Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson recently published an opinion piece in the Raincross Gazette titled “Riverside’s Global Ties Make Us Stronger at Home.” Let’s start with an important distinction. This is an opinion column written by the Mayor, not an independent analysis of Riverside’s international programs or their return to taxpayers. It is part of the […]

Ban Data Centers Today. Become the Warehouse Capital Tomorrow. In my last article, “Riverside’s Next Big Economic Development Idea: Ban Economic Development,” I challenged the wisdom of a proposed blanket ban on data centers. The response has been revealing. Some residents raised legitimate concerns about electricity. Others raised legitimate concerns about water. Others questioned permanent […]

As America races to expand the computing and energy infrastructure required for artificial intelligence, Riverside is considering a blanket ban on data centers. Instead of prohibition, Riverside should protect residents and ratepayers, demand infrastructure and jobs, and make private industry—not taxpayers—carry the risk. Sometimes a single statement tells you a great deal about the direction […]

Building a Better Riverside Through Facts, Transparency, and Civic Engagement “The strength of a community is measured not by how loudly its leaders speak, but by how informed and engaged its citizens become.” For more than a decade, I have written about issues affecting Riverside—from ethics and transparency to public safety, homelessness, economic development, infrastructure, […]

Riverside Doesn’t Need Another Press Conference. It Needs Leadership. Last week Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson once again stood before cameras urging Sacramento to restore funding for California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program. The message was predictable. The State needs to send Riverside more money. But after six years of HHAP funding, billions of […]

Economic Development Is Important. Reckless Economic Development Is Not. The recent social media comment defended Riverside’s decision to provide nearly $5 million in incentives to South Korean EV charging company Chaevi: “Solid decision by City and Council. Chaevi is investing millions in Riverside. Is another company bringing jobs, tax revenue and economic growth? We should […]

Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff: My name is Keith Nelson. I submitted a long written public comment documenting the record of misconduct, boundary failures, conflicts, and violations involving City Manager Mike Futrell and the City Manager’s Office. This Council has had this problem in front of it for far too long. The issue is not […]

Mayor and Council, I oppose approving this City Attorney contract as written. This is not about the individual candidate. This is about whether this Council is protecting the taxpayers of Riverside. The agreement calls this an at-will employment agreement, but when you read the actual terms, it is not true at-will employment in any practical […]

Public Comment — Oppose Waiving the Sunshine Ordinance Mayor, Councilmembers: I am asking you to vote no on waiving the Sunshine Ordinance for the proposed City Attorney employment agreement. The staff report says this waiver is needed because the City is entering the 2026/27 fiscal year, has had an Interim City Attorney since October 2024, […]