Riverside and Corona each seek to secure a station on California’s planned bullet train system, but only one of the cities can win.  Faulty premise number one.  Read more at: Inland cities jockey for position for high-speed rail stops.

If there ever was a project worth collaborating on with as many local governments as possible , at an expected $45 billion, this is it. Expected costs aren’t worth the cyberspace they occupy.

Our local governments don’t seem able to think transportation is a regional issue.  A review of Barney Barnett’s reports and public service on behalf of the taxpayers can be seen at Highgrove Happenings. Watch the video. It seems we can’t get the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the San Bernardino County work out a local solution that adds capacity and flexibilty for the Metrolink project. Read page 9 of June’s Highgrove Happenings for a heads up.

If you were to send RCTC an email asking for serious consideration, I’m sure your efforts would not be wasted. Read the Environmental Review.

If transportation projects are supposed to serve the population, you have to look at making that happen instead of talking about why we can’t.

We’re considering spending stimulus money for Spanish manufactureres to build high speed rail for the United States, yet our manufacturing plants are closing and being sold off. What’s wrong with this picture?

Public Safety is an evolving conversation depending on who’s responisble for delivering it or for enjoying the service of being safe in their community, neighborhood, and city. Nanette Patrini reports that the City’s Community Police Review Commission has a vacancy for Ward 2. This is a very important commission, voted into our City Charter by a 2/3’s majority in 2006. It is in serious trouble now and needs good commissioners more than ever. To apply, go to the City Clerk website and fill out a brief application or click Ward 2 has a seat on the commission available to fill.

Our group, the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability, can help with the application and answer any questions.

Money Works, Tools For Life is another area of keen interest to nearly everyone these days.  The argument could be made that collectively, we don’t understand money very well – global financial meltdowns, fraud, theft, budget dysfunction, irresponsibility, bailouts and just plain old bailing to stay afloat.

Most of us confuse “money” with “wealth”.  Everywhere we choose to look, we’re beginning to see the gaps.

These are FREE CLASSES courtesy of the City Of Riverside, Springboard Credit, Community Action Partnership, and United Way.

Seems like enough neighbors throughout Riverside are having the “green up your home and your life” conversation. Wherever we find ourselves in that inquiry, it’s good to know there’s  always someone else out there who wants to talk to about it.

Green Up Your Home and Your Life is happening in Riverside. Join us at the next installment.

California Gardening Guide courtesy of UC Davis.

June 17, 2009

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

News Release

Contact: Lois J. Carson, Executive Director

Community Action Partnership of Riverside County

(951) 955-4900

Danyte S. Mockus, Epidemiologist

Riverside County Department of Public Health

(951) 358- 5557

Heat warning issued for desert areas, cool centers to open

A heat warning for the desert areas of eastern Riverside County will start on June 18 and cool centers in the affected areas will be open.

The county Department of Public Health issues heat warnings when temperatures are expected to be over 100 degrees for three days or more. Any changes or updates on heat warnings will be posted at cool centers and at www.rivcoph.org/.

Individuals susceptible to heat, such as the elderly, are encouraged to visit a cool center during extended periods of high-heat days. Cool centers will provide snacks and water, in addition to activities and resource information.

People with the following symptoms of excessive heat should try to remain in a cool place and drink water to prevent dehydration:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness or muscle pains
• Nausea and vomiting

For more information or for a list of cool center locations, call (888) 636-8676 or visit www.capriverside.org. Speech or hearing impaired individuals may call TTY (951) 955-5126. For a list of summer-weather information and health recommendations, visit www.rivcoph.org/.

The heat advisories and cool centers are services offered by the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, Riverside County Department of Public Health, Riverside County Fire Department, Volunteer Center of Riverside County and the American Red Cross.

After a post of the results of several Freedom of Information request by Save Riverside, the Press Enterprise published their story.

In politics, perception is everything and in this case, it appears that there’s trouble in River City.