Redlands News: October 18, 2024

Local impact of state ballot propositions, projects to beautify North Redlands, and what's happening around town this Halloween

HEADLINER

Four propositions impacting local government Redlands voters should know about

Measures address environmental projects, affordable housing, rent control and crime penalties.

REDLANDS, Calif. — California voters will decide on ten state propositions in the upcoming November election, with four potentially impacting local governments such as Redlands directly.

Each of the four measures aims to address key issues, and voters will need to weigh the benefits and possible drawbacks before deciding how to cast their vote.

Continue reading for a breakdown of the four propositions.

Proposition 4: $10 billion to respond to climate change
A look at potential local impact
Proposition 5: Local funding options for affordable housing
A look at potential local impact
Proposition 33: Expanding Rent Control
A look at potential local impact.
Proposition 36: Increasing penalties for theft and drug crimes
A look at potential local impact.

NEWS BRIEF

🛒 More grocery gift cards: Redlands City Council has approved the expansion of its popular grocery gift card program, aiming to assist an additional 1,000 eligible households with monthly food assistance. Under the expanded program, newly eligible households will receive $100 grocery gift cards each month for a year. Read more here.

Redlands expands grocery gift card program to help 1,000 more households
City reallocates $1.2 million from pandemic response fund to aid families in need

🅿️ New parking restrictions approved: The Redlands City Council has approved a recommendation by the Traffic and Parking Commission to begin new parking restrictions on Columbia Street. Read more here.

Council approves time-restricted parking on Columbia Street
Compromise between residents and businesses establishes one-hour and two-hour zones

ELECTION 2024

Rep. Aguilar: "This is deeply personal for us"

Federal lawmaker campaigns door-to-door for Redlands school board candidate, highlighting stakes in local education

MENTONE, Calif. – A group of about 30 supporters gathered outside the A&W in Mentone on Saturday morning to canvas for Redlands Unified School District candidate Valerie Taber. Among them were U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar and his wife, Alisha, who joined volunteers in one of the final pushes before the Nov. 5 election.

The former Redlands mayor, who has canvassed for school board members before, emphasized the high stakes of this particular race.

Read more here.

Rep. Aguilar: “This is deeply personal for us”
Federal lawmaker campaigns door-to-door for Redlands school board candidate, highlighting stakes in local education

💦 Support for state environmental bond: The City Council unanimously backs a $10 million climate bond on the November ballot. Read more here.

Redlands City Council backs $10 billion climate bond measure
City officials support Proposition 4, a measure on the November ballot that could bring funding to the city.

📚 School Board Candidate Forum: The Redlands AAUW and University of Redlands Public Policy Program are hosting a candidate forum with the Redlands Unified School Board candidates online only at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 23, on Zoom. More information here.


Election Day is in 18 days.

Do you know who's on your local ballot? Check out our Redlands Election Hub for candidate profiles and election news:

Redlands Election Hub
Welcome Local elections are difficult to navigate. National and state elections have the structure of around-the-clock coverage, party affiliations, and high-profile endorsements to give voters context to their decisions. Local elections are less clear. Simple things like what a measure impacts, the role and responsibilities of an elected office or

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

New trees and painted utility boxes part of Leadership Redlands' efforts to spruce up North Redlands

The community is invited to see the results of their efforts at a Nov. 1 ribbon-cutting event.

Leadership Redlands alumni Dan Jimenez (front), Desiree Reyes (L) and Alicia Gyllenhammer stand beside the new trees lining the curb along Orange Street next to Lugonia Elementary. (Photo: Stephanie Hastings-Miranda, Community Forward Redlands)

REDLANDS, Calif. — Saplings near Lugonia Elementary and the painted utility boxes by I-10 are the result of a group of community leaders with the mission to improve shade and aesthetics in North Redlands.

The initiative, spearheaded by the rebooted Leadership Redlands class of 2023, not only enhanced local infrastructure but also paved the way for future beautification projects throughout the city.

The group said they faced numerous challenges during the process but ultimately brought together city officials, the school district, and community members to improve the local environment.

Now, the 2023 Leadership Redlands class alumni are looking forward to sharing the project's success with the community during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m.

