Known to tribal communities as "Chief Buffalo Heart," Jonathan Tibbet spent his life advocating for Native sovereignty at a time when the government called it insubordination.
A brilliant sunset paints the sky in layers of orange, pink, and deep blue above a row of silhouetted palm trees. (Michael J. Elderman) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: May 20, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is National Rescue Dog Day. If you've been thinking about adding a dog to your family, today's a good excuse to take a look at who's waiting for a home right now. Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, and Foster Army Animal Rescue all have dogs available locally. Whether you're ready to adopt or just want to foster, there's a way to help.
P.S. Do you have vintage photos of Riverside? A few have already come in and they are so good. We can't wait to share them with you. Send yours our way.
"Buffalo Heart": A Short Biography of Jonathan Tibbet
Known to tribal communities as "Chief Buffalo Heart," Jonathan Tibbet spent his life advocating for Native sovereignty at a time when the government called it insubordination.
Photo of Jonathan Tibbet (History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties by John Brown)
Jonathan Tibbet, born Jan. 5, 1856, on a ranch in San Gabriel is described in early literature as a native son of the Golden West. His father, a successful cattle rancher acquired thousands of acres of land near the San Gabriel Mission, and it included seven Native American villages. During Jonathan's adolescence his exposure to tribal communities and their ways became commonplace. He learned several languages and dialects and spoke fluent Spanish. Native people worked for his father as ranch hands, servants in the home and in some cases were friends to the family. Jonathan Tibbet Sr. paid his workers double the going salary thus gaining their trust and respect. His upbringing instilled unto a young Jonathan a keen understanding of the injustices involved in the management of Indians and Indian affairs.
He not only learned the language but also the Indian point of view, and through the Indian ceremonies he was made chief a number of times and to the Indians is known as "Chief Buffalo Heart," according to John Brown's History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
As a young man, Mr. Tibbet spent the 1870s and 80s in Arizona as a civilian Indian scout, Chief of Scouts and U.S. deputy marshal. During this time, Mr. Tibbet remained sympathetic to Indian people and was said to have saved many lives. Although described as a large frontiersman, commanding and poised, his nature was friendly. In 1891, when Mr. Tibbet settled in California, he ran a general store and hotel in Menifee Valley. Once in Riverside, he established a broker's office that dealt in the buying, selling and developing of real estate. Due to the nature of his business doings, by 1912, Tibbet owned three ranches in Riverside County equaling over three-hundred acres combined, a bee ranch in the white sage country, more than forty lots, and several houses in Riverside. His capital also enlisted commercial enterprises, banks, city property in Los Angeles and the county, and a summer home in Orange County, according to Brown. Clearly a man of responsible character that attributed his success to never taking a drink, gambling or signing a note. He belonged to various organizations including a member of San Bernardino and Riverside Pioneers, a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and an honorary member of Los Angeles County Pioneers.
A water rights attorney and ratepayer advocate argues the City should suspend the General Fund Transfer and Public Benefit Fund charges — moves she says would save ratepayers money without affecting City services.
A payment drop box at Riverside Public Utilities, where customers submit bill payments for water and electricity service. (File photo/Raincross Gazette)
With higher food and increasingly unaffordable gas prices, Riversiders need and deserve a break from high utility taxes and fees. City Council should hold a special meeting to suspend some of these charges, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars. These suggestions will not affect RPU or general fund services and could make your summer more affordable.
City Names Nathan Mustafa as Its New Public Works Director
Mustafa, who has worked for the city for 13 years, takes over a department that handles streets, trash, trees, and more.
Nathan Mustafa, the new Public Works Director for the City of Riverside. (Photo courtesy City of Riverside)
Riverside names new Public Works Director
Nathan Mustafa is now Riverside's Public Works Director — promoted from interim after five months leading the department.
Why it matters: Public Works runs the services you interact with daily — streets, trash, recycling, traffic signals, and tree trimming. Mustafa will oversee 300+ employees and the city's Water Quality Control Plant.
Driving the news: City Manager Mike Futrell made the appointment official this week, ending Mustafa's interim run. His predecessor, Gil Hernandez, moved up to Interim Assistant City Manager.
The backstory: Mustafa has been with the city since 2013, rising from Assistant Engineer to Deputy Director over Field Operations and Engineering. He's a licensed Civil and Traffic Engineer and certified planner.
By the numbers: Mustafa has helped secure more than $100 million in outside grant funding during his tenure — supporting projects from pavement management to the Traffic Management Center overhaul.
What's next: Mustafa inherits an active project list, including the Third Street Grade Separation, the Riverside Bioenergy Facility public-private partnership, and the city's first online tree inventory.
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