The La Quinta home on Cameo Palms Drive that Claudia and Matt Synder purchased in 2022 was supposed to be their “dream home in paradise.”
Then they learned that the Dupont Estate, across the street, has a city permit to host up to three large events per year. During those events, the Snyders say, the noise can be unbearable. Claudia cited a beach-volleyball star’s event as one example.
“It was a three-day celebrity wedding … starting early in the morning, with many attendees, a steady flow of people coming,” she said. “Matt and I were trying to watch a movie on Saturday evening and heard cheering, an emcee on his microphone throughout the evening, loud music blasting—and finally, at 10 p.m., we called the police.”
On the afternoon of March 1, Claudia Snyder said, she’d had enough. She decided, from her driveway, to protest the noise from a 200-person wedding party at the Dupont Estate. The police were called. Snyder was using a bullhorn, but turned it off when asked by a deputy, she said.
According to Sgt. Wenndy Brito-Gonzales, of the Riverside County’s Sheriff’s Office: “When deputies arrived, they learned a large, city-approved event was being held at the location. A neighbor, later identified as 49-year-old Claudia Snyder, initiated a protest at the event. Snyder’s behavior escalated to a point where other affected neighbors signed a private person’s arrest warrant for the loud and unreasonable noise she was creating.”
The Sheriff’s Office claims Snyder kicked one of the deputies, and she was subsequently arrested for obstructing/resisting a police officer, and making loud and unreasonable noise.
“I was in shock and don’t even remember kicking the officer,” Claudia told the Independent. “I was terrified and screamed for my husband.”
Matt Snyder explained: “I was down the street when I heard Claudia’s blood-curdling screams. I seriously wanted to cry and ran over there. I saw a sheriff’s SUV speeding off, and there was no more Claudia on the driveway. The sheriff gave me a number to bail her out.”
He paid the bail bond, set at $10,000.
Claudia Snyder said she has never been in trouble with the law. She spent the majority of her career working as a C-suite executive assistant at Fortune 100 firms in the Los Angeles area, she said. She claims the stress of living near the Dupont Estate has taken a toll on her health. In January 2023, Snyder suffered a pulmonary embolism she attributed to stress, and in April 2023, she was hospitalized following a suicide attempt, she said.
“I was in utter despair. I felt utterly alone, because I never anticipated the gaslighting and cover-ups,” she said. “I never saw it coming. No one would listen to me. I started to self-medicate, and felt really tired, felt that no one was listening.”
She is not alone in her opposition to the events being held at the Dupont Estate. Both Snyder and her neighbor, Melissa Labayog, said they have repeatedly provided evidence showing that the Dupont Estate regularly exceeds the licensed number of events, but there has been no action taken by the city.
On March 1, the date of Snyder’s arrest, Labayog was charged with disturbing the peace.
“I was protesting, sitting on my roof, against the Dupont Estate. The officers asked me to come down, and I fell,” Labayog said, adding that she suffered from concussion syndrome after the fall.
Labayog shares a property line with the Dupont Estate. “I have videos with dates and times showing that they have anywhere from five to 10 events per year, with numbers of people exceeding their … limits,” she said.
City of La Quinta spokesperson Marcie Graham confirmed that the Dupont Estate’s permit allows for one to three events per year. Regarding the size of the events, Graham said via email: “The number is determined per the event information they give us. They have to come in 30 days prior to their next event and submit the information. From there, we will determine the size at that point. … So, for example, if they come in and say they have a wedding, then we will go through all the information and let them know how many people they can have at that wedding.”
Labayog has plead not guilty to the misdemeanor charge. “I will go to jail for a year before pleading guilty,” she said. “I taught American government for six years, and was a reporter covering public protests, and (I am) fully aware of protected speech. This special-event permit program has placed those who object to it at risk of false imprisonment, charges and financial losses.”
