Ward 2 and 4 Candidates Clash Over Housing, Campaign Money and Riverside’s Future
Candidates for Riverside City Council Wards 2 and 4 debated various local issues, including the future of data center development in the city. Some candidates expressed opposition to data centers and proposed a ban, citing concerns about jobs, water, and electricity use. The discussion highlighted differing views on economic development and land use among the candidates.
Candidates vying for City Council seats in Riverside's Wards 2 and 4 participated in a forum hosted by Temple Beth El, debating key local issues including political polarization, homelessness, housing affordability, and the development of warehouses and data centers.
The four candidates, Aram Ayra and Gracie Torres in Ward 2, and Rich Vandenberg and incumbent Chuck Conder in Ward 4, were asked about their approaches to these challenges. While much of the debate focused on housing and homelessness, the discussion also touched upon the future of data centers and warehouses in Riverside.
Ward 2 candidate Aram Ayra specifically called for a voter-approved tax on warehouses and a ban on data centers, advocating for an economy focused on health care, green technology, and education. Ward 2 candidate Gracie Torres stated her opposition to warehouses and data centers near homes, noting she had previously contacted councilmembers regarding a data center item on a city agenda. Ward 4 candidate Rich Vandenberg echoed residents' sentiment against more logistics warehouses. Incumbent Chuck Conder, however, defended the city's recruitment efforts, arguing against automatically labeling large buildings as warehouses and emphasizing that data centers vary in size and design. The candidates did not resolve their disagreements over the projects' effects on jobs, water, and electricity use.