Archive for the ‘ Riverside ’ Category

The PE: REDEVELOPMENT: State audit faults Riverside on asset transfers

city-of-riverside-seal

The city of Riverside says the state report will allow it to go forward with title transfers

May 16, 2013; 12:41 PM

SACRAMENTO — A new state audit identifies $94.6 million worth of former Riverside redevelopment assets that it says have not been properly transferred to the agency in charge of settling the debts of the former program.

To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City to repay $10 million to water utility

city-of-riverside-seal

The city has agreed to pay $10 million back to its water utility to settle a lawsuit over the transfer of funds from water customers to the general fund.

April 15, 2013; 06:12 PM

Riverside will repay $10 million to the city utility’s water fund to help settle a lawsuit that contended officials illegally transferred millions of dollars from that account into the general fund over 16 years.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

LATimes: Dorner reward: New conditions ‘extraordinary’ LAPD says

By Louis Sahagun and Joseph Serna
April 5, 2013, 5:36 p.m.

Three retired judges will determine who gets the $1-million Christopher Dorner reward, the Los Angeles Police Department said Friday. People have until April 19 to claim their portion of the money.

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LATimes: Dorner: Riverside defends rescinding $100,000 reward

Hmmm

By a Times Staff Writer
March 27, 2013, 7:31 p.m.

Riverside’s mayor on Wednesday defended the city’s decision to pull back a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner.

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LATimes: Riverside says its Dorner reward is off the table

city-of-riverside-seal

By Ari Bloomekatz
March 25, 2013, 9:41 p.m.

As the manhunt for fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner heated up last month, several municipalities and organizations offered large cash rewards for information leading to his capture. Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa even announced a $1-million reward.

But now that Dorner is dead, at least one city says its offer is off the table.

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The PE: UCR MEDICAL SCHOOL: Funding bill passes committee

UCR

March 19, 2013; 06:29 PM

SACRAMENTO – For several years, the state’s deep budget problems have thwarted attempts by supporters of a school of medicine at UC Riverside to get the Legislature to appropriate $15 million for the school.

To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Ballot packed for Ward 3, 6 council seats

city-of-riverside-seal

The field of candidates for open Ward 3 and 6 seats on the Riverside City Council were finalized on Wednesday, March 13.

March 13, 2013; 06:55 PM

Voters in Riverside council Ward 3 will choose from among five candidates and Ward 6 voters will see six candidates when they get their June ballots.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Two councilmen face no opponents in June

city-of-riverside-seal

March 08, 2013; 05:40 PM

Riverside Councilmen Andy Melendrez and Paul Davis will face no opponents on the June 4 ballot, making their paths to re-election much smoother.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City sues state over redevelopment debt

city-of-riverside-seal

March 01, 2013; 06:33 PM

After months of limbo over $32.1 million in former redevelopment debt, Riverside officials have sued to try to resolve their dispute with the state.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: POLITICAL EMPIRE: Derry fine with being GOP “second-in-command”

Neil Derry

Former San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry/THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

February 09, 2013; 12:33 PM

While former San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry lost his bid for chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party, he plans to remain active as its vice-chairman.

To read column by Imran Ghori, Alicia Robinson and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: New mayor focuses on economic development, education

city-of-riverside-seal

January 24, 2013; 09:35 PM

In a speech that started with thanks and ended with a challenge to Riverside residents to help improve their city, Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey gave the 36th annual State of the City address on Thursday, Jan. 24.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council rejects appeal of ethics complaint

city-of-riverside-seal

January 22, 2013; 05:14 PM

A second decision that Riverside Councilman Chris Mac Arthur did not violate the city’s ethics code in handling alleged misconduct by his aide has ended the matter.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council to discuss its own pay

city-of-riverside-seal

Riverside City Council members on Tuesday, Jan. 8, will discuss whether to raise their pay.

