Sunday, July 19, 2026
Even skeleton delivery drivers can't escape the age-old problem of territorial dogs, as seen in this clever Halloween display on a quiet Magnolia Center street. (Rosalyn Anderson) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!

Thursday Gazette: October 23, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! This is our last callout for Halloween-decorated homes. Have you seen an incredible display on your street? Want to share your own festive creation? We want to showcase them all! Send the address, contact info, and a photo (if you have one) to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com today. Whether it's your home or a neighbor's amazing display, help us highlight the Halloween spirit across Riverside.

See you tomorrow!

GOVERNMENT

Smoke Shop Permit Freeze Extended as City Tackles Illegal Sales

Unanimous vote allows 10-month study period after police seized nearly 80,000 illegal tobacco products from 13 smoke shops this year.

Vaping products and smoking paraphernalia are displayed in the window of a smoke shop across from Martin Luther King High School, where community advocates told the City Council that students encounter multiple tobacco retailers on their walks to and from school. (Justin Pardee)

The Riverside City Council unanimously voted to extend a moratorium on new tobacco retail establishment permits for an additional 10 months and 15 days. The decision follows widespread illegal activity at tobacco retailers, particularly smoke shops, throughout the city.

Driving the news: Police investigations revealed extensive criminal activity at smoke shops, including the sale of illegal cannabis, tobacco products, nitrous oxide, and psilocybin mushrooms.

  • Deputy Police Chief Charles Payne reported that 12 of 13 investigated businesses remain open, with some operating without valid permits.

Why it matters: The extension allows the city time to develop comprehensive regulations addressing public health and safety concerns associated with tobacco retailers.

  • Current fines, ranging from $100 to $500, have proven ineffective in deterring illegal operations.

The impact: Community members expressed support for the extension, citing concerns about increased tobacco use rates among youth and the proximity of smoke shops to schools.

  • One parent observed their child passing five smoke shops during a short walk home from high school.

What's next: City staff will engage with the Land Use Committee and community stakeholders to consider policy priorities for tobacco retail establishment permit regulations and enforcement processes.

  • The moratorium only affects new permit applications and does not impact existing businesses operating legally.

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BOOKS

'Some Architect' Traces Peter J. Weber's Mark on Riverside's Architectural Legacy

Book chronicles architect's work with G. Stanley Wilson and Julia Morgan alongside transformative travels during economic downturn.

"Some Architect" author Dave Stolte outside the Weber House. (Justin Pardee)

Some Architect is an American bootstrap story and a roaming European grand journey, with technical enough inclusion of architectural nuts and bolts to give the craft more than a minor role. It is remarkably busy but maintains a sense of lightness and whimsy throughout. For something half architectural compendium and half historical narrative, there is a personality that works beyond genre. It serves as a reference text for scholars and enthusiasts of the period, while the storytelling serves readers who simply love a good narrative.

Peter J. Weber had a strong professional relationship with G. Stanley Wilson, a prominent Riverside architect and recognized master of Spanish Revival style. This partnership produced some of the Mission Inn's most beloved elements, including the rotunda and St. Francis Chapel. The rotunda is considered Weber's most important contribution to the landmark hotel. He also worked with Julia Morgan, builder of Hearst Castle and many other significant California buildings, including the YWCA building that now houses the Riverside Art Museum. Some Architect serves as a comprehensive compendium on the work of someone who seemed to be in all the right places during what many consider the best era of architecture in California.

Read and share the full book review...

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GOVERNMENT

Council Adopts Stricter Meeting Rules Despite Public Concern on Comment Limits

Procedures updated for first time in two years give presiding officer broader discretion to curtail speaker time, with six-month review added after residents raise concerns about reduced public access.

Riverside's City Council unanimously approved revisions to its meeting procedures, granting the presiding officer new discretion to limit public comment time and imposing 15-minute debate limits on councilmembers.

Driving the news: The changes, part of a required two-year review, aim to streamline meetings but have drawn concern from residents who fear restricted public participation.

  • The most contentious revision allows the mayor or mayor pro tem to reduce public comment time without a council vote.

Why it matters: Critics argue the changes could undermine democratic participation, while supporters say they bring efficiency and compliance with state law.

  • Several residents voiced opposition during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of public comment.

The response: Councilmember Philip Falcone defended the revisions as "mild changes" that rarely impact public comment time.

  • Councilmember Sean Mill noted similar practices at other levels of government.

What's next: The council added a six-month review period to evaluate the effectiveness of the changes.

  • The Governmental Processes Committee will review implementation in approximately six months.

The bottom line: The updated rules take effect immediately, with the council retaining the ability to make adjustments if needed.

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COMMUNITY

Riverside Community Hospital Hosts Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday

Safe disposal event aims to prevent medication misuse and environmental contamination.

2023 Crush the Crisis event. (Courtesy of Riverside Community Hospital)

Riverside Community Hospital will partner with the Police Department for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, offering residents a safe way to dispose of unused and expired medications.

The free event runs from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Riverside Plaza, 3639 Riverside Plaza Dr., in front of Nordstrom Rack.

The "Crush the Crisis" initiative, part of a nationwide Drug Enforcement Administration effort, aims to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft while keeping medications from contaminating water supplies when flushed or thrown in regular trash.

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