She and Snyder claim that La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans enjoys a close relationship with the Daniels family, who owns the Dupont Estate. Both Evans and the city declined to comment for this story, saying the arrest of Synder is not a city matter.
Labayong appeared on NBC Palm Springs’ The Roggin Report on Feb. 21. She mentioned that there would be a protest on March 1 regarding the event at the Dupont Estate—and it was during that protest that she and Snyder were charged.
“Commercial events in residential neighborhoods make no sense … especially when there is no city oversight … and the mayor is favoring the property next to me,” Labayong told the Independent; she made similar statements on The Roggin Report. “Since 2016, I have brought up my concerns regarding SREP (special residential event permit) violations by the Dupont Estate and have been dismissed, ignored and relentlessly harassed with taxpayer resources. (My appearance on The Roggin Report) was my desperate attempt to let Mayor Evans and La Quinta voters know that her special-events program has destroyed my property value and infringed on my right to quiet enjoyment.”
The city declined to comment on The Roggin Report, but sent an email to the TV station regarding emails sent by Synder. It read, in part: “To the extent the resident has made unfounded allegations against the city and its elected officials and staff, the city categorically refutes and denies them. The city and its staff have continuously addressed and responded to the resident’s inquiries since late 2022, including inquiries regarding the use of the Dupont Estate for special event purposes.”
Dupont Estate owner Lynne Daniels has accused Snyder of violence, and in December 2022 was granted a restraining order against her. Daniels has also demanded that Snyder pay her restitution for a loss of earnings, and damages caused by stress-related health issues. Snyder denied ever being violent toward Daniels.
Daniels declined to comment to the Independent.
Meanwhile, the Snyders said they intend to sell their house and move away. They said they are making prospective purchasers aware of the situation regarding the Dupont Estate—a courtesy which was not extended to them, they said.
I am here to say it is about time someone started to cover this. Thank you CVIP and Cat for being brave enough to take on the City Of La Quinta for expanding this FaILED program to 70 new properties – including STVR license allowance that can be renewed when ownership changes- all during a time when any new STVRs were BANNED.
The La Quinta City Council has clearly got a challenge when it comes to ethical behavior regarding property rights. I am sad that their policy has trapped me in a city that clearly does NOT want families – just paying customers.
Yes, congratulations to CVIP and Cat for their bravery in covering this very important story!
Quite a good read. It’s a shame that the Daniels seem to have all the rights to do what they want. Well, their neighbors don’t.!
I am Claudia and Matt’s next door neighbor. I have seen two videos (Claudia’s body cam and their security camera footage) showing her arrest. I need to clarify the sequence of events. Claudia was peacefully protesting on her driveway, playing a recorded message on a megaphone. When two Riverside County Sheriffs approached, she immediately turned off the megaphone. They told her that if she continued to use the megaphone, they would arrest her. She didn’t use the megaphone again. When she said that she was going to call her attorney for guidance, the sheriffs immediately arrested her. They arrested her BEFORE the alleged kick. Later, she was told that neighbors had signed a “citizen’s arrest.” https://nextdoor.com/p/S8pz-bQf7fWk/c/1151463982?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=1715998633679
Thank you for supporting your neighbor!!
It’s so distressing that she was arrested under these circumstances. She complied with all of the sheriff’s requests.
So sad that the city so prioritizes tax revenue over citizens’ rights and quality of life. This commercial venue in the middle of a zoned residential area is allowed to generate seemingly unlimited amounts of noise and disruption, while neighbors who try to peacefully protest are hauled off to jail! Not a pretty picture, La Quinta!
If there is time and date-stamped proof of violations is it wise for the city to refute and deny? Clearly it’s beneficial to have Mayor Evans as a friend.
Evidence has never stopped them in the past. Hopefully, the tide is turning.
Claudia was wearing a Body Cam. The footage shows she had turned off her speaker and was not holding it. She was sitting down & speaking very politely. She was not a threat to anyone! Her arrest was uncalled for and excessive force!
