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Riverside Council Candidates Look To November As Early Results Suggest 3 Runoffs

Several Riverside City Council candidates have signaled they are pivoting toward the next step of their campaigns as early election returns show all three races will likely result in runoffs.


To avoid a November runoff, candidates needed to secure more than 50% of the vote. As of Thursday evening, none of the 10 candidates running for Wards 2, 4 or 6 have reached that threshold.


Ward 4 incumbent Councilmember Chuck Conder was the closest. He received about 48% of the vote, according to the...

Early Results Show Riverside’s Measure Z Update Likely To Fail 

As ballots continue to be counted, early election results show Riverside residents are rejecting the city’s proposal to both increase and extend Measure Z. 


Results posted Thursday evening showed nearly 59% of voters opposed the measure. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is expected to post another update by 6 p.m. Friday.


“I don’t know of anybody on either side who thinks the result is going to change,” Mike Gardner, a former councilmember and Measure Z proponent, said in an...

How Much Does It Take To Run For Riverside City Council? It Depends On The Candidate.

The 10 candidates running for Riverside City Council Ward 2, 4 and 6 seats have raised nearly $500,000 combined this year for the June 2 election, according to the latest campaign finance filings.


Some hopefuls have received thousands from political action committees (PACs) and businesses, while others focused their efforts on individual contributions. 


Ahead of Tuesday’s election, The Riverside Record compiled data from each candidate’s campaign finance filings, breaking down how much the...

Ward 6 Residents, Candidates Concerned About Norma Berrellez’s Absence On Campaign Trail 

For months leading up to the June 2 primary election, Riverside City Council candidates have attended community forums, answered reporters’ questions and regularly reached out to constituents to try to earn their votes — except for Ward 6 candidate Norma Berrellez. 


“People have called Norma, texted Norma, emailed her and don’t get a response, and that’s while she’s running,” said Sharon Mateja, the founder of Residents for Responsible Representation, a La Sierra neighborhood group. “She has...

Riverside Unified Approves Guidelines, Boundaries For New Eastside Elementary School

The Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education Thursday unanimously approved design guidelines and boundaries for the soon-to-be built Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Eastside Elementary School, one of the final steps before construction can begin.


“The goals and priorities, again, are focused on, first and foremost, safety and security of students and staff, creating a magical learning environment and then creating a strong connection to the community,” Assistant Superintendent Orin Wi...

RUSD, UCR Call Off STEM Academy Expansion Project

Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) and the University of California, Riverside (UCR) announced Friday a $134 million science and technology high school expansion project was being shelved.


“Leadership has changed in both organizations, and with that comes an opportunity to think more expansively about our approach to partnership in service of Riverside’s students,” RUSD Superintendent Sonia Llamas said in a May 22 press release. “Our focus is on connecting the dots across our schools, p...

Riverside Council Reviews Proposed Budget, Debates Cuts To Public Works 

During an initial review of Riverside’s proposed budget for the next two years, Councilmember Philip Falcone pushed back against plans to reduce public works spending as a means to address a projected deficit within the general and Measure Z funds.


“I won’t be in support of any budget that makes any cuts to public works,” Falcone said during the May 19 meeting. “The priorities that have been given to us by the public are pretty obvious and cut and dry: Do not cut from public safety or public...

Riverside Voters Heading To The Polls To Vote On Measure Z — Again

With ballots already mailed out for next month’s statewide primary election, Riverside voters are being asked whether they support an increase and extension of the city’s Measure Z sales tax to cover the cost of a range of public services, including improvements to the city’s fire department.


To help voters make sense of it all, The Riverside Record has compiled information about Measure Z, including why the Riverside City Council voted to put it on the June 2 ballot and the arguments for and...

Legal Group Alleges Riverside’s $100K Public Records Fee Violated State Law

Publisher’s note: Inland Empire Publications, the parent company of The Riverside Record, is set to be a co-plaintiff in the pending lawsuit.


A press right’s legal group said it plans to sue Riverside, alleging the city violated state’s public records law after the city would not budge on charging a journalist over $100,000 to obtain police use of force and misconduct documents from 124 investigations.


“The reason we’re fighting for this is for the public,” Susan Seager, a law professor an...

State Civil Rights Department Opens Probe Into Riverside’s Affordable Housing Vote, ACLU Says

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) announced Monday that the state’s civil rights agency had opened an investigation into allegations that Riverside officials violated anti-discrimination laws by voting to reject a state grant for an affordable housing project. 


“The city has a legal obligation to create fair housing and to make decisions about housing that are free from discrimination,” Kath Rogers, ACLU senior staff attorney, said in an interview with The River...

10 Hopefuls Running For 3 Riverside City Council Seats

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Welcome to The Riverside Record’s voter information guide for the June 2 Riverside City Council election where voters in Wards 2, 4 and 6 will cast their ballots to decide who will represent them for the next four years.


The Riverside Record spoke with eight of the 10 hopefuls about several citywide issue...

Riverside City Council Takes No Action After Closed Session Review Of City Manager

The Riverside City Council Tuesday took no action following a scheduled closed session review of City Manager Mike Futrell’s performance. 


The item was placed on the agenda after Futrell announced he would not be taking the city manager job in Pasadena. The announcement came as a letter the council sent to his wife last December was circulated on social media.


“Some of the allegations involve my wife, my family [and] they deserve the same basic fairness that anyone would expect,” Futrell t...

