Dear Neighbors, 

My office got even busier as July temperatures went up! The City is working hard to keep the pulse on the rise in COVID-19 cases. To keep our community safe, City employees and the public must wear masks in City buildings. Getting vaccinated can help keep our City and community safe and open. It's free and easy to schedule an appointment, and you can even sign up for a slot at the Main Library's vaccine clinic on September 4th. 

Read on for updates on past events, ways to give input on housing, and to learn about what's coming to the dais. Bring your questions and concerns to our office hours on August 18th near the Carousel Playground in Fairmount Park--I will be there from 6:30-7:30 PM. 

Stay safe and cool,

Have additional questions on particular issues this month but can't make our office hours? Join Ward 1 Assistant Paloma Montes for mini-office hours on Thursday, August 26th, from 5:30-6 PM via Zoom. 

• Indicators of City's Fiscal Health, City Council, August 17th, 1 PM
• Appeal to approve the certificate of appropriateness to Greens Ehrenberg, LLC regarding AC Marriott in Downtown, August 17th, 3 PM
• Appeal Planning Commission's approval of a conditional use permit and two variances for AC Marriott in Downtown, August 17th, 3 PM
• Approval of Park Ranger Job Description, City Council, August 17th, 3 PM
• Purchase of new equipment for weed abatement and fire prevention efforts, City Council, August 17th, 3 PM
• Declaration of 4271 and 4293 Market St. as surplus City property, City Council, August 17th, 3 PM
• Updates to goals and annual calendar, Housing & Homelessness Committee, August 23rd, 3 PM 
• Update on funding for housing and homelessness programs recently approved in the State budget, Housing & Homelessness Committee, August 23rd, 3 PM
• Housing Element approval, Planning Commission, September 9th, 5:30 PM

Note: Dates and meeting times may change. Please always check Engage Riverside for the latest. 

Ward 1 is now home to the Illumination Foundation's Recuperative Care Facility, which creates a hospital-to-housing connection for homeless Riversiders after they've had a medical crisis. In addition to providing respite care for patients, the staff at this 50-bed facility will connect people with wrap-around services. This is good news as we add more beds for people experiencing homelessness and close a critical gap in services to reduce the number of people living on the streets. 

New to Ward 1's Northside Neighborhood, Neighborhood Healthcare provides holistic services to patients across income levels and needs. This facility boasts primary care, as well as elderly, dental, and prenatal care. They are taking clients now--spread the word to get your neighbors connected to affordable and high-quality care. Find out more about what they offer our community here. 

I am the co-chair of the Mayor's Santa Ana River Taskforce, which had its third meeting in August. We are exploring What Is, What If, What Wows, and What Works -- with presentations from the San Antonio River Walk, Napa, Tempe, and Anaheim for inspiration. 

Also: In May of this year, the City Council discussed the River-side Gateway Project. This fall, the consultant for this project will reach out to the community for input on how you think we can transform opportunities for recreation around the Santa Ana River. This is exciting news for generations of future Riversiders that will get to embrace the Santa Ana River as a part of their home. Read more about the River-Side Gateway Project here.

In July, I was proud to support a ceremonial renaming of a portion of N. Orange St. to Spanish Town Rd. to commemorate the contributions made by the Trujillo family since their settlement in Riverside in the late 1800s. The Trujillo Adobe was recently named one of the nation's most endangered sites of 2021 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, reaffirming its cultural importance at the local and National levels. 

Just blocks away from the Trujillo Adobe, the Harada House is waiting for much-needed rehabilitation. Thanks to Assemblymember Jose Medina's advocacy efforts, the State recently allocated $7 million from its budget towards the Harada House rehabilitation--an investment that signifies the importance of telling the stories of crucial moments in our Nation's history through the lens of our local efforts to uphold civil rights and liberties.

Ward 1 is a leader for diversity and inclusion. This investment in the Harada House, the construction of the Civil Rights Institute, the Peace Walk, the Cheech, RCCD’s Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties, and plans for improvement around the Trujillo Adobe will have ripple effects around our community and nation. 

The City and our partners are always working on ways to nurture the trees that make our city beautiful. Learn how to take better care of your trees this summer by a look at this Water-Wise Tree Care Guide for tips on how to effectively water your trees during the summer. Watering your trees does more than just keep them hydrated--it prevents them from growing diseases and keeps their branches intact. You can also watch this video from the Inland Urban Forest Council to learn more on the benefits of watering.