Mayor DeBart used part of the State of the City program to address the April bombing at the American Reproductive Center, describing the incident as an intentional act that caused extensive damage, injuries and a community response that he said demonstrated local resilience.
"It's a day I'll never forget. None of us will," DeBart said, describing shock and disbelief when city leaders first learned of the attack. He credited Palm Springs police and fire personnel for securing the scene, establishing a wide perimeter and preserving critical evidence while firefighters extinguished secondary blazes.
The mayor and other speakers said first responders and medical staff took steps to protect reproductive‑health assets at the clinic; DeBart said embryos were rescued and that physicians subsequently completed transfers and pregnancies. He noted several families and clinicians joined the program to tell their stories.
DeBart described community fundraising efforts that produced $158,000 from community members and said the city established a $50,000 relief fund to help local businesses damaged in the blast. A representative identified as Doctor Abdallah and other clinic staff thanked the city and community for support: "We're forever grateful to the city for all that you guys have done," a clinic representative told the audience.
The mayor framed the response as a demonstration of civic solidarity while emphasizing that ongoing support and recovery work would continue. He said the city and nonprofit partners were coordinating assistance to survivors, affected businesses and to the ongoing investigation into the attack.
The program concluded with recognition of families whose embryos survived the attack and of staff involved in the medical response, and DeBart closed by thanking community members for their quick response and support.