A row of trees reflects in the still waters of Lake Evans at Fairmount Park on a clear morning. (Osvaldo Vazquez) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Tuesday Gazette: February 17, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! Today marks the start of Chinese New Year, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse. In the Chinese zodiac, the Horse represents speed, freedom, and innovation, with this year's fire element adding energy, passion, and dynamic transformation. The celebrations traditionally last 16 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival on March 3rd. Families gather for reunion dinners, exchange red envelopes for good luck, and welcome the new year with hopes for prosperity and happiness. To those celebrating: Happy New Year!
Budget Commission Questions Its Role as Measure Z Locked Through 2028
Nonprofits seeking city support face three-year funding freeze as council prepares June tax vote.
(Titus Pardee)
Riverside's Budget Engagement Commission discovered it cannot recommend funding for nonprofits or new programs—all Measure Z money is committed through 2028.
Why it matters: The commission chartered to help allocate $81 million-$86 million annually has no actual authority to direct those dollars for the next three years.
Driving the news: Commissioner Pete Benavidez questioned the commission's purpose after learning nonprofits seeking city funding are being turned away.
"We have very little authority to make such recommendations to council," he said at Wednesday's meeting.
The gap: Measure Z, approved by voters in 2016 to "prevent cutting police, firefighters, paramedics," currently funds 164 public safety positions but has no money available for Fire Department's identified $26.1 million staffing shortage.
The department operates with 225 firefighters—half the national standard ratio.
What they're saying: "I think we need some guidance...so that we can bring people into this building where they can make a recommendation on what they feel is needed with their taxpayer dollars," Benavidez said.
What's next: Council decides Feb. 24 which tax measures—possibly extending Measure Z or adding a quarter-cent sales tax—to place on the June ballot. County filing deadline is March 6.
La Sierra University launched a one-page strategic plan targeting 3,000 students by 2035 after experiencing a 26% surge in new freshmen and 5% overall enrollment increase, implementing corporate Scaling Up methodology with quarterly accountability processes.
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