San Manuel Nation Buys Riverside’s Historic Mission Inn

The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa will soon be under new ownership. 


The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation announced Monday morning it was in the final stages of purchasing the iconic downtown Riverside hotel from the Roberts family. 


“The Mission Inn holds a special place in our hearts,” Lynn Valbuena, the tribe’s chairwoman, said in a May 4 statement. “We recognize its historic, economic and cultural significance to Riverside and the region would be delighted to include The Mission Inn in our...

Riverside Officials, Latino Network Begin Outreach To Discuss Future Of Cesar Chavez Monument, Building

The city of Riverside and the Riverside Latino Network this week have started the community feedback process regarding the future of a memorial statue and community center dedicated to late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.


“We have been actively working on this issue and want our decision to align with our community’s values,” Alex Cortez, president of the Riverside Latino Network, said in a statement to The Riverside Record. “Our plan is to keep the community updated as this process will ta...

Riverside Unified’s STEM High School Project ‘In Limbo,’ Documents Show

A senior Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) administrator told its science and technology academy’s board of directors a proposed $134 million high school expansion project has been stalled since last June, according to documents obtained by The Riverside Record.


According to minutes from a January 21 meeting of the Riverside STEM Academy Foundation Board of Director meeting, Assistant Superintendent Orin Williams said the project was “in limbo” due to a communication breakdown between...

City Manager Mike Futrell Says He’s Staying In Riverside

Ten days after announcing he had accepted a job with the city of Pasadena, City Manager Mike Futrell has instead opted to remain in Riverside. 


“We have significant momentum right now in Riverside: from major economic development projects and infrastructure investments to public safety enhancement, housing initiatives and the continued activation of our downtown and neighborhoods,” Futrell said in a joint statement posted April 25 to social media by his wife Susan Freeman. “I am staying to se...

Riverside To Test New Housing Development Strategy On University Avenue

The Riverside City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to pilot a year-long program on University Avenue that, if effective, could jumpstart housing development in the area, according to the city.


“One of the biggest things I’ve noticed over the last five years has been the challenge of being able to see some of these sites be able to move forward,” Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes said during the April 21 meeting. “So I hope that this pilot project could be a creative opportunity and solution...

ACLU Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Riverside

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) announced Tuesday it filed a complaint to the state’s civil rights agency alleging Riverside officials violated anti-discrimination laws before, during and after a vote to reject $20 million in state funds for an affordable housing project. 


“There were a number of comments made by the council members that really conflated someone’s unhoused status with having certain behavioral health needs and then equating both of those thing...

City Manager Mike Futrell Leaving Riverside For Pasadena 

Riverside City Manager Mike Futrell announced Wednesday morning that he would be resigning from his role next month after being named the new Pasadena city manager.


“Pasadena holds a special place in my family’s life,” Futrell said in a press release. “I look forward to collaborating with the [Pasadena City Council], staff and community members to advance the city’s priorities and ensure Pasadena’s continued success.”


Futrell will replace current Pasadena City Manager Miguel Márquez, who a...

RUSD Board Pushes District To Move Away From Incremental Change, Take More Risks

Several Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education trustees last week signaled they would like the district to take more risks when implementing new teaching strategies after receiving a mid-year update on the district’s latest approach to education. 


“If we don’t do things differently, drastically differently, we’re not going to get drastically different results,” Trustee Brent Lee said at the April 9 meeting. “If we keep taking these little, tiny, incremental steps, the res...

Downtown Experiment Owner Plans To Create Bar Alliance Following City Recommendation To Revoke Permit

After facing the possibility of having his business permit revoked, Downtown Experiment’s owner said he has begun putting together a local business coalition to unite several of downtown Riverside’s nightlife owners.


“When you have a group of people, I think that’s where the power comes in, that’s where the ideals come in,” Marco McGuire, the owner of Downtown Experiment, said in an interview with The Riverside Record. “We [want to] come together for what’s best for the city of Riverside and...

RUSD Agrees To Pay Nearly $1M To Relocate Cellphone Tower

Despite attempts to negotiate a better deal, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education Thursday voted 5-1 to pay more than $900,000 to permanently relocate a cellphone tower from the property of the soon-to-be built Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Eastside Elementary School. Trustee Brent Lee voted against the decision. 


“The realistic cost is probably more around $400,000,” Assistant Superintendent Orin Williams said at the April 10 meeting. “They are getting basically double the...

Dispatches From Riverside County: The Riverside Tamale Festival

Nancy Melendez was thrilled last year when a California commission approved the inclusion of her “grandma’s house” in the National Register of Historic Places.


The announcement came 12 years after she started the annual Riverside Tamale Festival to raise awareness of the building’s cultural significance.


“Through the support of the people at the festival and all of those who have come to know us over the years, we’re really thankful that todos juntos we got it done,” Melendez said in an i...

Riverside Selects Entrepreneur Lorna Jenkins As Recipient Of Annual City Spirit Award

After brief deliberations, the Riverside City Council Tuesday selected education entrepreneur Lorna Jenkins as the 2025 City Spirit Award winner. 


“This is always a very difficult decision,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said during the April 7 meeting. “There’s no shortage of fantastic people in this community who serve and do it quietly, without much notice, so this is our opportunity to recognize them.”


The city council voted 6-1 to award Jenkins the honor reserved for community members de...
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