Wednesday Gazette: September 16, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is National Working Parents Day, so we want to give a quick shout out to every parent in town juggling school drop offs, work deadlines, dinner, and everything in between. It's a lot, and you're doing better than you think.
Here's what else is happening around town:
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BUSINESS
Committee Backs Second Chance for Businesses with Past Violations Seeking Entertainment Permits
The Land Use Committee also voted to keep permit appeals with a hearing officer rather than the City Council, over the dissent of its chair.
Businesses with past code violations could soon qualify for entertainment permits under a Land Use Committee proposal.
Why it matters: If you run or frequent downtown entertainment venues, this could ease permit renewals — but appeals of permit denials will still bypass the City Council.
Driving the news: The committee voted 2-1 on Sept. 14 to let the police chief approve permits for businesses that fix past violations and accept added conditions.
- The change follows the Downtown Experiment case, where past police calls, a shooting and other incidents nearly cost the nightclub its permits before it agreed to compliance steps.
Yes, but: Committee Chair Clarissa Cervantes cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing elected council members should keep a role in permit decisions.
- Cervantes wants "that opportunity for it to still land before council," saying members know their wards' businesses best.
By the numbers: Riverside has eight active entertainment permits citywide, with two more businesses waiting in the pipeline.
- A city survey of 30 California cities found 15 send permit appeals to a hearing officer, while nine send them to a city council.
What's next: The full City Council takes up the proposal next. Staff must first report on cost differences between permit types and the workload impact on police.
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HISTORY
California Native American Day: The Fourth Friday of September
State holidays like Sept. 25 give the public a chance to learn about the tribal nations of their region and break the stereotypes they hold.
In 1939, then-Gov. Culbert Olson declared Oct. 1 as "Indian Day" to recognize the contributions and culture of California's Native tribes. California was the first state to do so. In 1968, during Ronald Reagan's governorship, the date changed to the fourth Friday of September and renamed "California Native American Day." A few years later in 1970, Riverside's Mayor Ben H. Lewis proclaimed Sept. 25 as "American Indian Day."
The purpose for such emphasis on California Native people has much to do with the way they have been historically talked about and documented by non-natives. Always in past tense and never fully understood for the diverse communities that exist across the state. Native tribes are not monoliths, and stereotypes that perpetrate this narrative are being dismantled; rightly so. California is historically home to the most tribes in the country – both federally and non-federally recognized. According to worldpopulationreview.com: "While Alaska leads in federally recognized tribes, California has the largest combined total of both federally recognized and non-recognized tribes, reflecting its deep and diverse heritage." Similar in ways, yet each has unique languages, beliefs, traditions, food ways and customs.
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PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Sept. 29 Workshop To Cover South Main Street Redesign Plans
The meeting will cover proposed traffic calming measures, bike lanes and parking changes along the busy corridor near Third Street.
South Main Street between Third Street and Highway 60 is getting new bike lanes, sidewalks and diagonal parking under a city redesign.
Why it matters: If you drive, bike, walk or run a business along that stretch of South Main, you can review the design and weigh in before it's finalized.
Driving the news: The city will present its preferred design for South Main Street at a public workshop this month, seeking resident feedback before finalizing plans.
- The South Main Street Complete Streets Project is funded through the federal Safe Streets for All grant and builds on the Northside Specific Plan.
What's new: Plans add diagonal parking down the center of the street, wider sidewalks and painted bike lanes on both sides.
- Traffic-calming features include high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, speed feedback signs, pedestrian signals and reduced speed limits.
What's next: The workshop runs Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Salvation Army Riverside Corps, 3695 1st St. Spanish and ASL interpretation and refreshments will be available.
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HIGHER EDUCATION
La Sierra Professor Selected for DOE Genesis Mission AI Research Grant
The Riverside university is the only Seventh-day Adventist institution and one of two Inland Empire schools selected nationwide.
A La Sierra University professor will help lead national research into securing electric vehicle battery systems from cyberattacks.
Why it matters: La Sierra is one of just 13 California schools tapped for the federal initiative — a rare win for Inland Empire higher education and the region's only Adventist university in the program.
What's new: The U.S. Department of Energy selected assistant professor Fuhao Li's team for Phase I of its new Genesis Mission — a nine-month grant to secure the AI systems that manage EV batteries against cyberattacks.
- Li's collaborators include researchers from the University of North Dakota, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Clean Republic SODO, LLC.
By the numbers: DOE chose 278 projects out of more than 5,000 applications submitted nationwide for the initiative, announced in July.
- La Sierra is one of only 13 California higher-ed institutions selected, and one of two from the Inland Empire.
What they're saying: Li said keeping AI models "secure, reliable and resilient" is critical as they take on a bigger role in energy systems.
What's next: Researchers spend nine months testing AI defenses against simulated battery attacks, then hope to try them on real batteries and expand the work to smart grids.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- About Writing at Janet Goeske Center
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
- FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- National Play-Doh Day at the Marcy Library at Marcy Library
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Riverside Jams at Carbon Nation Brewery
- Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church ($25)
Tomorrow
- 2026 Turfgrass and Landscape Research Field Day at Agricultural Operations
- Constitution Day at University of California, Riverside
- Faith Chat with Mother Kelli Grace Kurtz at Online via Zoom
- Family Storytime at Lincoln Park
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Men's Soccer vs UC Irvine at UCR Soccer Stadium
- Women's Soccer vs. Northern Colorado at UCR Soccer Stadium
Save the Date
- Sep 18: FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 18: Open Mic Night at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Sep 18: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Sep 19: FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 19: FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 19: Magic Underground at Back to the Grind ($30.00 - $45.00)
- Sep 21: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 23: FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
- Sep 23: FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- Sep 24: Where are Riverside County's Ballots and How Secure Are Its Elections? at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture
- Sep 25: Moon Festival at Heritage House
- Oct 3: Aquamotion Aquathon at Shamel Pool
- Oct 4: Riverside Historical Society Local History Book Fair at Villegas Community Center
- Oct 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
- Nov 14: Riverside Veterans Parade - Downtown Riverside/Market St.
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