🍊 Wednesday Gazette: February 19, 2025

Wednesday Gazette: February 19, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday!

Your friendly neighborhood reporter, Ken Crawford, will be at the Galentine's Day Women's Health Event at the Janet Goeske Senior Center today. If you haven't met Ken before, today is a great chance to meet one of the friendliest Riversiders and share your ideas for his coverage of our city!

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GOVERNMENT

Regional Elected Officials Urge Riverside to Bury Power Lines Amid Wildfire Concerns

Letter urges Riverside to reconsider approved transmission line project due to wildfire risks, without addressing additional costs.

State and federal representatives are calling on Riverside officials to reconsider the design of a major power transmission project, citing increased wildfire risks. The group advocates for complete undergrounding of the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP) despite previous approvals.

Driving the news: A Feb. 14, 2025 letter to Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and City Council members expresses serious concerns about the above-ground design of the RTRP.

• The project, approved last May, aims to provide Riverside with a second connection to the state's electrical grid.

Why it matters: The planned 200-foot-tall overhead transmission lines would run through fire-prone areas along the Santa Ana River in Norco and nearby communities.

• Officials point to tragedies like the wildfires that destroyed Paradise and Maui as examples of risks posed by overhead transmission lines.

The big picture: Conditions have changed significantly since the RTRP was last reviewed, particularly the increased wildfire risk in the area.

• Norco's specific vulnerabilities include limited evacuation routes and the presence of horses and other animals that would complicate emergency responses.

What they're saying: "The extra steps to underground this project won't compare to the devastation that would follow a preventable catastrophe," the letter warns.

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COMMUNITY

DANA at The Downtowne Bookstore

Neighborhood alliances amplify local voices and elevate those that may feel stifled in larger arenas.

The Downtown Area Neighborhood Association held its February meeting at The Downtowne Bookstore, bringing together about 25 residents with police and city officials to discuss community concerns.

Driving the meeting: Residents voiced public safety issues, including stop sign and parking regulation enforcement, while maintaining a positive tone.

• The gathering, hosted by bookstore owner Dr. Jungmingwha Bullock, emphasized community building and local engagement.

Why it matters: Neighborhood associations provide a platform for residents to feel heard and make a tangible impact on their immediate surroundings.

• This micro-democratic institution offers an alternative to the perceived helplessness in national politics.

The big picture: Several neighborhood groups exist throughout Riverside, offering residents opportunities to actively participate in local decision-making.

• These associations include Neighbors Better Together, Downtown Neighborhood Alliance, Neighbors of The Wood Streets, and Mission Grove Neighborhood Association.

What's next: The Gazette encourages readers to get involved with their local neighborhood associations for a more impactful community presence.

Read or share the complete story...

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Noteworthy

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco launched his 2026 gubernatorial campaign Monday in downtown Riverside as the first major Republican candidate.

Riverside Demonstrators Joined Nationwide Trump Protest Movement at City Hall Feb. 17.

UC Riverside experts, including professors from public policy, economics, veterinary science, and microbiology, explain why egg prices have surged to $9 per dozen.

Riverside City College's Viewpoints’ profiled Tom Craft, RCC's most successful football coach, who is retiring after 15 years with a remarkable 146-22 record, including two state championships and 12 conference titles.

What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• Certified Farmers Market at 10th & Lemon Streets
• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Galentine's Day - Women's Health Event at Janet Goeske Center
• Cultural Heritage Board at Riverside City Hall
• Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee at Riverside City Hall
• Ward 1 Means Business Town Hall at Riverside Game Lab
• One Piece T.C.G.-Monthly Tournament at Euryale Brewing Company
• Paint n Sip Party at Retro on Main
• PAW Patrol Live! "Heroes Unite" at Fox Performing Arts Center ($29 - $179)

Tomorrow

• Commission on Disabilities at Riverside City Hall
• Economic Development Committee at Riverside City Hall
• Local History Presentation: History of the Wood Streets Neighborhood at Main Library
• Long Beach State at UC Riverside Highlanders Mens Basketball at SRC Arena
• Poesía Peligrosa at The Stable
• Apartness: A Memoir in Essays and Poems (Book launch) at Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California

Save the Date

• February 22: Museum of Riverside - Guided Nature Walk at Ryan Bonaminio Park
• February 23: Riverside Edition Monopoly Challenge at California Citrus State Historic Park ($30 - $145)
• February 28: Booker T. Washington - Frank A. Miller Tablet Dedication at Mt. Rubidoux Summit
• February 28: DOT by Colman Domingo at The Box Riverside ($22 - $25)
• March 1: An Evening at the Fox at Fox Performing Arts Center
• March 2: Composing Women at Calvary Presbyterian Church ($10 - $15)
• March 7: Pardi Gras Pub Crawl 2025 at Loft 84 Wedding & Event Center ($35)
• April 4: World Premier Melodrama by Westmont Village Masquers Theatre Club at Westmont Village

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