Palm Springs should appoint a ‘working group’ to address Section 14
The dialogue on the appropriateness of reparations rages on.
Former Palm Springs City Manager Norm King has written an op-ed which presents a less drastic history: not defending the event, but defending the city. Areva Martin, who is the attorney representing Section 14 plaintiffs, wrote an op-ed blasting Mr. King’s position.
My recommendation is that we stop jumping to conclusions that are not based on facts. Let’s appoint a “working group,” headed perhaps by Palm Springs historian Tracy Conrad. Let’s evolve an official understanding of the facts. And, if reparations are appropriate, consider “paying it forward” with housing, with service to the needy and homeless, and other things that will continue to make Palm Springs a great city.
Stephen Moses, Palm Springs
Why Section 14 is in dispute now: money
Enough with all the grotesque slander and misinformation about the history of Section 14! In Areva Martin’s recent guest column, she promised to serve up “indisputable facts,” but all she offered were her and others’ incendiary opinions.
Why is all this in dispute now? Why, after 60-plus years, are we being asked to revisit this subject? In Areva Martin’s words, it’s to seek “reparative justice” which, when translated into normal speech, simply means money. It’s all about money.
And to get to the money, in her column, she bypasses the Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs because they are immune from suit, and goes after the City of Palm Springs, ignoring the “Indisputable Fact” that the city had no authority to evict anyone from Section 14. No amount of verbal contortions can alter that fact, so she relies on obfuscation to get around it. Indeed, if the city had any authority, the problem never would have arisen in the first place!
As for the rest of Ms. Martin’s complaints about the lack of infrastructure, she ignores the fact that streets, utilities, sewers and sidewalks are installed by developers when adjacent properties are developed. They are not normally installed by any city; someone else has to foot that bill.
It would be helpful to stick to the actual, real “indisputable facts,” not just cherry-picked opinions!
Richard Service, Rancho Mirage
Palm Springs shouldn't have taken responsibility for Section 14 evictions
I have read countless stories about Section 14 and the eviction of its inhabitants. With dramatic photos of structures on fire, we were led to assume that the city of Palm Springs directed, ordered and carried out these evictions, and this was the narrative I felt inclined to believe.
The Desert Sun April 9 column by former Palm Springs City Manager Norm King sheds light on other, little-known facts. The area had become strewn with mostly substandard homes, many with no plumbing or electricity. The area posed serious health and safety issues. The California Housing Authority and the Riverside County Department of Health instructed the city to abate these substandard dwelling units.
Areva Martin, the individual who is leading the charge for reparations, labels the above facts as “familiar racists tropes.” She also claims that folks who disagree with their requests for monetary compensation, are “a small group, mostly older and white... residents who are seemingly angry about the demographic shifts in their city.” If this isn’t a racist trope, then I don’t know what is.
I’m sure these new revelations are unwelcome news for reparationists. I agree with Mr. King in that the city should not have taken responsibility for the evictions, and it’s unfortunate they didn’t have this documentation prior to their apology. As for those who are making claims against the City of Palm Springs, they are barking up the wrong tree.
Steve Dominguez, Cathedral City
'Citizens for a New La Quinta' hopes to make real change
La Quinta has had every opportunity under the present leadership to dramatically facilitate many improvements for our city. Unfortunately, time has passed and our mayor is immersed in the doldrums of ill-advised non-decisions. Full responsibility is on the shoulders of Mayor Evans and city council for La Quinta’s decline over the past five years.
I believe that together we have the momentum to raise the bar of excellence as a community. This is the time to look beyond ourselves toward the next election. The challenge for us all is to think differently, to think strategically and answer the questions before us. We need a coherent framework of management in our city to attract interest, desire and investment.
Our new, grassroots group "Citizens for a New La Quinta" has formed and held meetings scheduled to discuss topics and issues — our priority is city accountability. The decay in La Quinta did not happen by itself. The people responsible need to be identified and taken to task, foremost the city manager and the mayor.
The time is now for more people to become involved and run for office — our new organization will help to inspire growth. Join us at our next meeting Wednesday May 10 at 5:30p.m. at The La Quinta Homewood Suites by Hilton, located at 45-200 Washington Street.
Robert Sylk, La Quinta
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs should appoint a ‘working group’ to address Section 14
