FREE
Aerial mosquito spraying planned this week in Eastvale, Elsinore
Riverside County supervisors approve hikes to environmental health fees
PG 02
PG 31
VISIT HEYSOCAL.COM
MONDAY, MAY 26-JUNE 01, 2025
VOL. 11,
NO. 225
Appeals court stops Temecula school district’s ban of critical race theory
Report: Riverside County’s discretionary revenue rises, but uncertainties loom
By Joe Taglieri
By City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
R
iverside County government’s revenue is expanding as the final month of the current fiscal year approaches, but future growth remains uncertain, necessitating a cautious approach in establishing next year’s budget, according to a report received by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The 69-page third-quarter budget compendium showed a 5% increase in discretionary revenue, mostly derived from boosts in property tax receipts, compared to what Executive Office staff earlier predicted would be available by this juncture in 2024-25. The county’s total discretionary income is expected to total $1.32 billion. The projection at the beginning of the fiscal year was $1.26 billion. The county’s reserve pool is now projected to top out at $728 million, rather than the initial estimate of $720 million. “The county is contending with a range of structural
A
California appeals court last week ruled that the Temecula Valley Unified School District must immediately cancel a ban on critical race theory during a lawsuit over the policy in state courts. The school district’s Board of Education voted to ban critical race theory, or CRT in December 2022. The academic framework originated in the 1970s and ‘80s and examines the systemic extent of racial inequality and racism in the American legal system and societal institutions. A three-judge panel overturned a Riverside County Superior Court ruling allowing the CRT ban to continue while the lawsuit plays out. A group of parents, students and teachers had sought a preliminary injunction, alleging the ban was vague and has confused and intimidated teachers about what is permissible to talk about in classes. The lawsuit also challenged the TVUSD policy of notifying parents about a student’s gender identity. The appeals court decided that issue was now moot because state law prohibits such automatic notification policies and instead prioritizes students’ privacy rights. “District teachers have experienced anxiety and confusion in knowing what is prohibited by the Resolution
See County revenue Page 31
Chino mayor blasts state housing policy, asks Newsom for meeting
| Photo courtesy of the TVUSD/YouTube
and fear extreme repercussions without guardrails for even accidental violations,” Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary wrote in the court’s May 19 ruling. The TVUSD resolution establishing the curriculum ban “defined CRT as ‘a divisive ideology that assigns moral fault to individuals solely on the basis of an individual’s race and, therefore, is itself a racist ideology.’ The Resolution operates as if this definition is universally accepted, but the text does not indicate where this definition is derived, or whether
it is shared with anyone else besides the Board. This definition seems to represent the Board’s subjective perception of CRT.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta has closely followed the case. “Every student deserves the right to feel seen, valued, and welcome in their learning environment,” he aid in a statement following the ruling. “This decision reinforces the principle that all students should have access to inclusive, affirming curriSee TVUSD lawsuit Page 32
cula that reflects the diversity of their communities and the richness of our shared history. And it reaffirms that California law protects the rights of transgender students to live authentically and without fear.” Bonta added, “Policies that ban inclusive curricula or forcibly out transgender and gender-nonconforming students not only target some of our most vulnerable youth, but also inflict real harm, undermining students’ wellbeing and academic success.”
By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
T
he mayor of Chino has asked Gov. Gavin Newsom for a meeting to discuss giving cities more control over housing policy. Mayor Eunice Ulloa and Chino city officials have cried foul over ever-expansive state housing laws that they said have eroded local control and stifled the inclusion of municipalities and the public in the development process. In her April 23 letter, Ulloa cited several recent state Senate bills — SBs 423, 4 and 9 — that she said have diminished local authority, expanded “by right” approval processes that forego project reviews by local officials and eliminate public hearings while limiting cities’ ability to manage land development. Ulloa said the newly proposed Senate Bill 79 seeks
See Chino housing Page 32
OUR 2025 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE IS HERE!