January 04, 2013; 01:38 PM

Riverside City Council members have the power to set their own pay, but they’re unlikely to change the status quo when they discuss the issue Tuesday, Jan. 8.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Ethics complaint against Councilman Mac Arthur dismissed

city-of-riverside-seal

December 13, 2012; 04:25 PM

Riverside City Councilman Chris Mac Arthur did not violate the city’s ethics code by failing to address complaints about his aide’s behavior, a special panel found on Thursday, Dec. 13.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayor Loveridge leaves legacy after 32 years

Loveridge

November 30, 2012; 06:35 PM

If retiring Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge’s career is looked at in terms of numbers, it’s somewhat staggering.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City projects, loans back in limbo

November 27, 2012 – 05:47 PM

Nearly a year after Riverside’s redevelopment agency was dissolved, and after several months of hearing no objection from state officials, city leaders are again finding millions of dollars in planned projects and previous loans up in the air.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: New mayor Bailey names his staff

Published: 21 November 2012 – 06:24 PM

Incoming Riverside Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey, who will be sworn in Dec. 11, has picked some members of his staff.

So far, the lineup resembles that of outgoing Mayor Ron Loveridge, who is retiring after five terms as mayor.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: POLITICAL EMPIRE: Clinton clout helps Inland candidates

Published: 11 November 2012 – 08:56 PM

He may not weigh as much thanks to a vegan diet. But former President Bill Clinton can still throw his weight around politically, at least in Southern California.

To read column by Jeff Horseman, Imran Ghori, Alicia Robinson and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayor-elect Bailey ready to work

Published: 07 November 2012 – 05:57 PM

Riverside Mayor-elect William “Rusty” Bailey’s agenda for his four-year term will include plans for streetcars to connect the city’s universities and commerce centers, more “action parks” for skateboards and BMX riders, and continuing his predecessor’s policy of making his schedule public and keeping his door open to residents.

To read story by Alicia Robinosn in The Press Enterprise, click here.

LATimes: UC Riverside gets preliminary OK to open med school

L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
October 2, 2012 | 8:00 pm

A national accrediting agency has approved UC Riverside’s plan to open a full medical school and to start enrolling future doctors next summer. It would be the sixth medical school in the University of California system and the first to open since the late 1960s.

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The PE: REAL ESTATE: Riverside Plaza sells for $84 million

Published: 27 September 2012 – 04:03 PM

A real estate company that specializes in open-air shopping centers has acquired Riverside Plaza, the city’s oldest shopping center and one of its most popular retail destinations.

To read story by Jack Katzanek in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council finally approves new ward boundaries

Published: 18 September 2012 – 08:49 PM

Riverside officials managed to resolve several controversies Tuesday, Sept. 18, over proposed ward boundary changes and agree on a new map that determines which areas each council member represents.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayoral runoff candidates debate

Published: 13 September 2012 – 09:32 PM

Riverside mayoral candidates Ed Adkison and William “Rusty” Bailey grilled each other about the city budget, transparency and potential conflicts of interest at a candidates forum Thursday, Sept. 13.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: Riverside cutting jobs that exist only on paper

More than 12 percent of vacant jobs on the books have no funding, so city officials plan to pare them

Published: 07 September 2012 – 06:40 PM

Riverside has more than 300 of what might be called “ghost jobs” — unfunded and unfilled positions — that are listed in the city budget.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Pension bill could spur new round of union negotiations

Published: 04 September 2012 – 09:29 PM

Riverside officials are still evaluating how city employees will be affected by a pension reform bill that state legislators approved last week.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: City has resolved nearly all disputed debt

City of Riverside officials say most of $158 million in former obligations now has been OK’d by the state

Published: 31 August 2012 – 06:20 PM

About four months ago, Riverside faced a $158 million list of debts the state said weren’t eligible to be paid with remaining redevelopment funds.

To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

The PE: REGION: SB County, Ontario leave out Riverside County in airport authority

Published: 17 August 2012 – 10:59 AM

The city of Ontario and San Bernardino County will vote to create an Ontario International Airport Authority with the ultimate goal of taking control of the Inland airport from Los Angeles.

To read story by Kim Pierceall and Jeff Horseman in the Press-Enterprise, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayoral campaigns well into six figures

 

Published: 03 August 2012 06:14 PM

Inland political donors, get your checkbooks ready … again.

