Palm Springs Art Museum to host Spring Exhibitions Party in May
Man accused of killing housemate at Riverside property arraigned
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Thursday, April 25-May 01, 2024
VOL. 10,
NO. 168
Lock Dawson joins Big City Mayors in Sacramento Remaining Riverside County defendants in Capitol to request continuous homeless funding breach sentenced
By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
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iverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and eight other mayors from some of the state's most populous cities went to Sacramento on Tuesday to request that the state continue its $1 billion investment in addressing the homelessness crisis. In meetings with leaders that included Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, the mayors advocated for no cuts and consistent, permanent funding to the state’s Homeless, Housing Assistance, and Prevention program. “California’s Big City Mayors are in Sacramento to collectively advocate for the protection of direct funding to cities to address homelessness,” Lock Dawson said in a statement to the Riverside Independent. “In Riverside, we’ve seen a high return on this investment with a 12% reduction of chronic homelessness and a 73% reduction in youth homelessness. Amidst a challenging budget year, protecting these investments means protecting our progress, maintaining our services, and preventing more people and families from falling into homelessness.” The state has given direct grants to local governments to implement homelessness programs since 2018. "Give us the money and we invest it, and the state gets a great return on investment," Lock Dawson said at a press briefing Tuesday. "In the city of Riverside for every dollar of state funding we get, we put in $3 of local funding. So
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Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson speaks about homeless funding Tuesday in Sacramento. | Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego/YouTube
that money is leveraged, it's not just disappearing somewhere. ... "Our efforts to secure consistent HHAP funding remains our top priority collectively as the mayors representing 11 million residents in the cities of California," the mayor said. Lock Dawson also noted the apparent deepening of the state's homelessness crisis. "In Riverside, for every person we help exit homelessness, six more become homeless," she said. "That's why our work is not done here." The mayor highlighted successes in addressing homelessness in Riverside, including programs focused on preventing youth homelessness and helping families transition out of homelessness and insecure housing. In November the city announced a $4.375 million state grant to help purchase up to five homes to create 25 units of housing for young
people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Riverside's grant was part of $156.4 million to help municipalities add more housing for homeless or at-risk individuals and families. Statewide, the grants fund 12 projects in six counties to create 556 new affordable homes, according to the city's announcement. Riverside was the only grant recipient in Inland Southern California. "We can't forget these are people, these are not numbers — these are people that need our help," Lock Dawson said after recounting how HHAP funding enabled the city to move a family into "their safe place, their first home in years." The rehoused family is "no longer a statistic, but testament to successful efforts funded by these state dollars," Lock Dawson added. "Homelessness is not an unescapable fate if we are intentional and we invest in
this issue." She said the funds have enabled city officials to expand homeless outreach efforts, reduce encampments, increase shelter capacity and add supportive services, but "all of it remains at risk without a commitment by our state to fund this program ongoing." San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who is chair of the Big City Mayors, led Tuesday's trip to the state Capitol. In addition to Lock Dawson other mayors in the delegation included Karen Bass from Los Angeles; Farah Kahn from Irvine; Karen Goh, Bakersfield; Jerry Dyer, Fresno; Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento; and Kevin Lincoln, Stockton. The mayors reported that state funds have enabled cities to add 15,722 new emergency shelter beds and interim homes, serve 149,851 people and place 42,215 into housing.
See Homeless funding Page 20
By City News Service
our Riverside County men who joined thousands in the unrest that led to the breach of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, were sentenced Friday to federal prison to serve terms varying from just under two years to nearly three years. Erik Scott Warner, 48, of Menifee; Felipe Antonio Martinez, 50; and Derek Kinnison, 42 — both of Lake Elsinore — along with Ronald Mele, 54, of Temecula were all convicted in November during a trial at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding. Warner and Kinnison were additionally convicted of tampering with documents. All four were also found guilty of misdemeanor charges of entering a restricted building and disruptive conduct in a restricted building. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Kinnison and Mele each to 33 months behind bars, while Martinez was ordered to serve a 21-month term, and Warner was
See Capitol breach Page 40
Morongo disburses $500,000 in grant awards to IE nonprofits
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By City News Service
orongo Band of Mission Indians Chairman Charles Martin said Monday the half-million dollars distributed by the tribe to more than six dozen nonprofit organizations throughout the Inland Empire was in recognition of their positive impacts. "At Morongo, our commitment to giving has always defined our tribe as we help address societal needs, foster a sense of community and bring about positive change," Martin said. "Our annual Community Outreach Awards program allows us to live our values by providing support to dozens of inspiring ... organizations who selflessly serve others in need throughout the inland region." The tribe held its third annual Community Outreach Awards Luncheon in Banning April , announcing the 79 recipients of grant awards for 2024. The total amount awarded rounded to $500,000, tribal officials said. All of the nonprofits are based in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. One of the groups on the list was the Riverside Police
See IE nonprofits Page 21