Moments before a full sunrise from the Buena Vista Bridge, as Riverside begins to glow. (Luke LĂłpez)
Thursday Gazette: July 3, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday—we're now halfway through our summer fundraiser!
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City Council Approves Design Contract for New $62M Police Headquarters
City will demolish 1965 building and proceed with replacement facility.
The Riverside Police Headquarters as it looked at the opening in 1965. (Courtesy of the Riverside Police Department Archives)
The City Council unanimously voted to demolish the existing police headquarters and build a $62 million replacement facility. City Manager Mike Futrell urged swift action after touring the building and confirming demolition is necessary.
Driving the news: The council approved a $3.3 million contract amendment with Holt Architects for Phase II design work, despite a $10 million funding gap in the project's budget.
The existing 1965 headquarters suffers from critical infrastructure failures, including safety hazards and regular basement flooding.
Why it matters: The new facility will house administrative divisions and serve more than 630 police department employees and nearly 320,000 city residents.
Construction is targeted to begin in July 2026, with a projected 50 to 60-year lifespan for the new building.
The bottom line: The project's total cost breakdown includes $41 million for construction, $4.55 million in escalation costs, and $8.2 million in soft costs.
Annual debt service is projected at $4 million over 30 years.
What's next: City staff must identify additional revenue sources to cover the $10 million funding gap, currently included as a "placeholder" in the budget.
Cheech Marin Says Chicano Art Remains Vital Voice for Community
Anthony Solorzano sits down with the actor, comedian and art collector to discuss how the Cheech Marin Center bridges cultural identity and social activism.
Gazette contributor Anthony Solorzano stands with Cheech Marin outside the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture. (Anthony Solorzano)
In an exclusive interview at The Cheech, Richard “Cheech” Marin reflects on how Chicano art has long served as both cultural expression and political voice. Since opening in 2022, the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture has showcased works by iconic artists like Patssi Valdez and Frank Romero, offering a space where the Latinx community can see their lives, stories, and heritage reflected on the walls. As Marin puts it: “It’s nice to be recognized.”
Artists Transform One of Riverside's Most Conspicuous Landmarks Into Gateway to Arts District
Altura-funded mural closes busy Downtown street as local artists create landmark visible from freeway.
Patrick Barwinski and Juan Navarro transform a utilitarian bridge into a beautiful gateway to the City of Arts and Innovation. (Ken Crawford)
Local artists Juan Navarro and Patrick Barwinski are transforming Downtown's Lime Street bridge into a vibrant mural, creating the city's most visible public artwork. The project, funded by Altura Credit Union with city support, has temporarily closed one of Riverside's busiest streets.
Driving the news: The large-scale mural on the bridge connecting the county administration building to a remote parking lot will be visible to tens of thousands of daily passersby, both at street level and from the nearby freeway.
The project represents a significant milestone for Navarro, coming after his Artist in Residency grant, and showcases Barwinski's signature joyful aesthetic.
Why it matters: The mural serves as both a functional and symbolic gateway to Riverside's arts and cultural district, potentially attracting curiosity from freeway drivers passing through.
"Arches have always been entryways, so the fact that the city chose this as a place to put art on and say, 'Hey, we have an arts and cultural district,'" Navarro said.
The impact: Community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents showing support through gifts and encouragement to the artists.
What's next: Several days of work remain to complete the mural, with street closures continuing as the artists work to transform the bridge into Riverside's most visible cultural landmark.
City offices and trash collection will pause Friday for Independence Day, with Friday pickups rescheduled to Saturday while all other collection days remain unchanged—plus free bulky waste disposal returns July 19.
Riverside police will deploy drones to enforce the city's fireworks ban this Independence Day, with violators facing minimum $1,500 fines reportable via 311 hotline, app, or RiversideCA.gov/311.
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