Five years into an eight-year housing plan, the City has permitted no new very low-income housing since 2021 and faces a state investigation over a rejected grant.
The Riverside City Firefighters Association Pipe & Drum Band marks St. Patrick's Day with a three-stop Downtown tour, raising funds for firefighter memorials and band operations.
City lights stretch across Downtown as dawn approaches, viewed from the summit of Mount Rubidoux. (Luke López) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside?Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Friday Gazette: March 13, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! If you've been dragging a little this week, you're not alone. Daylight saving time has a way of making that first post-spring-forward week feel longer than it has any right to, and today's the day we finally get to breathe. It also happens to be World Sleep Day, observed annually on the Friday before the spring equinox, a timely reminder from the World Sleep Society that rest isn't a luxury: it's essential. Tonight, when you finally get to turn in, give yourself permission to make it a good one. You've earned it.
City Falls Far Short of State Housing Mandate, Report Shows
Five years into an eight-year housing plan, the City has permitted no new very low-income housing since 2021 and faces a state investigation over a rejected grant.
A property on University Avenue sits at the center of an ongoing debate over how and whether the City is meeting its state-mandated housing obligations.
Riverside has issued no very-low-income housing permits since 2021 — and has met less than 20% of its state-mandated housing obligation with four years left to comply.
Why it matters: The shortfall threatens Riverside's Prohousing Designation, which unlocks state funding for affordable housing and homelessness programs. Lose it, and local taxpayers absorb those costs.
By the numbers: California requires Riverside to permit 18,458 homes between 2021 and 2029.
Only 3,613 permits have been issued — 19.6% of the total.
0% of the very-low-income allocation has been met; above-moderate-income is at 31%.
Driving the news: The annual progress report landed as the City faces state scrutiny over the Council's January rejection of a $20.1 million Homekey+ grant that would have converted the Quality Inn on University Ave. into 114 affordable apartments.
HCD and a coalition of legal organizations have sent letters to the Council citing potential housing law violations.
What they're saying: "It astounds me that staff presented a report that says 'we're getting an F on affordable housing,'" said Dan Hoxworth of the Inland SoCal Housing Collective, "and the city council had no comment."
What's next: The Council voted unanimously to receive and file the report. State review of Riverside's Prohousing Designation is pending.
Community support and commissioner skepticism of outright closure bought the nightclub three more months to work out a deal with the city.
Downtown Experiment at 3601 Orange St. in Downtown Riverside.
Riverside's Planning Commission delayed a decision on revoking Downtown Experiment's operating permits, giving the downtown nightclub until June to negotiate possible changes.
Why it matters: The club at University Avenue and Orange Street has generated 504 police calls in five years. If you live or work nearby — or are a regular — this pause means the venue stays open at least through the spring while its future gets sorted out.
Driving the news: City staff recommended revoking the club's operating and alcohol permits after years of incidents including a shooting, assaults, sexual assaults, and security guards battering customers.
Commissioners balked at full revocation, with chair Launa Wilson calling it "too nuclear" and voting to continue the discussion to June 4.
By the numbers: 504 police calls since the club opened five years ago, yielding 99 police reports — plus 7 noise complaints in an 11-day span in late 2024.
Yes, but: Owner Marco McGuire pushed back, arguing many incidents happened outside the club after closing and were attributed to his address by default. He noted no citations were issued in 2025 or 2026, and dozens of community members showed up to vouch for his character and the McGuire family's charitable work.
What's next: The Planning Commission takes up the matter again June 4. Between now and then, McGuire and city staff are expected to negotiate revised conditional use permit terms.
Firefighters' Pipe & Drum Hits Downtown for 6th Annual St. Paddy's Pub Crawl
The Riverside City Firefighters Association Pipe & Drum Band marks St. Patrick's Day with a three-stop Downtown tour, raising funds for firefighter memorials and band operations.
Members of the Riverside City Firefighters Association Pipe & Drum Band pose in full dress uniform beneath a large American flag ahead of their St. Patrick's Day pub crawl through Downtown. (Courtesy of The Riverside City Firefighters Association Pipe & Drum Band)
Downtown's St. Paddy's Day pub crawl returns Tuesday, led by the Riverside City Firefighters Association Pipe & Drum Band for the 6th year.
Why it matters: The free event winds through three Downtown bars in one night — with live music at each stop and proceeds supporting firefighter memorial ceremonies nationwide.
The route:
6 p.m. — ProAbition
7:15 p.m. — Lake Alice
8:30 p.m. — The RIV
Be smart: The band plays a different set at each venue, so the full crawl is worth it. There's also a secret pre-show at an undisclosed location before the official route kicks off.
By the numbers: This is the crawl's 6th year — and organizers say they turn away more venue requests than they can accept annually.
What's next: The crawl runs Tuesday, March 17, 6–10 p.m., starting at ProAbition in downtown. Attendance is free; merchandise and donations benefit the RCFA Firefighter Foundation.
Meet this week’s featured furry friend from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Dedicated to eliminating pet homelessness, the center provides compassionate care and facilitates adoptions for animals in need of loving homes. Find your new companion and help support their mission of humane care and responsible pet ownership.
Meet Opal (left), a sweet and silly pup just under 2yrs who believes the best parts of life are pets, playtime, and a cozy place to nap. She’s a staff and volunteer favorite thanks to her affectionate personality and the way she happily leans in for more scratches the moment you stop. Opal enjoys spending time with other dogs, especially those around her size or bigger, and brings a fun, playful energy wherever she goes. And when the day winds down, don’t be surprised if you hear her signature move — a happy little snore that lets you know she’s completely content. Come meet Opal and all the adoptable pets at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in person. Stop by any day except Tuesdays, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., or learn more at petsadoption.org. Alumni updates: Doritos and Ileane were adopted (Ileane pictured right)! 👏
Noteworthy
Chances are, you learned about fire safety from him — Sparky the Fire Dog is turning 75, and the NFPA's beloved mascot is still teaching kids the same life-saving lessons he has for three generations.
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