🌱 Palm Springs Declared Drag Sanctuary + $2.3B Reparations Request

Hello, Palm Springs! I'm here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Robert Hughes of the Bannister Group, Windermere Desert Properties

Looking to buy or sell a dream country club property in the Valley? This local expert can help you get a hole-in-one.

Buying a country club property in our area can be complex. In addition to the standard challenges of any real estate transaction, the over 120 different private clubs in our area each have unique offerings, requirements and benefits. Understanding the options can be the difference between a home-buying ace and a double bogey.

The same goes for selling. The additional hurdles of country club properties require greater expertise than standard transactions. To maximize value — and to avoid wasting time — sellers need a realtor who knows the market and can match them with qualified buyers.

Robert Hughes understands the market for country club properties in the Valley. He has over 20 years of real estate experience in our area, with a focus on country clubs and luxury homes. As a member of the Bannister Group, one of the top-selling and longest-established realty groups in the valley, Robert has access to deep knowledge, proprietary market research, as well Bannister’s network of buyers and sellers.

That’s why he gets listings like this one — a spectacular 4-bedroom with mountain views on a fairway at Indian Ridge Country Club.

Looking to rent a luxury golf or club property for the season? Robert can help with that too.

Whether buying or selling a country club property, you deserve to work with a realtor with deep expertise in the nuances of this unique market. Contact Robert Hughes and the Bannister Group today.

Now, today's weather:

Sunny and very warm. High: 93 Low: 69.

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Here are the top three stories today in Palm Springs:

1. Palm Springs has been declared a Drag Sanctuary by the Greater Palm Springs Pride group. The group's president and CEO Ron deHarte, who also serves on the city council, said that the city supports drag because it's a part of everyday life that has existed for hundreds of years. "Drag is not a crime. Our country has a rich history of drag as an artistic expression, standard of activism, and the backbone of fundraising in the community," said deHarte in a statement. (KESQ)
2. Nearly 2,000 Black and Latino families kicked out of Palm Springs over half a century ago are seeking $2.3 billion in reparations, which equates to roughly $1.2 million per family. The area was a mile-square neighborhood known as Section 14 that was bulldozed and burned in the 1960s at the request of a local Native American tribe. Palm Springs officials will work with a “reparations consultant” to decide whether or not to and how to compensate the families, a city spokesperson said. (The Real Deal)
3. Heads up if you were planning to head to the second weekend of Coachella; multiple sources are reporting that Frank Ocean has dropped out. This comes after Ocean's controversial headlining set during weekend one that started an hour late, featured long pauses and little singing, and was ultimately forced to end early. Ocean's Sunday spot is rumored to be filled by Blink-182. (KESQ)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Palm Springs:

• Palm Springs Drag Brunch At Roly China Fusion (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Palm Springs Police Department honored a group of local students in its first "Do The Right Thing" awards ceremony. The awards recognize and reward local school-age children for their positive attitudes, behaviors, and accomplishments. (KESQ)
• The second in a series of four public meetings at College of the Desert happened on Wednesday and covered the functions and features of proposed spaces for the Palm Springs Development Project. If you want to voice your opinion, the next meeting will be on May 17. (College of the Desert)
• Local modernist designer Christopher Kennedy’s home goods retail store at 901 N. Palm Canyon Drive will close at the end of May after more than six years. “At this juncture, I want to focus on our private design clients — which is our core business — and my own personal work-life balance,” Kennedy said of the decision. (Subscription: Desert Sun)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• "Around the World in 60 minutes" Dance Class! (April 22)
• Spring Music Series at The River (April 22)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.