Palm Springs City Council to Address Grand Jury Report on Queer Works Grant Mismanagement

The Palm Springs City Council is set to confront a scathing Riverside County Civil Grand Jury Report this evening, following the indictment of Jacob Robtoski, CEO of the nonprofit Queer Works. The controversy has ignited a broader conversation about the city’s procedures for monitoring public funds and nonprofit partnerships.

The council meeting, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., will include a formal review of the grand jury’s findings, which stem from allegations that Robtoski pocketed more than $90,000 in funds meant to serve the LGBTQ+ community — specifically through a Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot program.

Grand Jury Findings: Oversight Lapses

The grand jury report concluded that the City of Palm Springs lacked adequate policies and procedures for “processing and monitoring grants and contracts,” particularly those involving high-value public allocations.

Among its recommendations, the report includes new, comprehensive guidelines for how grants and contracts should be structured, monitored, and audited in future city dealings.

In response, Palm Springs Mayor Ron DeHart issued a statement addressing the findings and reaffirming the city's commitment to transparency and accountability.

“The grand jury’s report underscores the very shortcomings our team identified and has already fixed,” DeHart said. “While different figures have been cited regarding the Queer Works matter, what matters is that the city identified weaknesses in its oversight and has since enacted sweeping reforms to ensure taxpayer dollars are never at risk again.”

City officials noted that these reforms include more rigorous vetting of nonprofit partners, enhanced tracking of grant disbursements, and mandatory quarterly audits for all city-funded programs.

Queer Works was originally awarded funding to support vulnerable LGBTQ+ residents in Palm Springs through social support services, with the UBI program touted as a potential model for progressive income support initiatives. The revelation of misused funds has stirred anger, disappointment, and distrust within parts of the community.

“These funds were supposed to uplift people who are already marginalized,” said one local activist, speaking anonymously. “The betrayal doesn’t just come from the nonprofit — it’s also about the city not catching it sooner.”

While Robtoski faces legal proceedings, community leaders and residents are now calling for increased transparency in all future nonprofit partnerships with the city.

Tonight’s city council meeting is expected to include not only a review of the grand jury report but also a discussion on the implementation of new grant accountability measures and a public comment period.

The city has also indicated that additional internal audits may be conducted in the coming months to ensure full compliance with the newly recommended standards.

Palm Springs residents and watchdog organizations will be closely watching how city leaders respond — and whether the reforms restore public trust.