The folks living in a troubled Riverside neighborhood got together Monday night for a meeting that was pretty darn important. It had big implications for their lives, the future of their community, and, like, democracy or something. The meeting went down at a Riverside County building, in a room that can fit about 300 people. And guess what? It was packed. There was even an overflow room that could squeeze in over 100 more peeps. But yep, you guessed it, that room was full too. The cafe in the building even had a few extra seats, but those quickly got snatched up. Some folks had to stand along the edges, feeling left out.
So, what was all the fuss about? Well, surprise, surprise, it was about warehouses. Specifically, there was this plan to build a huge industrial and warehouse complex on the outskirts of the old March Air Force Base. And let me tell you, the neighbors were not having it. They were already dealing with all the trucks and traffic that come with being a major hub for international commerce. But this project really got their feathers ruffled. See, it’s like this: the warehouse boom in recent years has brought in some jobs, sure, but it’s also brought a whole lot of chaos to Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This project was the final straw for many folks, making them face a tough decision: do they go for the jobs or prioritize safety and public health?
Fast forward to the meeting where a developer, Meridian Park West, rolled in with plans for a whopping 3 million-square-foot warehouse space as part of the West Campus Upper Plateau project. The neighbors were not having any of it. They were fed up with all the truck traffic and pollution that came with these warehouses. The developer tried to sweeten the deal by throwing in some research and innovation mumbo jumbo, but the residents weren’t buying it. They knew what was at stake and they weren’t about to let some out-of-town developer call the shots. In the end, after a heated debate, the project was shot down unanimously. The residents left the meeting feeling exhausted but victorious, knowing that sometimes, just sometimes, democracy actually works.
