Oct. 30 Weekly Briefing: Crime discussed, food assistance interruption, a moving art experience, and more

Happy Thursday! We’re going to remind you about the end of Daylight Saving Time coming up on Sunday, but let’s be honest, we’re all going to forget and end up feeling extra rested thanks to clocks “falling back” an hour. California voters actually passed a proposition in 2018 allowing the state legislature to permanently end Daylight Saving Time, but every time it comes up it either gets withdrawn or dies in committee. It’s not just for more sunshine, some groups of doctors say that switching back and forth twice a year isn’t great for our health by causing disruptions to sleep.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

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LEADING OFF

Burglary arrest points to evolving safety needs in a growing downtown Indio

Indio police arrested a 38-year-old man Wednesday in connection with a string of burglaries and vandalism targeting at least six downtown businesses. The suspect was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on multiple charges.

Driving the news: The arrest follows recent break-ins at Fresh Juice Bar on Monday, Indio Florist last week, and several other businesses. Both businesses reported broken windows but no money stolen.

The big picture: The burglaries have intensified focus on downtown safety as the area experiences rapid growth. Mayor Glen Miller noted at the most recent City Council meeting that foot traffic to downtown has increased by 160,000 people.

Context: The arrest comes after Police Chief Brian Tully assured councilmembers at an Oct. 15 City Council meeting that the department was working hard to protect citizens following a Sept. 10 incident at College of the Desert’s Indio campus in which a woman threatened two students with a screwdriver in a campus bathroom.

What to watch for: Miller said looking to the future, he expects there to be a more visible police presence downtown with police on bicycle patrols monitoring downtown alleys day and night.

• “It’s just going to be a growing economy,” he said. “We’re going to have to have a police presence, not because it’s unsafe, just so it never gets unsafe.”

For now: The city has its Downtown Ambassador Program, which was just approved for another $100,000 in August. Police said using the plain clothes security presence has helped reduce calls to the department.

By the numbers: In June, the City Council approved a 7% increase in the budget for the police department. Police protection makes up the largest portion of the city’s general fund expenditure at $46.1 million. 

• The police department currently has three job openings, and recently added a motor officer to the unit to share the increasing workload.

What’s next: Detectives are investigating the burglaries and working to locate additional suspects. The department currently has three job openings and recently added a motor officer.

• Anyone with information can contact Indio Police at (760) 391-4057 or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🍽️ Federal shutdown halts CalFresh benefits for 347,000 Riverside County residents

Nearly 347,000 Riverside County residents will stop receiving their CalFresh benefits starting this weekend as part of a nationwide pause on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1.

• The county will lose $65 million in monthly food assistance, according to county staff. County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen told the supervisors at the October 28 meeting that his team is working with regional and local food banks and other stakeholders to connect residents with resources.
  
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would deploy the California National Guard to support food bank operations statewide and fast-track $80 million in state support for food banks, with roughly $1.8 million allocated to food banks serving the Inland Empire.
  
• Bottom line:  The county has a resource guide online with more information.

Dive deeper with Alicia Ramirez’s complete story.

💰State offers $3,000 rebates for heat pump installations

Here’s something you don’t hear every day: the government is trying to save you some money! At this weeks’ Sustainability Commission meeting, commissioners alerted the community to some untapped state funds that could help homeowners and businesses.

• California homeowners can receive up to $3,000 in rebates for replacing their HVAC systems with heat pumps through a state program that still has 90% of its funding available.
  
• The Go Zero program, administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, offers rebates for single-family homes, multifamily apartments, and small businesses that install heat pump systems.
  
• But why? Heat pump systems are considered more energy efficient than traditional HVAC systems, though installation costs can be substantial before rebates are applied. Find out more information online.

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YOUR WEEKEND

Indio Night at Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey game
Today | 6:30 p.m. | Acrisure Arena
Show your Indio pride tonight at the Firebirds vs. San Diego Gulls game. 

Food Truck Friday
Friday | 5 p.m. | Towne St. and Bliss Ave.
Costumes are highly encouraged at this week’s Food Truck Friday. The food lineup includes Painted Dough, Tamaleria mi Ranchito, Nicks Pizza, plus candy and a DJ!

Rosemary HiFi Halloween Costume Party
Friday | 7 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
Featuring music from Noches Illegales and food from Citlali Tamales.

Desert Beer Company Grand Opening
Saturday | 12 p.m. | Desert Beer Company
Come by for a ribbon cutting and enjoy some pints, pizza, and music all day.

Cars, Coffee, and Canines Adoption Event
Sunday | 8 a.m. | Indio Taphouse
Enjoy complimentary coffee from Steve McQueen coffee and the company of adorable (and adoptable!) animals from Desert Hot Springs Animal Care & Control.

Big Rock Pub “Rock the Ride” Car Show
Sunday | 9 a.m. | Big Rock Pub
Don’t be surprised if you see some really cool classic cars cruising around town this weekend. They’re in town for the annual Rock the Ride Car Show fundraiser for the Desert Cancer Foundation.

Check out more events in our community calendar

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AND FINALLY …

This artwork along the Fred Waring Avenue bridge in Indio is going viral online, and for good reason. It might not look like much as a rendering, but when you drive or bike by, the still images come to life. 

Driving the news: The mural, designed by artist Harvey Garcia, was approved by the City Council in 2023. Garcia wrote in his proposal that the mural is designed to interact with its environment and the public. The sequence of still images show the movement of a Native American on a horse transforming into an eagle as day turns to night.

The inspiration: “The concept is extracted from the first film “The Horse in Motion” (1878) by Eadweard Muybridge, which shows a sequence of a horse galloping with its rider, this proposal is also a tribute to this sequence considered a beginning in the cinema,” Garcia explained.

What they’re saying: When they approved the design, councilmembers saw something special in the piece. “We don’t see anything else like this in our Coachella Valley. I haven’t seen this before, I think this is great,” Councilmember Waymond Fermon said in 2023 when he saw the concept art. “I like the concept…it gives people a purpose.”