What’s to Misunderstand About Holstege’s Deed of Trust?
PALM SPRINGS — From the outset of an investigation into whether Councilmember Christy Holstege actually lives in the district she represents, Holstege has said it’s all a misunderstanding. Now comes the Deed of Trust and the history of the property deed recordings, which Uken Report has obtained.
Holstege and Adam Gilbert, her “domestic partner,” purchased the property at 1172 E. Deepak Road in October 2022 right before the Assembly race in which she faced off against Greg Wallis and lost. By all accounts, she was confident of winning and purchased the house outside her district.
With the election outcome still hanging in the balance and votes to count, she headed to Sacramento for “new member events.”
With that attitude and sense of confidence, the house on Deepak Road would make sense.
But she lost and remained on the City Council allegedly not living in her district. According to the documents, for Christy Holstege’s property on Deepak Road. It clearly states on pages 1 and 6 that this will be her primary residence. In fact, on page 6, number 6 “occupancy” it even makes the requirement that this will be their primary residence for at least one year, unless she had the Lender’s consent.
Holstege long ago acknowledged buying the house but claims she does not live there.
- The House that would be in the district is located at 2496 E. Santa Ynez, Palm Springs, but this has been rented out on Airbnb for more than a year. This is owned by Adam Gilbert’s mother and where Holstege is registered to vote.
- The house they have been living in is located at 1172 E. Deepak Road, Palm Springs, however, they just started renting it out as they just closed on this house
- 1133 W. Dolores Court, Palm Springs, which is the house they just bought.
In a letter to District Attorney Mike Hestrin, City Attorney Jeff Ballinger wrote, “The City of Palm Springs, and this Office, take very seriously allegations that an officeholder may be improperly holding public office. As such, as City Attorney, I would respectfully request that your Office share with me the evidence upon which your Office relied in reaching the legal conclusion above. As an
attorney yourself, you realize that an attorney’s legal conclusions are only as good as the factual evidence n which they are based. Without factual evidence, I cannot provide specific legal advice or recommendations to my client, the City of Palm Springs, nor to its officials. Please let me know how my Office can make arrangements with your Office to transmit the evidence in your Office’s possession regarding this matter.
“… with due respect, given that the State Attorney General has not investigated Ms. Holstege’s status, nor has a court ruled on that matter, it seems a bit premature to assume that her votes were illegally cast,” Ballinger wrote.