Riverside mayoral candidates Ed Adkison and William “Rusty” Bailey have already raised a combined total of nearly $325,000 in this campaign, and they’ve got at least six more fundraisers planned between them.

To read entire story by Alicia Robinson, click here.

The PE: RIVERSIDE: New bonds will save money on old debt

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 24 July 2012 06:21 PM

Riverside will save about $300,000 per year, for a projected total of $2.3 million, by borrowing money to repay older debt, officials said.

The City Council voted Tuesday, July 24, to issue up to $48 million in bonds that will pay off debt issued in 2003. The new bonds will be at a better interest rate, saving about 5.27 percent when compared with the existing debt, according to a staff report.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayor Loveridge endorses Councilman Bailey for mayor

Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, who will retire this fall after 32 years in office, has announced his endorsement of a successor: Councilman William “Rusty” Bailey.

 

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 18 July 2012 11:23 AM

Riverside councilman and mayoral candidate William “Rusty” Bailey said he could hardly find words to describe how he felt about getting the endorsement of five-term Mayor Ron Loveridge.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: New ward boundaries delayed

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 10 July 2012 09:43 PM

After more than an hour of impassioned comments from residents, Riverside City Council members postponed a decision on new ward boundaries to allow further discussion.

The changes were intended to even out the populations of the seven wards, but many speakers on Tuesday, July 10, objected to a plan to move businesses in the Marketplace from Ward 2′s Eastside into Ward 1.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Vote set on red light cameras

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 06 July 2012 12:09 PM

Riverside’s red light camera program, which appears to have lost about $1.72 million over the past six years, could be scrapped on Tuesday, July 10.

The city first signed a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems in 2006, and officials agreed to a five-year extension in November 2011. There are now 30 cameras at 21 intersections around the city.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council redraws ward boundaries

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 19 June 2012 11:29 PM

After 13 meetings with residents and community and business groups, Riverside council members agreed to move council ward boundaries to even out their populations based on census data.

The changes, which the council approved Tuesday, June 19, in a 6-1 vote, mostly affect wards 1, 2 and 4. Ward 2 Councilman Andy Melendrez cast the dissenting vote.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Gardner endorses Bailey for mayor

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 15 June 2012 09:35 AM

Riverside Councilman Mike Gardner is throwing his support to mayoral candidate and Ward 3 Councilman William “Rusty” Bailey, Gardner announced Friday, June 15.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: City manager delivers budget, rebuts concerns

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 12 June 2012 09:43 PM

As if to emphasize the differences in style between Riverside’s old and new leadership, City Manager Scott Barber used the annual budget hearing to deliver a detailed rebuttal of residents’ allegations of fiscal mismanagement and impropriety.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayoral candidates already planning for runoff

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 09 June 2012 04:12 PM

The dust has barely settled after the election, but the two Riverside mayoral candidates who won the most votes already are gearing up for a November runoff.

Councilman William “Rusty” Bailey was in first place and former Councilman Ed Adkison in second place out of seven candidates, positioning them for a five-month battle for the mayor’s seat.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: It’s on to mayoral showdown for Bailey, Adkison

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 05 June 2012 08:29 PM

Riverside City Councilman William “Rusty” Bailey took the top spot in the Riverside mayor’s race but didn’t get enough votes to avoid a November runoff with second-place candidate Ed Adkison.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Voters say no to most charter changes

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 06 June 2012 05:57 PM

Supporters of seven proposed changes to Riverside’s city charter are scratching their heads over why five of the measures crashed and burned at the polls.

The proposals that passed were Measure H, which removed the city manager’s authority over employees of the city clerk and city attorney, and Measure K, a “cleanup” proposal that made minor language changes and allowed the city to post budget and audit information online instead of in paper form at libraries.

But on Tuesday, June 5, residents rejected the rest of the measures that would have changed the document that governs city operations:

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayor’s hectic days winding down

Loveridge

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 02 June 2012 05:48 PM

For anyone hoping to follow in the footsteps of Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, a little advice: Go to bed early when you can, and be sure to wear walking shoes.

