Accountability

Criticized purchase of 18 interceptors for over $1 million and an $800 conference credit card charge, demanding accountability and threatening records requests.

A Riverside resident and 1994 high school graduate and Marine Corps veteran described decades of negative experiences with Riverside police, from being called a racial slur by an officer at 14 to a recent dispute over his Marine Corps flag at a memorial, telling the commission 'you guys as cops are out of control' and nothing will change until policing is fixed.

Longtime commenter accused the city of fraud, lack of budget accountability, and said she has preserved 20 years of purchase orders.

Said Measure Z doubled from $42M to $84M without meeting original priorities, cited $32.9 million for the museum, and called for an audit before the June 2 renewal vote.

Criticized council members personally and questioned why the city has issued multiple large contracts with the same vendor across years instead of a single long-term agreement, calling it an accountability problem.

Presented purchase orders he obtained from a temp agency claiming wasteful spending of up to $49,000 per job and demanding an audit of city finances.

Angry caller said the mayor cut off public comment, accused the council of favoring big business over struggling residents for 26 years, and demanded free speech rights be respected.

Announced Developmental Disability Awareness Month, supported the inspector general hire, and asked the council to let the IG finish its work before sending tax measures to voters.

A frequent commenter demanded a list of city vendors and consultants, citing millions paid to nonprofits and organizations, and said the city has ignored his repeated public records requests.

Returned in the evening with a projector display of vendor payments, alleging over $1 million to Helping Hearts, $928,000 to the Chamber of Commerce, and $1.9 million to Habitat for Humanity, and accusing the city of failing records requests.