Voters will decide June 2 whether to raise the existing Measure Z sales tax to 1.25 percent and remove its 2036 sunset. Here's what's on the ballot, why it's there, and what each side is arguing.
The council reviewed Futrell's performance in closed session Tuesday but took no action, as the city manager publicly defended himself and his wife against allegations that have roiled City Hall since December.
The Janet Goeske Foundation lobbied Sacramento lawmakers April 29, making the case that its Riverside senior center is a model worth replicating statewide.
Committee bans standalone smoke shops, city drafts ordinance converting empty buildings to housing...
Tuesday Gazette: December 9, 2025
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Committee directs staff to draft ordinance eliminating standalone tobacco retailers after finding employees openly selling methamphetamine pipes.
City staff found employees openly selling meth pipes at shops near schools, prompting Land Use Committee to advance ban on standalone tobacco retailers.
Why it matters: Thirteen smoke shops operate without permits in Riverside, and inspections revealed workers identifying pipes as "to smoke methamphetamine" — with many locations near RUSD campuses.
Driving the news: The Land Use Committee directed staff Dec. 8 to draft an ordinance banning standalone smoke shops while allowing tobacco sales at gas stations and grocery stores.
By the numbers:
What police seized from 13 smoke shops in eight months: Nearly 5,000 cannabis products, 80,000 illegal tobacco units, 535 nitrous oxide tanks, 182 psilocybin mushroom units.
Yes, but: Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes raised concerns about family-owned Ward 2 operators, suggesting the city help legitimate businesses transition.
What's next: Draft regulations go to Planning Commission, then back to committee before full Council vote. Current moratorium on new tobacco permits runs through August 2026.
Read and share the complete story... (3 min. read)
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"Repurpose Riverside" project targets spring 2026 completion with $1.5 million grant.
City's first adaptive reuse ordinance aims to transform empty commercial buildings into homes, with new regulations set for spring 2026 adoption.
Why it matters: Downtown property owners can't currently convert vacant offices to housing without lengthy rezoning — these new rules will streamline the process and could unlock thousands of potential housing units.
What's new: The "Repurpose Riverside" project uses a $1.5 million WRCOG grant to develop regulations modeled on successful programs in LA and San Francisco.
The big picture: LA's adaptive reuse ordinance created 12,000 housing units downtown since 1999. Riverside aims to replicate that success for struggling commercial corridors.
What helps: Recent state law eliminates parking minimums for projects within a half-mile of high-quality transit, removing a major obstacle to conversions.
What they're saying: "This is environmentally sound policy," Committee Chair Sean Mill said. "Instead of tearing down buildings and building new, we're using what's already there."
Councilmember Philip Falcone noted Riverside's best developments are already conversions: "The Farmhouse, the Cheech, the Imperial Hardware, the Mark."
What's next: Public meeting in early 2026, then Planning Commission review before Council adoption in spring 2026.
Read and share the complete story... (2 min. read)
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UC Riverside scientists developed a breakthrough air filter using stainless steel mesh coated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles that destroys toxic gases while removing 99.6% of particulates—offering a reusable, chemical-free alternative to traditional filters.
La Sierra University's men's soccer team captured its first Cal Pac championship in 23 years with a 2-1 victory over Hope International, earning the Golden Eagles their first-ever trip to the NAIA national tournament where they'll face 15th-ranked Madonna University.
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Goeske Foundation lobbies for expansion funds, More than flowers for Mom...
City Council weighs speed limits, the mayor on how outside partnerships are shaping Riverside's economic future...
Magnolia Avenue's grand design, Dr. Clover's legacy, CBU's theater lineup...
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