Read more about the group's efforts to spruce up the community here:

New trees and painted utility boxes part of Leadership Redlands’ efforts to beautify North Redlands
The community is invited to see the results of their efforts at a Nov. 1 ribbon cutting

🌎 Redlands Forum Recap: Storyteller and author David Yarnold shared "stories of extraordinary people changing the world through GIS" on Thursday, Oct. 10, during the Redlands Forum at Esri. Yarnold recently wrote a book, The Geography of Hope: Real-Life Stories of Optimists Mapping a Better World, which features magazine-article-sized stories about the significant changes that can come from using geographic information systems (GIS). Read more about his presentation here.

Author David Yarnold shares inspiring stories of global change through GIS
In The Geography of Hope, Yarnold explores how geographic information systems (GIS) are solving critical challenges worldwide, from ending Ebola to empowering underrepresented communities.

🎄 Registration open: The Kiwanis Club of Redlands is now taking applications for its 33rd annual Christmas Parade. Set for December 7 at 6 p.m. in downtown Redlands, this year's parade theme is "A Magical Christmas." Read more here.

Kiwanis Club seeks entries for 33rd annual Redlands Christmas Parade
“A Magical Christmas” theme set for December 7 event; Garner Holt named grand marshal

SPORTS

(Photo: Courtesy)

🏐 Terrier three-peat: The Redlands High girls volleyball team defeated Beaumont 3-1 on Tuesday to win its third consecutive outright Citrus Belt League championship. The scores were 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-22. Beaumont entered the match one game behind Redlands and could have tied for the title with a victory. It wasn’t to be. Read more from sports writer John Murphy here.

Wild celebration after Terriers win third consecutive outright title
The Redlands High girls volleyball team defeated Beaumont 3-1 on Tuesday to win its third consecutive outright Citrus Belt League championship. The scores were 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-22. Beaumont entered the match one game behind Redlands and could have tied for the title with a victory. It wasn’t

🏈 The Citrus Valley High football team lost its starting quarterback to transfer and dropped its first four games, all by at least seven points.

But the Blackhawks, after two league games, are where they always seem to be – in the thick of the Citrus Belt League race.

Citrus Valley defeated visiting Redlands 28-0 on Friday night. The Blackhawks (2-4 overall, 2-0 CBL) now face an important game on Friday, Oct. 18 against host Beaumont (6-1, 2-0). Read more about last Friday night's game here.

Blackhawks in familiar place after blanking Redlands
Reader supported, locally owned, Redlands news

UPCOMING

🎃 Halloween in Redlands: Halloween is almost upon us, and to get into the spirit of the spooky season, the city of Redlands will be hosting free and fun events open for all to attend. From a Halloween Extravaganza to a senior Halloween event, Redlands is ready to make the best of the season for all ages. Read more here.

Redlands gears up for spooky season with free Halloween events
City to host airport celebration, Olive Avenue extravaganza, and senior Halloween event

📌 Nov. 2 - AAUW Brunch to highlight strategies for tackling homelessness in Redlands: Redlands' homeless solutions coordinator, David Rabindranath, is set to speak at the local American Association of University Women (AAUW) chapter on Nov. 2. He'll be discussing the city's efforts to tackle homelessness. Read more here.

AAUW meeting to explore Redlands’ strategies for tackling homelessness
City official to present on collaborative efforts with nonprofits, highlighting housing and outreach programs during AAUW brunch on Nov. 2

FINALLY

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) taken Sunday evening from Panorama Point. Photo by Dave Card

Rare comet visible in Redlands sky before Halloween

Local photographer Dave Card captured a stunning image of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) from Panorama Point in Redlands. The comet, first discovered in 2023, is making its debut appearance in documented human history.

The comet's 80,000-year orbit brings it to the inner solar system for the first time in recorded history, offering a rare celestial spectacle for observers.

Scientists believe the comet originates from the Oort Cloud, a vast spherical shell of icy debris surrounding our solar system.

The comet was jointly discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in South Africa.

This event provides a unique opportunity for astronomers and space enthusiasts to study and observe a celestial body from the outer reaches of our solar system.

The comet is expected to fade around Halloween, giving stargazers a limited window to catch a glimpse of this rare cosmic visitor.


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