The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • 1

Tax To Fight Pollution By JULIE BAUMER Staff Writer Use the room tax funds to fight pollution? right A group of residents interested in preserving the environment Desert Peoples United has asked the City Council to use transient occupancy taxes to fund a six-pronged program to combat visual air and water pollution in Palm Springs In a letter to the council Louis Taubman chairman of the Legal Committee for DPU requests that a moratorium be placed on the CVB activities which the illusion that Palm Springs is a great vacation land" until it becomes so again Taubman explained that DPU is frightened by rapid deterioration of those elements that brought us here originally clean air sunshine plentiful and clean water and the use of land that retained the beauty of the desert and its Taubman said the use of the word was carefully chosen as best describing feelings about personal health and residents' ability to continue living in this area Desert Peoples United asked two questions: Palm Springs need more conventions and visitors while it is unable to provide clean air adequate water adequate police and fire protection and all other services demanded by visitors? add to the problems by squeezing more people into a system that is in the process of breaking down? The DPU contends that nature is sending a series of messages to the Palm Springs City Council a message that the air is overloaded the water is rapidly reaching the overload stage and the land overloading is well on its way Before the community reaches a state of explosion DPU is asking that the council use the bed tax source of CVB revenue as follows: CVB funds to set an example to the public by converting city vehicles to LPG CVB funds to rebate a substantial portion of the cost of conversion to LPG of private vehicles and to subsidize LPG supply and maintenance and repair stations CVB funds to pay legal fees for the research and strong enforcement of existing state and federal laws concerning air and water pollution and to join in existing legal actions with other plaintiffs that can be helpful to Palm Springs CVB funds to pay for the study of land use problems such as high-rise buildings high density land use aesthetic deterioration of the desert etc -Use CVB funds for a traffic study to determine when and how to re-direct the flow of traffic away from the central city at peak hours Other cities have succeeded in lowering air pollution by taking necessary steps to do so and Palm Springs can do the same the letter states Taubman says the effect of aircraft with dirty engines should be determined by this study CVB funds to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Palm Springs who reside here Taubman urges us not forge ahead with the old and presently false assumptions of more the or Thd bigger the better' These assumptions were necessary to the rationale for the development of America up to about 1930 But they are false maps to guide our future efforts to retain our individual physical health and survival as a Taubman concludes Before Palm Springs loses its image as a fine place to visit let us make it a fine place in which to Frightened Citizens Ask Use Of Room McGovern Seeking Peace With Labor July 12 1972 Our 45th Year Palm Springs California 24 Paget 2 Sections Jyd Construction The breakfast meeting followed a record 11-hour convention session that put the party on record in favor of busing and gun controls but with no stand on abortion or homosexual rights After the breakfast with the governors of South Carolina Georgia Maryland Arkansas Oklahoma and Wisconsin reporters were told nothing was decided as far as the No 2 spot on the ticket was concerned Gov Patrick Lucey of Wisconsin a coordinator for McGovern told reporters however that there was a general concensus that Kennedy would be a great addition to the Lucey also said the southern and border state governors who attended the morning meeting with McGovern were unanimous that Rep Wilbur Mills of Arkansas would be equally acceptable as a vice presidential candidate Mills was still scheduled to be nominated for President Lucey a longtime McGovern backer said some thought was being given to outside for a running mate McGovern aides kept alive speculation that one name from outside politics being considered was Leonard Woodcock president of the United Auto Workers second largest union in the nation The withdrawal of Sens Hubert Humphrey and Edmund Muskie from the scramble left Sen Henry Jackuon as the only would-be nominee with labor support And Jackson sounded some of the discord which has persisted despite McGovern's domination of the convention expect to get the Jackson said the attitude of this convention is not one of unanimity Whoever heard of organized labor on the eve of a possible nomination by the Democratic party being in very strong opposition to the probable nominee? This has never happened before in the Democratic party" McGovern was also trying to heal the wounds opened when Chicago Mayor diehard Daley was ousted from his convention seat In a further move to bring the "new together with the old he asked Lawrence O'Brien to stay on as party chairman instead of replacing him with someone from his own camp But Louisiana Gov Edwin Edwards a strong anti-McGovern man went home saying it would be a waste of time for him to stay Burglars Not Taking Siesta In Heat Wave The current heat wave has failed to generate anything resembling a crime wave police observed today But it was not so warm that law-breakers took