Friday Gazette: May 22, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! It's been a week. The fire, the City Hall coverage in the LA Times, the Mission Inn artifacts story — there's been no shortage of news in Riverside, and we know you've been watching it all unfold. We want to be honest with you: we've had some personal challenges this week, and we haven't been able to cover everything the way we'd like to. That weighs on us, because this community deserves thorough, on-the-ground reporting, and we take that seriously.
Thank you for your patience with us. We're a small team, and your grace means more than you know. We'll keep showing up.
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2026 ELECTION
Your June 2 Ballot May Not Be Postmarked the Day You Mail It. Here's What to Do.
The U.S. Postal Service says postmarks are applied at processing facilities, not when mail is collected, meaning a ballot dropped in a collection box on Election Day may not be postmarked until the next day and could go uncounted.
Ballots mailed on or close to Election Day may miss their postmark deadline — and won't be counted.
Why it matters: If you're among the roughly 1.4 million Riverside County voters who received a mail ballot, the U.S. Postal Service's processing delays mean a ballot dropped in a mailbox on June 2 may not be postmarked until June 3 — making it invalid under California law.
The deadline math: California requires ballots to be postmarked by Election Day, June 2, and received by June 9. But Memorial Day on May 25 means no postal processing — making Monday, May 26 the practical mail-by cutoff. The Registrar of Voters recommends May 27 at the latest.
- No postage needed — prepaid envelopes come with every ballot.
Your safer options:
- Drop box: The Registrar's secure 24-hour drop box at 2720 Gateway Drive accepts ballots through 8 p.m. June 2. Additional sites at City Hall, the Main Library, La Sierra Community Center, and neighborhood libraries. No postmark required.
- Hand-stamp at post office: Bring your ballot to any post office counter and ask for a hand postmark — free, and legally solid.
- In person: Vote Centers are open now through June 1; all centers open June 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
One safeguard to know: If your ballot's postmark is missing or illegible, California will use the date you signed the return envelope as evidence it was cast on time. Always sign and date it.
What's next: Track your ballot at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov. Same-day voter registration is available at all Vote Centers and the Registrar's office through June 2.
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GOVERNMENT
City Enacts 45-Day Freeze on Pallet Yards, Citing Fire Risk
The unanimous vote freezes new pallet storage operations for 45 days as planners draft stricter rules following 29 fire incidents since 2025.
Riverside City Council unanimously approved a 45-day moratorium on new or expanded wooden pallet storage yards Tuesday, citing fire danger and code violations.
Why it matters: Pallet yard fires have already damaged businesses, hospitalized firefighters, and sent embers drifting blocks away. The moratorium pauses new operations while the city develops tougher rules.
Driving the news: The Riverside Fire Department has responded to 29 incidents at pallet storage yards since January 2025.
- A March 2026 fire in the Northside neighborhood damaged multiple businesses and put three firefighters in the hospital.
The problem: City code currently treats pallet yards like any other outdoor storage — with no rules tailored to the fire risks of densely stacked lumber.
- Inspectors have documented stacks reaching 20 to 30 feet high, sometimes above surrounding walls and fences.
- Code enforcement has issued 36 violation notices to 11 businesses since 2023, with nine cases still open.
What they're saying: Public commenters backed the ban, with Sierra Club rep Mike McCarthy urging the city to eventually extend restrictions to other combustible outdoor storage operations.
What's next: City planning, fire, and code enforcement staff will study potential zoning changes during the 45-day window. Councilmember Phillip Falcone asked that the issue return to the land use committee for broader discussion of outdoor storage regulations.
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COMMUNITY
Riverside Arts Academy Mariachi Ensemble Places Third at National Competition
The student group finished as the top-ranked California ensemble at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference earlier this month.
Riverside Arts Academy's Mariachi Campana placed third at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference — the highest finish of any California ensemble at one of the country's premier mariachi competitions.
Why it matters: RAA serves Inland Empire youth through nonprofit music education, and this national-level result puts Riverside on the map in a competitive field that draws ensembles from across the U.S. and Mexico.