There is a Study Session scheduled during next week’s City Council Meeting (Tuesday, May 21) to discuss the Special Event regulations in residential neighborhoods. All La Quinta residents who are concerned about protecting their right to quiet enjoyment of their property should attend and make their voices heard!
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept’s statement that my “behavior escalated” which is why I was subsequently arrested is preposterous. Several deputies were at my neighbor’s home for some time before I had even started protesting. Besides, How does less than 5 minutes of protesting amount to “loud unreasonable noise”? This arrest was made in an attempt to censor me and neighbors who oppose Mayor Evans’s SREP program which allows commercial events in residential neighborhoods.
The large commercial event that you were protesting was unreasonably loud well into the evening, and caused all kinds of disruptions on our normally quiet street, including an ambulance en route to an emergency being blocked by their shuttle bus.
Have you consulted an attorney?? I would. This is so unjust.
What kind of people turn their home into a rock concert venue and expect the rest of us to live with the noise? Then when we go to the City to have these concerts shut down (because surely this is illegal) we find out the City is financially benefiting from these events and the Mayor herself is even attending them. If we had known a city could just decide your neighborhood is a concert parking lot, we never would have bought a home in La Quinta in the first place. Now we have to disclose the Special Residential Events Permits program when trying to sell our home and escape this place.
As a close friend of Claudia and Matt, I can attest to their kind, caring, and selfless nature. Witnessing firsthand the toll that the constant disruption from the Dupont Estate has taken on their mental health is heartbreaking. It’s evident that their lives and mental health have been forever changed by the relentless noise and disturbances emanating from what should be a peaceful neighborhood.
The corruption surrounding the allowance of these events to continue unchecked is appalling. It’s clear that the interests of a few are being prioritized over the well-being of the entire community. The fact that multiple neighbors have been affected by this “party” house, with no action taken to address their concerns, is unacceptable.
This situation goes beyond mere inconvenience; it’s a flagrant disregard for the health and safety of the residents. It’s crucial for authorities to acknowledge the severity of the situation and take decisive action to rectify it. No one should have to endure such disruption and stress in their own home, especially when it could be prevented through proper regulation and enforcement of the law.
The lack of accountability and disregard for the rights of the affected residents is simply unacceptable. Every individual has the right to enjoy peace and quiet in their own home, free from the disruptive influence of commercial activities in residential areas. It’s disheartening to see the suffering endured by Claudia, Matt, and other neighbors, as well as the apparent unwillingness of authorities to address the root cause of the issue. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding community standards and ensuring that the well-being of residents is always prioritized over the interests of a select few.
So well said, Jasmin!
This should be disturbing to all of us…I have called about noise disturbances in my neighborhood and nobody was ever arrested. I guess only the FOE (Friends of Evans) can get the entire police force out to arrest a woman with a kiddie bullhorn. What a waste of our public safety resources….what a waste of our court’s resources…disgusting.
Yeah, if I had only known that all I had to do was call when I experienced a noise disturbance, I would have certainly called that evening as the large commercial event held at that property was unreasonably loud and disruptive to my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I’m not an FOE (Friends of Evans).
What a shame that such an amazing and beautiful residential area gets ruined clearly by someone with shady privileges, people around just want to live in a peaceful silent environment. I can’t imagine the insane stress that Claudia and Matt have been through trying to fight against a corrupted system, it’s so sad that they and many others have to give up what could be a beautiful lifestyle in La Quinta for this…
Yes, it is really sad. I have lived across the street from The Dupont Estate for 3 years and it has been the most distressing and stressful situations I have ever experienced. It has affected my mental and physical health, as it has my neighbors. My family just wants to live in peace in our “forever home.”
