Saucer Magnolias on Victoria Avenue and Rumsey. (Darleen DeMason)
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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!
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.
Existing power lines running alongside the Santa Ana River bottom near the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area, the same route as planned for the RTRP.
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.
Neighborhood alliances amplify local voices and elevate those that may feel stifled in larger arenas.
DANA at The Downtowne Bookstore. (Ken Crawford)
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.
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.
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