Your days will be long, your schedule unpredictable. You may be asked to speak publicly or appear on TV on short notice. It will help if you like people, because you’ll be seeing lots of them from morning to night, in meetings and events both formal and casual. Be sure to set goals, but be willing to accept disappointment.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Election changes expected to spike voter turnout

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 25 May 2012 07:15 PM

Riverside’s mayoral election will enter a brave new world on June 5, the first time in at least half a century that it has been held along with a presidential election.

The high visibility of the presidential race and the first election with new state and federal legislative district boundaries are expected to bring more voters out for the mayor’s race, which has often seen low turnout when held in odd years.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: City likely won’t recoup $49 million for parcels

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 22 May 2012 05:09 PM

Riverside officials say they expect to recover only a portion of the $49.44 million that the former redevelopment agency spent to buy 80 pieces of land that are now up for sale.

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The PE: POLITICAL EMPIRE: Campaign goofs, ballot shenanigans and more

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 20 May 2012 07:52 PM

You know that old political joke, “Vote early, vote often”?

Yeah, Riverside City Councilman Mike Gardner’s heard it. And he’s been hearing it more lately, after his first mailer in his mayoral campaign assured people their vote counts … on June 4. (The election is June 5.)

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Seven charter changes on June 5 ballot

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 18 May 2012 05:39 PM

Besides choosing one of seven candidates for mayor, Riverside voters on June 5 will say yea or nay to seven proposed amendments to the city charter.

The proposals include creating a sustainability commission, changing to whom the city auditor reports, shortening the time between council elections and runoffs, and a number of minor adjustments.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Candidates meet at business forum

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 15 May 2012 06:30 PM

Riverside’s seven mayoral candidates are entering the home stretch, meeting Tuesday for a final forum hosted by a downtown business group.

After the opening stump speeches they’ve been giving for at least six weeks, candidates answered questions about how they’d support the arts, balance eco-friendly goals with economic development, and retool the downtown development plan.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: School board votes 3-2 for layoffs

BY DAYNA STRAEHLEY
STAFF WRITER
dstraehley@pe.com

Published: 07 May 2012 10:39 PM

The Riverside Unified School District Board of Education voted 3-2 late Monday to send final layoff notices to 84 teachers for the 2012-13 school year, said Tim Martin, president of the Riverside City Teachers Association.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Candidates spar over library, office moves

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 26 April 2012 09:50 PM

The only punches thrown were verbal, but seven candidates hoping to be Riverside’s next mayor traded jabs Thursday over the city’s policy on ambulance service, the lack of action on the downtown library, and other city issues.

They met at a forum held at California Baptist University and sponsored by the Raincross Group, Charter Communications, The Press-Enterprise and La Prensa.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Race for mayor quiet so far

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 21 April 2012 06:24 PM

Despite being California’s 12th largest city, Riverside in some ways still operates like a small town, and that extends to politics.

That’s why some residents have been surprised that the upcoming June 5 mayoral election to replace a retiring five-term incumbent hasn’t made more of a splash.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: State says no to some redevelopment debts

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 20 April 2012 05:50 PM

The state Department of Finance has rejected payment of nearly $159 million in projects and debts from Riverside’s former redevelopment agency, potentially leaving the city’s general fund on the hook for at least some of that amount.

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California Watch: State challenges local redevelopment budgets

Money & Politics | Daily Report
April 19, 2012 | Kendall Taggart

In the flurry surrounding the end of redevelopment, 60 state Department of Finance officials are scouring local redevelopment budgets to determine whether their claims about existing debts and obligations are legal.

Cities and other local entities that are overseeing the shutdown of redevelopment agencies were required to submit a list of their ongoing financial commitments by April 15. Now, the department has a three-day window to raise objections. Of the budgets it has reviewed so far, the department has challenged almost two dozen, including budgets from the cities of Riverside, Orange and San Leandro.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Candidates’ views of mayor’s role are diverse

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 10 April 2012 08:52 PM

Should Riverside’s next mayor be more ambassador or policy setter? Use the bully pulpit or be cheerleader-in-chief?