I can’t possibly be the only one who thinks having a mega event space in the middle of a normally quiet beautiful neighborhood is a bad idea. These events are not just little dinner parties. On event day hundreds of attendees drive into the neighborhood taking up all of the street parking or are shuttled in on large busses. The music is so amplified it is deafening and may go on into the wee hours. And Mrs. Snyder was arrested during a peaceful protest on her own property for even thinking of using a bullhorn and told she was disturbing the peace! C’mon La Quinta, you can do much better than this for your tax paying citizens.
Yes, there were a lot of tax payer dollars spent that day to send in a “swat team” of 10-12 sheriffs to arrest one woman and attempt to arrest another for peacefully protesting. All so that a LOUD commercial event could take place well into the evening. The law enforcement presence that day was shocking and clearly uncalled for!
another GREAT article by Cat👏
I met her in Tokyo at the FCCJ and I miss her very much🥲
She is a brave honest journalist👏
BRAVA CAT❣️
Great article Cat thanks for bringing light to this unreal situation
Thank you Cat Makino for bringing light to this unreal issue. My mouth was, and still is, hanging open, I have no words. We moved here from Carmel Ca, another small quaint charming town with very strong values and no issues lie, this at all (yet still a tourist town by all means). We also own prop in Newport Beach and I have never in any city we have ever owned in …seen anything like this happen. My favorite line is ‘how is this,possible’ …to that I have no answer……thank you Cat for bringing this very disturbing issue to light ! Great reporting !
Exactly how we and sooo many others feel. Read the letter to Council written on May 7th 2024 new home owners wrote “We have never felt so mistreated by any place we have lived!” Google the news story by Jeff Stahl Channel 3
“La Quinta’s Mayor accuses resident of making a threat against the City Council”
It’s shocking. The man served 12 years of his life on the planning commission and did not threaten her.
This is not possible in a civilized city. Please think wisely when electing new mayor and council this cannot continue. These people I feel so badly for I hope they have a fabulous attorney
I’m not really sure how a handful of parties a year is so distressing that it’s effecting everyone’s physical and mental health and leading to arrests, restraining orders, and a suicide attempt… I get that they are inconvenient, I live right next to Coachella/Stagecoach and an estate that has several loud weddings and events a year, but it’s only a few days out of an entire year (and likely only on weekends)! Surely everyone can suck it up and deal with the minor inconveniences such as loud noise, lack of street parking, etc. when the events are few and far between. Maybe it’s just a rich people thing to be so exasperated by something so inconsequential, I don’t know. But this seems to be blown way out of proportion to me!
My neighbors and I would be thrilled if we were only dealing with a handful of parties a year! They would be a welcome inconvenience if that’s all it was. I am actually pro-STVR as I own a vacation rental business in La Quinta. Unfortunately, there is much more to our situation than first appears. While I can’t share all of the details because it would take a book to explain everything that has happened over the years — here are the key points.
The owners of this property are currently allowed to host 3 special events a year in our residential neighborhood with as many as 400 guests. There are certain rules that they have to follow, including notifying neighbors two weeks before an event. They not only host MANY more than the 3 allowed events each year, but they regularly break the rules, and have been doing so for years. When any of the neighbors report the violations, with video proof, or speak about it at City Council meetings, the city does nothing. Apparently, these owners have “friends in high places.”
These owners harass, bully, threaten and sue any neighbor who dares to question and report their bad behavior. They are the most litigious people I have ever come across. They have installed cameras that invade the privacy of neighboring houses, including mine, looking directly into backyards. They have participated in criminal activities that have affected our neighborhood. A young woman ran to my house at 3AM last September with one of these owners chasing and attempting to drag her away and prevent her from reporting a crime (all caught on my security camera, and a neighbor’s camera). From what I have been told, similar incidents have happened over the years.
Several neighbors wear body cams while out walking because one of the owners is known to threaten and try to provoke a reaction. Recently, she drove slowly past a neighbor’s house located in a cul-de-sac and screamed out of her window at this neighbor’s 12-year-old, “Stay the f*ck off of my property!” This child was helping with yard work in their front yard. He has never been on her property.