I am writing in opposition to the proposed annexation of Vista Santa Rosa by La Quinta and to the continued push for luxury development in Thermal while so many local needs remain unmet.
Thermal is not vacant land waiting to be transformed for outside profit. It is a living community made up of families, workers and long-time residents who deserve investment that improves daily life, not projects designed primarily to attract wealth and serve private interests.
When public money, political attention and planning efforts are directed toward luxury housing, exclusive developments and expansion plans, the people who already live in Thermal are too often pushed aside.
The priority should be simple: Community needs must come first. That means investing in safer roads, reliable infrastructure, clean water, public parks, affordable housing, strong schools and services that directly benefit residents. Annexation and luxury development are often described as progress, but progress for whom? If the outcome is that local residents lose influence over their future while outside developers gain more power, that is not progress at all.
Thermal deserves thoughtful development shaped by the community itself, and leaders must commit to what residents actually need most before chasing projects that benefit outsiders over local families.
Jose Julian Andrade, Thermal
Say thanks to public service workers
Public Service Recognition Week is May 3 to 9. Since 1985, the week has served as a national observance to recognize the dedication and contributions of individuals working in federal, state, county, local and tribal government.
As a retired Department of Defense employee, I lead the Greater Palm Springs Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
Please join us in publicly acknowledging the outstanding work done by these patriots throughout California. They work alongside our military at home and abroad to defend our country.
During Public Service Recognition Week, let us understand the important work of all public employees in the Coachella Valley and take a moment to thank them for their service.
Glenn Flood, Palm Springs
Trump’s war of choice backfires
President Donald Trump’s desire for global domination Is coming full circle. Now after two months, the United States is still into Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war of choice with Iran with no clear end in sight.
Trump’s rationale changes daily. The latest rationale was that Iran would present a threat to Israel and the rest of the world. Now, because it’s taking longer than he expected and gas prices have skyrocketed and Americans are feeling the pinch to our pocketbooks, he is bored with the war and wants it to end even though he sent thousands of additional troops and assault ships to the Middle East.
His Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and Fox News keep spinning propaganda that Trump has been successful and already won the war yet calls MS Now and CNN fake news because they are reporting the truth that Iran has not been defeated and is stronger than Trump or Netanyahu ever imagined.
Trump is putting both our military and our allies in an exceedingly difficult position. Thousands have already been killed, along with 13 U.S. service members, and how many more American men and women will die?
I doubt that he even cares. All of this is because of his ego and his desire for global recognition and domination and to distract us from his involvement in the Epstein files.
Roxie Bivinetto, Palm Desert
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: East Coachella Valley projects help rich developers, not residents
Reporting by Readers, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
