Towner  -   Nicoletta M. Tripodes   -   John Tymon
David E. Vogel  -   Mark D. Walthour  -   Curt Watts
Teri Webb  -   Jack Webster  -   David A. Weiner, CPA
Alex D. Wender  -   Kathy Weremiuk  -   Joseph Wild
John M. Williams  -   Kenneth R. Wong  -   Ricky B. Wright
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Copies of this blog are available to all on the www.DesertObserver.com website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com


CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG

Measure J Oversight Commission Applicant Listing

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Palm Springs, California.  California-Colorado commuting Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet may be on the brink of genuine financial independence. After years without private sector employment he has a new job that should free him from dependence on others for continuing financial support. And he gets to keep his current mayoral position with its $40,000 annual salary. Mayor Pougnet has managed to sell himself, though the salary  from his new job remains secret, and only he knows if his services are going to the highest bidder.

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Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

It appears the Palm Springs City Council has a new unofficial member, one without an actual vote, but with substantial behind-the-scenes influence. Local political power player Harold Matzner has hired California-Colorado commuting Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet for full time work as his assistant at the Palm Springs International Film Festival where Matzner serves as chairman. In these types of relationships it's not the employee who calls the shots and those in need of influence with the City Council could surely do worse than line up Mr. Matzner in their corner.

Matzner shared leadership of last Fall's controversial Yes on Measure J campaign and at $75,156.75 was that campaign's second largest contributor. He and his Spencer's Restaurant also hosted Mayor Steve Pougnet's reelection campaign kickoff and victory party events. And his influence undoubtedly facilitated inclusion of a new theatre complex as a requirement for the Desert Fashion Plaza renovation plan. He has previously been identified as a local philanthropist who is often in the news as the contributor of $100,000 checks to various charitable activities. It's surprising to see him step out of the philanthropy mode and extensively dabble so prominently in local politics.

Much speculation surrounds the shocking purchase of the Mayor's services by Matzner, but few believe it is for personal financial gain. He reportedly is a man with extensive New Jersey-based financial resources and his real interests may lie in producing a lasting legacy as a significant local personage. While the names Frank Bogart, Sonny Bono, Jackie Lee Houston and even John Wessman are the stuff of local legend, the name Harold Matzner has not achieved that level of recognition. He surely doesn't wish a John Wessman reputation but any favorable comparison to recently departed Palm Springs Angel Jackie Lee Houston would be the legacy desired. Why Matzner would derail his legacy goals by walking down the political trail and picking up the California-Colorado commuting mayor as his assistant is a question that doesn't seem to have an obvious answer. One would assume a carefully nurtured legacy would not be well served by the friends and foes involvements often found in the political arena. Perhaps there is an irresistible degree of personal satisfaction in knowing that one is in a position to manipulate the local levers of power.

As for Mayor Steve Pougnet the question that's been raised is whether he sold himself to the highest bidder? Or did Matzner merely acquire something off the shelf?

Bond Shands
Palm Springs

Copies of this blog are available to all on the http://www.desertobserver.com/ website
or to those on the Desert Politics & Elections email distribution list available by request from
politics@DesertObserver.com


CLICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO VIEW AN EARLIER BLOG

Palm Springs Mayor Sold To Highest Bidder?

Measure J Oversight Commission Application Hoax

Mayor Pougnet takes job with film festival

Money Buys Elections - Does It Buy People?

Republican Leadership Handling I-10 Traffic Planning Disaster

Measure J Oversight Commission Appointment Process

Committee to Support Measure J Campaign Financing Reports

A Palm Springs Day of Shame?