a complete siesta Local hotels a favorite target of thieves suffered burglary losses A color televirion set valued at 6450 was reported stolen from the International Hotel And at the Sheraton Oasis manager Michael Dally reported that a guest room had been burglarized of 120725 worth of things Shakey's Pizza Parlor was broken into last night police said However it was not learned what if anything was taken All the pre-rolled pizza dough appeared in place at first glance Similarly Wright's Manufacturing Co office in the airport industrial area was entered by thieves The exact loss was not immediately determined A resident at 2165 East Alejo Road was burglarized Jeanette Hardwick reported She listed her loss as 6165 in cash The Shell service station at 633 South Palm Canyon Road suffered a cash loss of $165 restaurant) with local Republican the conferees wore (loft to right seated) Hurwitz Warren Coble and Joseph Garda at loft with David Margolis 10 Cents Request Rejected The Associated Desert Contractors suffered defeat in the initial round in a case against the City of Palm Springs contesting a development fee charged for new construction Judge Richard Marsh of Riverside County Superior Court in Indio ruled yesterday to deny a request for an injunction against the city to prevent the collection of the new tax and ruled that the complaint did not state a cause of action The contractors represented by the law firm of Fadem and Kanner challenged the retroactive feature of the ordinance as wen as the legality of the ordinance itself Jerry Jakway president of the contractors' association had charged that the real purpose of the ordinance was to curtail development in Palm Springs currently experiencing a building boom The city's position was that the tax was needed to finance services needed by new home buyers and visitors who wiU ultimately pay the tax The hinds are earmarked for parks and recreational purposes The city was represented by Ray Ott who has not lost a case since he became city attorney last year This week the city council decided to waive payment of the tax on new construction of home additions of 61000 or less Certain charitable organizations are also expected to be excused from payment of the tax Seniors Given More Service Senior citizens had a new service today It's an information and referral line to provide interim help to persons 55 and older until a permanent seniors center can be opened The number is 327-3735 The service was one of two recent recommendations of the Commission on Aging the other being a permanent facility tor older persons The permanent center could be housed in the Frances Stevens School the purchase of which will be on the November parks and recreation bond issue Gene House community relations coordinator and Family Aid and Counseling SErvice director Arnold Lieberman are coordinating the new telephone service program House explained that the program was developed as a result of a meeting among the local commission FACS Economic Opportunity Board Volunteers of the Desert and Tele-Care a service provided by the Women's Auxiliary of Desert Hospital DISPLAY ADVERTISING And The Business Office Of The DESERT SUN HAVE MOVED To Temporary Offices At 315 East Arenas SAME TELEPHONE 325-5005 Wednesday that the GOP the for its convention next month Asked if he thought there would be a major development in stopping the Vietnam war before election time Veysey responded affirmatively Regarding Senator McGovern as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency the Republican Congressman tram Brawley thought that Senator Henry Jackson of Washington would have been a stronger choice Local Republicans at yesterday's gathering appeared to feel that a for President" campaign would make Nixon a Much discussion centered around the environmental problems: air pollution power shortages decreasing water supplies Veysey was optimistic about the possibilities of developing geothermal resources to produce power strides have been made in the Imperial Valley Mexicali and elsewhere that indicate a hopeful potential for geothermal he stated Power is already being generated from geothermal sources in the Mexicali area he said In the Imperial Valley San Diego Power and Electric Co is "on the of power generation through energy from steam wells being drilled by the Magna Company Regarding Veysey was less optimistic He thought recent efforts by local cities to force emergency legiriatipn from Sacramento probably was "not the right way to seems to me the dictation has to come from the federal he observed Among the locals who exchanged views with Veysey were contractor Warren Coble City Councilman Joseph Garcia Rabbi Joseph Hurwitz City Councilman James Schlccht former city councilman and prominent Republican leader Edgar McCoubrcy and David Margolis an air conditioned leaders Among Rabbi Joseph Veysey is standing MIAMI BEACH (UPI) George McGovern searched today for a running mate and a way to soften antagonism of organized labor toward him so his victory tonight for the Democratic presidential nomination would not put him in command of a shattered party McGovern talked over a two-hour breakfast in his seaside penthouse with a group of governors most of them from southern and border dates And aides said he was continuing to try to make peace with AFL-CIO President George Meany to restore long-time place in the Democratic coalition FAR AWAY Tod Kennedy remains at homo still saying ho has ruled out vko-prosldont nomination (UPI Tele photo) Kennedy Still Says He Take VP Spot HYANNISPORT Mass (UPI) Sen Edward Kennedy win be home tonight watching the Democratic convention cm television in case Sen George McGovern wants to call him but has ruled out the vice an aide said today Dick Drayne Kennedy's press secretary when asked by newsmen if Kennedy would be available tonight should McGovern want to telephone him said be here this evening sure of that" Ever since McGovern sewed up the Democratic presidential nomination newsmen have asked Drayne about Kennedy's intentions Today was no exception Kennedy is not in touch with Miami Edward Kennedy is not a candidate for the vice presidency" Drayne said emphatically At another point when asked about the possibility of Kennedy accepting the second position on the ballot Drayne replied has ruled out the vice presidency" He pointed out that the only persons in Miami Kennedy has had conversations with were his wife Joan and a few aides Drayne said Kennedy had no set plans for today except to relax and watch the convention on television Asked if Kennedy would attend the Democratic unity breakfast in Miami Friday Drayne repeated that only will go down (to Miami) if asked to by the nominees" Drayne explained that Kennedy stayed away from the convention as not to arouse speculation He felt if he did go to Miami it would appear he was trying to arouse support for himself He had no intention of doing Gun Threat MIAMI BEACH (UPI) Two men were arrested Wednesday outside George headquarters hotel Witnesses said the men drove np to the hotel In late model car with Michigan license plate MBII946 One report said pistols were found In the back seat of the ear McGovern had been scheduled to leave the hotel at noon a half-hour after the arrest to appear before a group of Spanish-speaking delegates at another hoteL VEYKY CHECKS IN Touring the 43rd Congressional District in mid-summer temperatures doesn't appear to bother Congressman Vidor Veysey Ho popped into Palm Springs yesterday with the mercury at 113 degrees to talk (in Veysey Confident Agnew To Return Change Opens Door To New Uses Of Tax Reason for the city proposed change in the wording of the room tax ordinance became clear at a study session yesterday: to open the door for the funds to be spent for capital projects The revised ordinance to be officially acted upon at the next council meeting will be designed to raise money advertising publicity promotion and capital projects including debt The fund into which the taxes will go soon will be known as the and community development fund" The present room tax ordinance stipulates that taxes will be used only for publicity and promotion" The addition of capital projects to the revised ordinance is major departure from the intention of the original ordinance designed to allocate money to attract visitors and conventionnaires to the city In addition councilmen decided to delete a section of the original ordinance which keeps the room tax at the same rate as the state sales tax The state sales tax is now five per cent the city intends to raise the room tax to six per cent providing a parks bond issue passes If the bond issue fails the room tax could be hiked to seven per cent to finance parks and recreation projects so that development plans could still be carried out without the sales of bonds Councilman Frank Purcell commenting on the proposal of changing the room tax said have changed since the room tax was implemented" emphasizing the need for facilities rather than more stress on visitor-attraction efforts Civic Affairs TONIGHT SMOG SEMINAR Joint meeting of Desert Peoples United and physicians from Desert Ilosptlal to discuss medical effects of air pollution open to the public Martin Anthony Sinatra Medical Education Center 7:36 By STUART HEINEMANN Staff Writer Congressman Victor Veysey dropped in on Palm Springs yesterday to report the following: 1 Spiro Agnew again will be President running mate on the November ballot 2 Senator George McGovern was a choice" for the Democrats to make if they hope to beat Nixon 3 that geothermal sources will help solve the west's power shortage problem 4 The of the Salton Sea" appears a good possibility depending on the cost findings of a forthcoming feasibility study 5 Solving the smog problem in the immediate future seems highly unlikely Veysey's report was actually an informal discussion with a small group of local Republican leaders And his statements were the congressman's personal opinions However they were based on personal involvement with the governmental affairs and problems of the 43rd Congressional District a job he expects to have continued by the voters for another two years Congressman Veysey appeared confident of handily defeating his Democratic opponent Ernest Robles He intends in fact to keep his campaign expenses "to a for the current campaign Regarding Agnew's probable place on the ballot Veysey frankly said he thought any uncertainty about it at this point was Fisher Loses REYKJAVIK Iceland (UPI) Bobby Fischer resigned in the 56th move today conceding the first game of the world chess championships to Boris Spassky Fish Boat Sinks SAN PEDRO (UPI) A 32-foot fishing boat called Spirit" sank in Fish Harbor early today when surging tides battered the old vessel the seams opened" officials said A city fire department spokesman said a fire boat responded but it was too late to save the craft Weather Forecast: Seme high clouds but mostly sunny and continued hot and humid today and Thursday Illghs both days 167 to 117 Lows tonight 76 to 88 Temperature noon today III local area national trmperatnres an Page A-2.