Thursday Gazette: February 26, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Over the past several weeks, I've been getting messages from Riversiders frustrated by what they're seeing at City Council — residents who spoke about the homeless housing project, the missing Inspector General (our ethics watchdog), or other issues and felt like their words landed in a void.

I'm guessing I'm in the Top 10 of Riversiders who have watched the most council and committee meetings (on days where I can't attend, I have a nerdy trick to load those meetings into a podcast on my phone). I've seen a lot, and the frustration, I think, comes from a gap between what Riversiders expect public comment to accomplish and what the rules actually allow.

I'm working on a story to explain how public comment actually works — what council members can and can't do by law, how meeting rules have changed in recent months, and what options residents actually have to influence decisions at City Hall.

Before I go any further, though, I want to hear from you. Have you spoken at a council meeting? Tell me what you said, what you experienced, and what questions you still have about how the process actually works. Email me (justin@raincrossgazette.com) and help shape this story.

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HEALTH

Two Years In, Riverside's CARE Court Reaches 260 Residents

A state roundtable highlights the program's local impact and the personal approach driving its success.

Two years in, Riverside County's CARE Court has helped 11 people reach stability — while officials say the program's personal approach is what makes it work.

Why it matters: If you have a family member, neighbor, or client struggling with schizophrenia or psychotic disorders, CARE Court offers a voluntary path to treatment — and anyone, including family members, can file a referral petition.

By the numbers: 260 petitions have been filed countywide since launch, with 57 people on active CARE plans and 111 petitions still in process.

• Statewide, the program has reached nearly 8,000 people across all 58 counties.

Driving the news: State officials hosted a roundtable Tuesday to compare how counties implement the program — and found wide variation.

• CalHHS Deputy Secretary Stephanie Welch said she's traveling the state to identify best practices and close the gaps.

Between the lines: Local leaders say Riverside's success stems from treating participants as partners, not patients — helping them identify personal goals like housing, family reunification, or resolving legal issues.

• "Thank you for not giving up on me," one graduate told her public defender six months after completing the program.

What's next: An 18-acre Wellness Village in Mead Valley — expected to expand local mental health and substance use care — is set to open later this year.

Read and share the complete story...

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GOVERNMENT

Riversiders Raise Ethics, Watchdog Concerns at City Council

From a missing watchdog to conflict-of-interest questions, residents raised pointed concerns — and on one item, got results.

After two weeks of public pressure, City Council rescheduled its Measure Z tax vote to an evening meeting — while three other resident concerns went unanswered.

Why it matters: If you want to weigh in on a potential tax measure that could affect your bill, you can now do so at 6:15 p.m. on March 3 at City Hall Council Chambers — not a 1 p.m. session most working residents can't attend.

Driving the news: Tuesday's council meeting surfaced four flashpoints in the same session, with the evening rescheduling the only concrete action taken.

What residents raised — and got:

• Measure Z timing → Rescheduled to March 3 at 6:15 p.m. ✓
• Truck donation to Arlington Business Partnership → No response; passed 4-1
• Inspector General still unfilled → No response; position vacant 1+ year
• $20.1M HomeKey grant → No response; money expected to return to state

Yes, but: The truck donation drew the sharpest scrutiny. A Ward 1 resident questioned whether the transfer of a $1,200 surplus pickup to a private nonprofit violated the California Constitution's gift-of-public-funds prohibition. Three councilmembers endorsing the nonprofit's executive director — who is running for council — and a fourth sitting on its board added to the optics. "It doesn't smell good, guys," one resident said.

What's next: Council votes March 3 at 6:15 p.m. on whether to place one or more revenue measures — including possible Measure Z extensions — on the ballot.

Read and share the complete story...

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TRANSPORTATION

Raised Median, Friction Treatment Coming to Mission Inn Avenue Near Buena Vista Bridge

A $1.54M federally funded contract will bring the improvements to the stretch beneath the landmark bridge at the Riverside-Jurupa Valley gateway.

Council approved a $1.54 million contract Tuesday to reduce collisions on Mission Inn Avenue between Scout Lane and Redwood Drive.

Why it matters: If you drive, bike, or walk that stretch of Mission Inn Avenue, a raised median and new road surface are coming — on a corridor the city's own safety data flagged as a collision priority.

What's new: The project adds a raised median and high-friction surface treatment to reduce head-on collisions and fixed-object crashes.

• The same stretch has already restricted southbound entry from University Avenue since a December 2024 pilot aimed at cutting through-traffic.

By the numbers: Total project cost is $1.765 million — $1.588 million covered by a federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant, with Measure A funds covering the rest.

The big picture: This is one of two active safety investments on the corridor. Construction on a replacement for the 67-year-old Mission Boulevard Bridge — just to the north — is set to begin this spring.

What's next: No construction timeline was included in the council item. The contract was approved on the consent calendar without discussion.Read and share the complete story...

Noteworthy

UCR distinguished psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky co-authored a new book arguing that feeling loved — not wealth or status — is the true secret to happiness, with vulnerability and genuine curiosity identified as key to forging deeper connections.

If you missed it, there's a new promo video for The Cheech — and it's a heartwarming short featuring Cheech Marin himself sitting alongside a young visitor captivated by the museum's world-class Chicano art collection.

What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• California Dream'n at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($49.87)
• History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($60)
• Mix & Mist: Build Your Own Scent at Thompson Brewing Co.
• NwtM: There and Back Again: Bringing Museum Best Practices Home at Riverside Main Library
• RPG 1-shot: "Alien" at Nevermore Game Club
• Planning Commission at Riverside City Hall
• Women's Basketball vs UC Santa Barbara at SRC Arena

Tomorrow

• Certified Farmers Market at Farm House Collective
• Black History Celebration at Janet Goeske Center (free- $10.00)
• Family Storytime at Ameal Moore Nature Center
• Orange Terrace Library | Chess Club at Orange Terrace Library
• In the Hour of Chaos: Hip Hop Art & Activism with Public Enemy’s Chuck D at Culver Center of the Arts
• Noche de Cumbia at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge ($12.51)
• Red Store Bums at Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Save the Date

• March 9: REEF's Best Event Ever! Take 9! at Fox Performing Arts Center ($10- $75)
• March 14: Riverside Sunrise Rotary 22nd Annual Black Tie Bingo at Riverside Convention Center ($130- $250)
• March 19: Empowered Leadership: Cultivating Influence and Impact at Work Well ($165)
• March 21: LiTEArature: A Fairy-Themed Afternoon Tea at Heritage House ($25)
• March 30: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo

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