Adult Female Cries Wolf Over Alleged Slap from Fellow Councilmember

PALM DESERT — Karina Quintanilla, currently serving a one-year rotation as mayor, jeopardized her credibility when she cried wolf, claiming Councilmember Kathleen Kelly slapped her not once or twice but four times during a March 13 Housing Commission meeting.

Quintanilla, who faces re-election in November in District 1, went on to claim that Kelly slapped her a second time, according to a complaint she filed that same day. Quintanilla, to date, has one challenger: Chris Scott.

Here is a text message the city clerk sent the city manager after learning of the alleged slap.

There is also video of the alleged slap or lack thereof. Watch the video and judge for yourself in the link provided. Go to March 13, 2024:  Minute 4:22 and 4:34. Many people watched it and asked: “Where’s the slap?”

Exactly.

The alleged incident happened in mid-March but it wasn’t until early June as the election cycle started to heat up when Quintanilla began crying wolf to the media. She is supporting Gregg Akkerman who is challenging Kelly in District 2.

The complaint was sent to City Manager Todd Hileman, City Attorney Isra Shah and Human Resources Director Andrea Staehle. Quintanilla said she has heard nothing from the attorney or human resources director. Maybe there is a reason. The city isn’t investigating the allegation.

“The city has no internal investigative documents,” City Clerk Anthony Meija told Uken Report.

Quintanilla said she would file a police report. She has not.

Technically, Kelly is the City Council’s official liaison to the Housing Commission, Quintanilla had no reason to be there unless it was for photo ops.

In September 2023, Quintanilla helped raise questions about Palm Desert City Councilmember Gina Nestande’s role as a Realtor in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and whether she was breaking any rules splitting time between the Florida and California. One news outlet took the bait. Uken Report did not. Meijia told Uken Report at the time that Nestande was doing nothing wrong.

Another example of Quintanilla crying wolf.

The origin of this saying comes from Aesop’s fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” In the story, a young boy repeatedly pretended to be in danger by shouting “wolf!” When a real wolf finally appeared, nobody believed him.

So, what’s going on? As one political insider, who asked not to be identified, said, “Quintanilla is attempting to play political chess and she can’t even play Tiddlywinks.”

The real question is whether voters believe Quintanilla.

Photo credit: Shutterstock