On the Issues

One by one, local vacation rental owners took to social media in recent months to report the same thing: A once steady stream of bookings was evaporating. Turns out, they were catching on to an emerging trend.

Dozens of projects are either under construction or in the works throughout the Coachella Valley, with city councils, planning commissions, and key stakeholders pitching in to push nearly 4,500 units of affordable housing forward.

This week, representatives from multiple local governments are meeting with elected officials and others in Washington, D.C. The goal? Build on recent bipartisan support to see commuter rail finally come to the Coachella Valley.

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court is designed to help people with serious mental illnesses, including about 14% of those without housing here. But both supporters and critics are pointing out its potential flaws.

Can we the people step in to solve the issues around deaths involving guns where politicians on both sides of the aisle have failed? That’s the premise of exhaustive work being done by one local podcaster.

Exorbitant fees. Outrageous deposits. Nonrefundable charges just to be on a waiting list. Welcome to the Coachella Valley rental market, where even the would-be mayor of Palm Springs is struggling to find suitable accommodations.