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Thursday, February 13-February 19, 2025
Cheech museum adds over $29M to Riverside's local economy
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By Staff
he Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture has infused $29 million into Riverside's local economy in its first two years, prompting city officials Friday to call The Cheech a significant economic driver in the city and a magnet for tourists from outside the area. The Cheech, as it is popularly known, exceeded expectations when this new addition to the Riverside Art Museum drew 227,932 visitors between June 2022 and June 2024, with 90% coming from outside the area, according to the city. “Partnerships are flourishing in Riverside, but few have proved more fruitful than the public-private moon shot we call The Cheech,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in her recent State of the City address. “And we have the data to prove it.” Cheech Marin is among the world's leading collectors of Chicano art, and his extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, photography and video art was donated to the Riverside Art Museum for display in The Cheech. Officials said The Cheech has become a cultural hub
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Clerk who joined coworker in mishandling court docs sentenced By City News Service
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he second of two former Riverside County Superior Court clerks who mishandled privileged information connected to a criminal case was sentenced Tuesday to one day in county jail, but after receiving credit for time served, she walked free. Michelle Valdez, 59, of Thousand Palms, pleaded guilty in October to felony conspiracy. The plea was directly to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam — over the objections of prosecutors, who opposed it. In exchange for Valdez's admission, the judge reduced her offense to a misdemeanor. During the defendant's sentencing hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Tuesday, Pulliam received confirmation that Valdez had already completed 90 days of community service as a condition of her pre-sentencing agreement with the court. Afterward, the judge imposed a term of one day of incarceraSee Clerk Page 17
Cheech Marin speaks at event at the Chicano art center in Riverside that bears his name. | Photo courtesy of the city of Riverside
attracting people from all over the world which in the process supports local tourism, helps lead to job creation and adds to the city's overall economic growth. “I am so proud of these findings,” Marin said in a statement. “But I'm not surprised. For over 20 years, as my collection traveled the country, we saw museums experience record attendance when our exhibitions opened. I have always said that Riverside is the next great art town, and this study proves we are
on our way.” The city hired contractor Costa Mesa-based Boules Consulting LLC to conduct the economic study, which used attendance data, economic metrics, operation records from The Cheech and public records including hotel transient occupancy tax records, officials said. Officials noted art center's overall economic impact. The study credited The Cheech with adding $2.2 million in
business for local restaurants, $1.5 million into local retail stores and $510,000 into Riverside hotels. In addition to boosting tourism, the art center has made significant contributions to local employment and tax revenue, the study found. “This spending pattern underscores The Cheech's significant role as a cultural tourism driver, with nonlocal visitors consistently accounting for the majority
See Cheech museum Page 31
Competition tightens in final weeks of Riverside County mock trials contest
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By City News Service
he eight teams still standing in the 43rd annual Riverside County Mock Trial Competition squared off Tuesday evening, vying for a place in the semifinal round of the contest, the winner of which will represent the county in the statewide meet. "Congratulations to the top eight teams advancing to the remaining rounds of competition in our county courtrooms," county Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said of the "Elite Eight" quarter finalists. The event Tuesday evening at the Riverside Hall of Justice See Mock trials Page 15
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