🗞️ Riverside News- April 29, 2026

Wednesday Gazette: April 29, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! TONIGHT is the night! The Raincross Gazette's candidate forum for City Council Ward 4 is happening this evening, and it's expected to be standing room only. Hear directly from the candidates and get what you need to make an informed choice before June. We'd love to see you there. Be sure to register. The forum is free and open to all Riverside residents.

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HOUSING

City Has 401 Affordable Units in Development, but Homelessness Count Ticks Up

City staff reported 401 affordable units in development at Monday's Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting, as advocates pressed officials to move faster.

Riverside has 401 affordable units in its construction pipeline, but city data shows it has completed fewer than 1% of the very-low-income housing required by the state's 2029 deadline.

Why it matters: If you're among the roughly 252 people on Riverside's housing waitlist — or among the 614 unsheltered residents counted in 2025 — the city's pace of production directly affects how long you wait.

By the numbers: According to state Regional Housing Needs Assessment data presented to the committee Monday, the city has completed just 47 of 4,861 required very-low-income units. It has reached 9.3% of its low-income goal and 8.2% of its moderate-income target, while nearing 41% of its above-moderate-income goal.

Driving the news: The Housing and Homelessness Committee received a dual update Monday — on the affordable housing pipeline and on progress toward the city's 2022 Homeless Action Plan.

• The unsheltered population has ticked up slightly, from 605 to 614, between 2023 and 2025.

Yes, but: The city has met some benchmarks — including a 5% increase in affordable housing inventory and an 84% rental assistance retention rate. In the first half of the current fiscal year, it provided emergency shelter to 339 people and made street outreach contacts with more than 3,200.

What's next: Committee Chair Clarissa Cervantes said she plans to bring portions of the Homeless Action Plan back for deeper discussion at future meetings and floated inviting the county's Continuum of Care to present on regional resources. The status of a Housing Authority-owned duplex at 2348 University Ave. — proposed for demolition and redevelopment as affordable housing — will return to the full City Council for a vote; no date has been set.

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2026 ELECTION

Four Candidates, One Room: Ward 2 Voters Get a Closer Look

The Gazette brought Ward 2's City Council race to UCR, where four candidates faced questions from more than 100 residents.

The Alumni & Visitors Center at the University of California, Riverside was packed on Thursday, April 23rd, as more than 100 residents gathered for one of the city's first ward-specific candidate forums. Hosted by Riverside's Raincross Gazette, the forum allowed community members — most of whom appeared to be from Ward 2 — to hear directly from the candidates running to represent them on the City Council.

The forum lasted roughly an hour and a half, running from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and was divided into two segments. The first portion featured an open discussion, a 40-minute block in which candidates spoke at length on key issues. The second portion, a rapid-fire round, gave each candidate about a minute to address specific topics relevant to Ward 2.

A wide range of issues were discussed throughout the evening, including homelessness, housing, economic development, and Measure Z. Each candidate offered thoughtful responses, giving attendees a clearer sense of their priorities — while also making their decision process more difficult.

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What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
• Reading Assistance Program at My Learning Studio
• The Comedy Lobby at The Lobby ($9.85)
• History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
• Out in the I.E. at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
• Riverside Open Mic Music Series at BACK TO THE GRIND
• Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center

Tomorrow

• Arlington Library| Propagation Station: Plant Swap at Arlington Library
• History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
• Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum at Altura Credit Union (10725 Magnolia Ave.)

Save the Date

• April 30: Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum at Altura Credit Union (10725 Magnolia Ave.)
• April 30: INVITE: Green Secretary of State candidate Michael Feinstein at Tio Tacos
• May 1: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
• May 3: "The Sound of Riverside" - The 2026 Riverside Arts Academy Gala at UCR University Theatre ($150- $325)
• May 6: Senior Conference at Janet Goeske Center
• May 13: Level Up Your Network: The Pick Group 2026 Membership Summit at Killer Queens Social House
• May 16: Vintage Home Tour “Age is a Work of Art” at Peter J Weber House ($30)
• May 17: Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Riverside's Heritage House
• June 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)

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