The TBID board approved funding for Area 29 and discussed grant requirements. Kevin Cole, the new Twentynine Palms city manager, introduced himself. Board member Maria Madrid announced her departure.
Kudos on another fine article, the Desert Trumpet’s in depth articles on local government and how it operates is invaluable. Too often I hear how organizations and local government entities are ‘secretive’ and ‘nontransparent’, when the truth is, there is usually an information gap between how an organization is run and getting the information out to the public. The solution is to either subscribe to an overwhelming number of newsletters, which often gloss over internal operations, social media pages and substacks, that often simply get deleted. The other option is publications like this that deliver timely information without having to shift through the chaff.
Regarding the city’s grants, I fail to see why overnight stays seem to be a benchmark for grant approval. It gives one the impression that the only businesses the TBID is interested in is the hotel industry. Otherwise, there are too many variables to make that a part of the criteria, especially if smaller events are going to be eligible.
The other thing I would suggest, and perhaps this is already in place, is that there be at least one person on the grant committee from out of the area, with no personal ties or invested interest in local businesses or events in the Morongo Basin
Thank you so much for your coverage of meetings like that of the TBID.
It keeps me informed which as an event producer and community member is so valuable.
Kudos on another fine article, the Desert Trumpet’s in depth articles on local government and how it operates is invaluable. Too often I hear how organizations and local government entities are ‘secretive’ and ‘nontransparent’, when the truth is, there is usually an information gap between how an organization is run and getting the information out to the public. The solution is to either subscribe to an overwhelming number of newsletters, which often gloss over internal operations, social media pages and substacks, that often simply get deleted. The other option is publications like this that deliver timely information without having to shift through the chaff.
Regarding the city’s grants, I fail to see why overnight stays seem to be a benchmark for grant approval. It gives one the impression that the only businesses the TBID is interested in is the hotel industry. Otherwise, there are too many variables to make that a part of the criteria, especially if smaller events are going to be eligible.
The other thing I would suggest, and perhaps this is already in place, is that there be at least one person on the grant committee from out of the area, with no personal ties or invested interest in local businesses or events in the Morongo Basin