Driving the news: The ensemble competed under director Alex Treviño II and assistant directors Yamila De La Rosaand Angel Chavez, returning home as California's top-ranked group.
- "To compete among the very best mariachi programs and return as the top-ranked group from California is an honor," Treviño said.
The backstory: The Tucson trip was funded through donor support and a grassroots fundraising campaign organized by the RAA community.
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GOVERNMENT
City Moves to Require Advance Notice for Unhoused Drop-Offs
A proposed ordinance would require agencies and organizations to notify the city 24 hours before transporting unhoused individuals into Riverside.
Riverside City Council advanced an ordinance Tuesday requiring agencies to give 24-hour notice before transporting unhoused people into the city — a move aimed at connecting arrivals to services rather than leaving them unsheltered.
Why it matters: Uncoordinated drop-offs strain Riverside's limited shelter beds and outreach capacity. The city spends an estimated $63,376 to stabilize one unsheltered person through shelter, case management, and housing services.
Driving the news: The proposed ordinance would require any agency or organization to notify the city manager and Housing and Human Services director before a transport, including details about the person, their origin, and whether a receiving organization has agreed to accept them.
- A follow-up notice confirming placement — or explaining what went wrong — would also be required.
Yes, but: The ordinance does not ban transporting unhoused people into Riverside and explicitly exempts jail bookings, medical transport, court appointments, and public transit. Officials said the city is not trying to criminalize homelessness or block charitable aid.
By the numbers: Riverside counted 614 unsheltered people in its 2025 point-in-time count, according to the staff report.
What's next: The council introduced the ordinance Tuesday; it returns for a second vote in the coming weeks. If adopted, it takes effect 30 days later.
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Adoptable Pet of the Week
Meet Bruno!
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.
Noteworthy
The largest Rubik's Cube competition in California history comes to the Riverside Convention Center May 23–25, with ~1,000 attendees expected and free spectator admission.
High School Summer Pass returns to Planet Fitness this summer, offering teens ages 14–19 free gym access June 1–August 31 with pre-registration now open.
A UCR School of Medicine professor explains the new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, now a WHO public health emergency, noting the rare Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine and carries a roughly 35% fatality rate.
RCC's Natalie Vázquez has been named a 2026 Classified Employee of the Year by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office — one of only six selected statewide and the first in Riverside Community College District history to receive the honor.
What's Happening in Riverside
Friday, May 22
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- R'Hours at the R'Garden at R'Garden
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Gage Basin Clean-Up at Behind the Alumni Center
- 43rd Annual UC Riverside Pow Wow at Riverside Sports Complex
- Courthouse, Murals and Heroes Walking Tour at Mission Inn Foundation ($23.18)
- GASOLINA REGGAETĂ“N PARTY (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Jim Morrison Celebration ft. Wild Child at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Live Joy Division tribute in Riverside! World Goth Day! at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge ($12.51)
- Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)
- STRANGEWAYS a Tribute to The Smiths & Morrissey! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove ($20.23)
Saturday, May 23
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Billy Joel Tribute by All Key'd Up! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove ($20.23)
- Bingo Loco (21+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Gothic Tea Party Fundraiser at Grace Manor ($108.55)
- Mosaic Art Fundraiser at Mission Inn Foundation & Museum ($108.55)
- Paint and Sip con El Bad Buky at The Experience Riverside ($45)
- TOPS at Farm House Collective
Sunday, May 24
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Know Your Rights: Pride in Protection at Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California
- Noche de Rock Sunday May 24th! Memorial Weekend! at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge ($12.51)
- Noteworthy Connections 20s and 30s: We’re Not Really Strangers at Back to the Grind
- R&B Sing Along Brunch Party @ Mezcal in Riverside at Mezcal Ultra Lounge (free- $55.20)
- Tash Sultana - North American Tour 2026 at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Save the Date
- May 29: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- May 31: Oscars, Tonys & Grammys at Calvary Presbyterian Church ($10- $20)
- June 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)
- June 3: Paint. Sip. Spark Kindness at HRBC Insurance ($75)
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