Some in Palm Springs call for Mayor Steve Pougnet’s resignation

Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet is keeping a low-profile amid conflict of interest allegations and announcing he wouldn’t run for re-election.

Pougnet has missed city council meetings and a host of important community events.

People are asking, “Where is the mayor”?

“Last night’s city council meeting lasted nearly six hours, and a lot of really critical decisions had to be made without the leadership of our senior elected official. If the mayor has good reasons for his frequent absences, he really owes the residents of Palm Springs an explanation for why he’s not here,” potential mayoral candidate Robert Moon said.

Over the last few months, the mayor missed many important community events, including Evening Under the Stars, greeting President Barack Obama at the Palm Springs International Airport and the Harvey Milk Breakfast.

Excuses range from family emergencies to personal reasons.

But people interested in running for for council said the mayor’s excuses are getting old.

“The whole city is upset with the mayor’s activities. The man’s a good guy. He did a lot for this city, but he had a few errors that he has to pay for. But he has to come forth. Just talk to the community, be there,” potential city council candidate Jim King said.

The Desert Sun Editorial Board called for Pougnet to resign, and some locals agree.

“I feel that if he is still able to collect his salary off of the city, when we know city’s are stretched to their budgets as it is, then I feel that he should just step down and let the next person in line step in to continue on to do the duty’s of Palm Springs,” Kendall K salon owner Kendall K said.

We reached out to the mayor for comment, but he did not respond.

Even in his absence, he continues to collect his salary, almost $45,000, according to some reports, money some said he did not earn.

“And he really owes an explanation to the people who elected him. To the residents of Palm Springs for why he’s really not doing his job,” Moon said.

Other potential candidates J.R. Roberts, Michael Birnberg and Guy Burrows all agree. When the mayor is absent, he is not fulfilling his commitment to his city.

Pougnet was supposed to carry the torch through Palm Springs during the final leg to the Special Olympics World Games this Saturday, but Mayor pro tem Paul Lewin will be there in his place.