Roggin Report Squeeze Play February 27, 2025

Attention shifts to the Coachella City Council, where accusations of biased grant awarding took center stage. Mayor Steve Hernandez and council members defended their actions, asserting that the process was open and fair despite claims of favoritism—especially regarding an Arts Commission member who received 60 times more money than the usual nonprofit limit.

Another significant issue emerged during the meeting when concerns about nonprofit compliance were raised. An email from a concerned resident pointed out that two nonprofits, which the city had funded, were not in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Charities Division. These nonprofits were allegedly operating without fulfilling necessary tax obligations, making their operations illegal. This raised the question: why were they still receiving public funds?