The winner among seven candidates to replace outgoing Mayor Ron Loveridge will be able to reshape the mayor’s office as he or she sees fit, within the limits of the city charter — and some aren’t ruling out altering the mayor’s powers with charter changes.

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The PE: POLITICAL EMPIRE: Gonzales fighting county’s “cloud of corruption”

County Supervisor Josie Gonzales (Kurt Miller/The P-E)

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 08 April 2012 07:12 PM

Local elected leaders often return from an organized trip to Washington, D.C., ready to regale their colleagues and the public about a trip spent persuading the powerful to support Inland interests.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales spent some of her time in the nation’s capital trying “to alleviate misperceptions and misconceptions.”

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Former redevelopment parcels to be sold

In Riverside there are 80 properties, much of it vacant land of an acre or so, to be voted on today

 

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 26 March 2012 06:26 PM

Riverside officials hope to sell about 80 parcels owned by the now-dissolved redevelopment agency.

Most of the plots are vacant and less than an acre, though the list includes two Victorian homes, a historic downtown building and clusters of parcels near Riverside Plaza, on University Avenue, and in the Five Points area on the city’s west end.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayoral hopefuls report spending as election nears

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 23 March 2012 06:42 PM

Riverside mayoral candidate Ed Adkison remained the biggest fundraiser and spender and had the most cash left of his six opponents, according to campaign filings due Thursday.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Seven candidates for mayor on June ballot

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 16 March 2012 08:59 PM

Seven candidates are vying to replace longtime Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge on the June 5 ballot, a bigger field than Loveridge faced in any of his five mayoral elections.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Governor says he won’t back UCR medical school

BY ALICIA ROBINSON AND DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITERS
arobinson@pe.com; dgang@pe.com

Published: 02 March 2012 06:55 PM

California Gov. Jerry Brown said Friday he’s not prepared to support funding the UC Riverside medical school at a time when the state still faces a $9 billion deficit.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: New police contract projected to save millions

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 13 February 2012 07:01 AM

Riverside officials have hammered out a new contract with the city’s police union, the last major employee group to agree to money-saving pension changes.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Sixth candidate enters mayor’s race

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 28 January 2012 06:31 PM

The Riverside mayor’s race could now be a six-way contest, with a little more than a month left until the candidate filing deadline.

The latest entrant is Peter Benavidez, a local nonprofit CEO and member of the city’s charter review committee, who recently took out a petition for signatures in lieu of the filing fee.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Mayor’s race warms up with endorsement kerfuffle

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 23 January 2012 07:06 PM

“Let the next mayor’s campaign begin,” Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge declared in his final State of the City speech late last week.

Apparently the candidates listened, because a day later, the barbs began flying in what had so far been a quiet race.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Boxer touts Magnolia underpass as priority project

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer

BY DUG BEGLEY
STAFF WRITER
dbegley@pe.com

Published: 18 January 2012 06:35 PM

Riverside’s Magnolia Avenue underpass served as the backdrop Wednesday for a push by Sen. Barbara Boxer to encourage more federal investment in local projects that create jobs, ease traffic and get trucks and trains to their destinations quicker.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 19 January 2012 08:06 PM

With a speech that noted his 32 years in public office and was book-ended by standing ovations, Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge laid out policy goals for his final months in office on Thursday.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: California Supreme Court to review city’s pot dispensary ban

A lower court’s ruling upholding Riverside’s ban has been used as precedent for other cities to control medical marijuana

BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com

Published: 18 January 2012 03:51 PM

The California Supreme Court will review a city of Riverside medical marijuana case in which a lower court ruled that cities and counties have the right to ban dispensaries.

