Thursday Gazette: April 2, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Today is National Burrito Day, and we figured there's no better occasion to ask: where do you go when only a burrito will do?
Around the Gazette newsroom, a few spots have earned their place on the list. Taco Station's Ensenada-Style Battered Shrimp Burrito is the kind of order that stops conversation, the Chile Verde Party Burrito from Olivia's is another staff favorite worth seeking out, and sometimes nothing beats a simple carne asada with cheese from Alvaro's. Not a burrito fan? We hear the veggie quesadilla with salsa at Morena's is amazing.
We want to hear from you, too. Reply to this email or send your Riverside burrito recommendation to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com and we may feature it in a future edition.
See you tomorrow!
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GOVERNMENT
Judge Orders City to Rename Measure Z Ballot Measure, Citing Misleading Language
A court ordered the city to rename its June sales tax renewal measure after a resident sued over misleading language.
A Superior Court judge ruled the city must rename its June sales tax measure, siding with a resident who sued over misleading ballot language.
Why it matters: The June ballot measure would raise your sales tax from 1% to 1.25% and extend it indefinitely — and a court just ruled voters were getting a misleading description of what they'd be voting on.
Driving the news: Judge Daniel Ottolia ruled Wednesday that the city must rename the measure from "City of Riverside Services Renewal Measure" to "City of Riverside Voter-Approved Transaction and Use Tax Renewal Measure."
- The ruling came at a second hearing after Ottolia had already ordered changes to the ballot question's wording at a March 27 hearing.
The backstory: Riverside voter Jason Hunter filed a legal petition last month challenging the ballot language after the City Council voted March 3 to place the measure on the June ballot.
- Hunter argued the city's language obscured that Measure Z is a general tax — meaning funds go into the city's general fund with no guarantee they're spent on emergency services.
What they're saying: Ottolia said Hunter's proposed title was "more accurate" than the city's. Hunter called the ruling "a major victory for Riverside's voters."
Yes, but: Senior Deputy City Attorney Ruthann Salera argued the title wasn't misleading when read alongside the ballot summary.
What's next: The measure — now with court-ordered language — goes before Riverside voters on June 2.
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COMMUNITY
187 Riverside County Children in Foster Care Are Waiting for an Advocate
Voices for Children needs male and bilingual CASA volunteers as 187 Riverside County children wait for an advocate.
Voices for Children is urgently recruiting Riverside County residents to become Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster children — 187 of whom are currently waiting.
Why it matters: CASA volunteers are often the only stable adult presence in a foster child's life — and with roughly 6,000 county children expected to enter the system this year, the need is immediate.
By the numbers: Social workers carry caseloads of 25–35 families; judges oversee 500–700 cases. CASA volunteers focus on one child or sibling group at a time.
What's involved: No legal or social work background required. Training runs about 35 hours through live Zoom sessions and self-paced online work — Voices for Children calls it "Advocate University." Graduates are sworn in by a Superior Court judge.
- Must be 21+, hold a valid driver's license, and commit to monthly visits for one year.
What they're saying: "CASAs are often the only consistent adult in the life of a child in foster care," said Sharon Morris, Voices for Children's Riverside County managing director.
What's next: Voices for Children is running its "Your Voice, Their Future" campaign through April and May. The organization especially needs male volunteers and bilingual English/Spanish speakers.
- Sign up for a free info session or refer a potential volunteer at speakupnow.org.
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ART
New Exhibit Brings Chicano Art and History to Casa Blanca Library
The "Ojos del Tiempo" installation features rotating works by local and nationally recognized artists alongside bilingual literature celebrating the neighborhood's Mexican-American roots.
A new permanent installation bringing Chicano art, literature, and neighborhood history opens Thursday at the SSgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library.
Why it matters: "Ojos del Tiempo" (Eyes of Time) reflects Casa Blanca's Mexican-American heritage through murals, bilingual stories, and works by nationally recognized Chicano artists and authors — bringing cultural representation directly into the neighborhood's public library.
Driving the news: The exhibit opens at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 2, at the library at 2985 Madison Street, presented by Councilmember Sean Mill, County Supervisor Jose Medina, Friends of the Riverside Library, and the City Library Department.
What's inside: The installation includes a museum-style display on Casa Blanca's history, bilingual stories, and rotating art exhibits.
- Artists include Casa Blanca muralist Juan Navarro, succulent-art creator Jesse Aleman, celebrated muralist Judy Baca, and Mexican painter Jose Clemente Orozco.
- Authors represented include Sandra Cisneros, Luis Alberto Urrea, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Reyna Grande.
What they're saying: "When kids see themselves reflected in their learning environment, it boosts their self-esteem, engagement, and academic success," Mill said.
What's next: The exhibit opens to the public Thursday at 11 a.m. For information, call the library at 951-826-2120 or visit riversideca.gov.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Lunchtime Jazz Concert Series at Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties
- Board of Ethics at Riverside City Hall
- FREE ADMISSION - First Thursday of every month during Riverside ArtsWalk at Riverside Art Museum
- Hays Press-Enterprise Lecture at University Theatre
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Lincoln Park Community Group at Lincoln Park Community Center
Tomorrow
- Certified Farmers Market at Farm House Collective
- Evergreen Cemetery Tour at Evergreen Cemetery ($21.20)
- Orange Terrace Library | Chess Club at Orange Terrace Library
- Friday Nightlife at Downtown Experiment
- Trio Los Panchos at Fox Performing Arts Center
Save the Date
- April 5: Easter Celebration at First Congregational Church of Riverside
- April 11: 11th Annual Riverside Art Market at White Park
- April 11: Olivewood Cemetery Tour at Olivewood Cemetery ($21.20)
- April 12: The Expeditions of Juan Bautista de Anza through Riverside County at Riverside Medical Clinic Basement Meeting Room
- April 17: Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Woodcrest Christian School Royals Pavilion ($15- $20)
- April 18: Fant-A-She’s at Riverside Municipal Auditorium ($37 - $97)
- April 23: Raincross Gazette: Ward 2 Community Forum at UCR Alumni & Visitors Center
- April 29: Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center
- April 30: Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum Altura Credit Union
10725 Magnolia Ave. - May 17: Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Riverside's Heritage House
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