Local governments throughout the state have used that decision, issued in November by the Fourth District Court of Appeal, to shut down medical marijuana clinics within their boundaries.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Charter changes would set limits on city manager

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 16 January 2012 09:34 PM

At least two of the proposed changes to Riverside’s city charter would curb the city manager’s authority, in one case by eliminating that person’s oversight of certain employees, and in another by giving a board of residents more say.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: City must cancel some redevelopment projects

Riverside’s downtown Greyhound bus station will have to wait longer to move to a planned transit center. The end of redevelopment has made the transit project’s future uncertain.(/FILE PHOTO/2008)

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 07 January 2012 06:52 PM

Riverside may have to scrap plans for a downtown bus and train transit hub, a new shopping plaza in the Five Points area of La Sierra, relocation of two historic Victorian homes and a variety of other projects, now that state legislation and a court ruling have dismantled redevelopment.

Worse yet, say city officials, they may be forced to sell many of the properties owned by the city’s now-defunct redevelopment agency, including some on the Main Street mall, University Avenue, at Five Points, and in several areas downtown where new and better housing was planned.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Fifth candidate will run for mayor

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 03 January 2012 09:50 PM

A familiar face at Riverside City Council meetings is making another run at a seat on the dais.

Dvonne Pitruzzello, a teacher of at-risk students in Colton, jumped into what was a four-man race for Riverside mayor. She took out a petition to get signatures in lieu of the filing fee for the seat, which is on the June 5 ballot, City Clerk Colleen Nicol confirmed on Tuesday.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Charter group makes recommendations

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 19 December 2011 09:10 PM

Proposals to create a commission on sustainability, have Riverside’s internal city auditor report to the council, hold council runoff elections sooner, and a handful of less substantive changes have passed the first hurdle to getting into the city charter.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Charter review process wraps up

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 17 December 2011 08:55 PM

A meeting Monday could be the last chance for Riverside residents to suggest changes to the city charter before the charter review committee makes recommendations to the City Council in January.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council weighs city manager pay

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 12 December 2011 08:54 PM

Riverside City Manager Scott Barber will cost taxpayers less than his predecessor, Brad Hudson, but Barber likely remains among the best-compensated city executives in the state.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Challenges await new city manager

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 10 December 2011 04:05 PM

For new Riverside City Manager Scott Barber, becoming head of the state’s 12th largest city in tough economic times will mean filling some key positions, pushing a smaller-scale public works “renaissance,” and facing a potential budget shortfall of several million dollars.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council makes interim city manager permanent

Scott Barber

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 05 December 2011 08:29 PM

After collecting more than 40 applications and interviewing seven people for the job, the Riverside City Council on Monday named interim city manager Scott Barber to the post permanently.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council assistants again up for discussion

Some part-time council members have full-time staff; others don’t

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 03 December 2011 02:48 PM

As local governments around the country trim payrolls to fit tight budgets, Riverside’s staff may grow slightly as some council members who haven’t had assistants look to hire them.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Charter review process nearly done

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 29 November 2011 01:45 PM

Proposals that would create a citizens audit committee and have Riverside’s auditor report to the City Council rather than the city manager survived another round of discussion by the charter review committee, bringing them a step closer to the June 2012 ballot.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: New auditor finds no problems with city books

Riverside hires a Portland firm after firing the firm is shared with Bell; but the results don’t satisfy all

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 21 November 2011 07:54 PM

Riverside’s new outside audit firm gave the city’s finances a clean bill of health this month, but some critics remain convinced that not all the city’s fiscal dealings have been aboveboard in recent years.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Council to interview city manager candidates Monday

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 18 November 2011 11:10 AM

Riverside officials will interview six candidates for the city manager’s job during a special closed-door meeting Monday at the Mission Inn.

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The Sun: Inland Empire Occupy groups rally Saturday in San Bernardino

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2011 04:37:50 PM PST

Members of Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from throughout region will protest together today as Occupy Inland Empire for the first time in a rally in San Bernardino.

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LATimes: California court rules cities, counties can ban pot stores

The decision by a panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal upholds Riverside’s ban. It could embolden more cities and counties to enact their own bans.

By John Hoeffel, Los Angeles Times
November 11, 2011

In a decision that could have immediate fallout for medical marijuana dispensaries, a state appeals court has ruled that California law allows cities and counties to ban the stores.

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