Month: June 2026

Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) A Riverside County civil grand jury says the department responsible for enforcing county rules often fails to apply them fairly to the public or to its own employees.

The 19-page report titled “Code Enforcement: Not Living up to Code,” was released June 24. It drew on more than two dozen interviews with current and former employees and a labor union representative, along with personnel records, complaint files and internal documents. Its central conclusion the culture of the department doesn’t match its mission.

Code Enforcement is part of the county’s Transportation and Land Management Agency. With about 81 funded positions and five district offices, it handles complaints across unincorporated Riverside County illegal dumping, unpermitted cannabis grows, junk piles, noise, swap meets and short-term rentals.

The grand jury says that work has been undercut from the inside.

Retaliation and ‘highway therapy’

Employees told investigators that managers shouted, bullied and spread rumors, and that workers who pushed back were punished. Several described being moved to far-off offices without warning transfers they called “highway therapy” or “punishment detail” which they said were meant to force people to quit, transfer or retire.

Current Code Enforcement and TLMA managers denied using those tactics, the report says.

Promotions the grand jury calls ‘unprincipled’

The report says some promotions were based on favoritism rather than qualifications. In one case, investigators say a candidate who didn’t meet the minimum experience for senior code enforcement officer was advanced after copying the job’s requirements word-for-word into a resume, beating out officers with far more time on the job.

In another instance the report says a manager intervened to get a favored applicant back onto a hiring list after that person had been cut for not qualifying.

Pressure to ‘stand down’

The most serious findings involve the enforcement itself. The grand jury says officers were told to “stand down” and “tread lightly” on certain properties in the county’s tourist-heavy areas, and that the directives came from the offices of the Board of Supervisors.

Some employees said the orders were given verbally, by phone.

According to the report, employees tied the leniency to certain constituents’ relationships with — and contributions to the board. Investigators point to compliance deadlines stretched up to 18 months, dismissed noise citations, unpermitted events, and two rental “party houses” in a luxury community that were left alone while complaints went unanswered.

Upper management told the grand jury it was unaware of any “stand down” orders.

It is not the first time the issue has surfaced. The report notes a 2015-2016 grand jury reached a similar conclusion about supervisors’ offices and selective enforcement.

Complaints and turnover

The grand jury also faulted how the county handles internal complaints. It says roughly 80% of harassment complaints were downgraded to “rude and discourteous behavior” and went no further, and that the count of complaints employees said they filed didn’t match what Human Resources produced.

Leadership has also been in a state of change with 12 interim or permanent directors in 15 years according to the report.

Statement from the County

The county declined an interview request, citing respect for the grand jury process, and provided a statement below:

“The County of Riverside has received the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury report and is currently reviewing its findings and recommendations. The County will provide a formal response within the timeframe required by California law.

“The mission of the Riverside County Code Enforcement Department is to enhance public safety and improve the quality of life in partnership with our communities through fair, consistent, and professional enforcement of county ordinances. The County remains committed to providing courteous, equitable, and unbiased service to all residents while continually evaluating opportunities to strengthen its programs and operations.”

The report carries nine findings and eight recommendations, from FMLA training for managers to documenting any communication from elected officials that touches an enforcement case.

Under state law, the Board of Supervisors must respond to all nine findings and eight recommendations by Sept. 24. TLMA and Code Enforcement were invited to respond as well.

Tune into News Channel 3 at 6pm for the full report on this story.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision against President Trump’s executive order, upholding birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court states the order does not align with the language of the fourteenth amendment, which states:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

This executive order was signed on Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of President Trump’s second term, making it a key point of his campaign. This executive order states those born in the United States to noncitizens parents are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. law.

The 14th Amendment was proposed by Congress in 1866 and ratified in 1868, less than five years after the American Civil War. The purpose was to prohibit states from depriving any person of “life, liberty or property without due process of law.”

Locally, members of the immigrant community are reacting to this news, taking it as a relief. José Garduño, president of Comité Latino, a local pro-migrant organization, said the Latino community has experienced enough injustice and discrimination.

“Thank you for passing this law, the children born in this country are respected, because where we are born, we are from.”

Samantha Rodriguez, Founder of United Youth We Stand and child of immigrant parents, said this ruling is a defining moment for her generation and beyond.

“Being a daughter of immigrants, I think this is super important for me because this determines my future and it determines the future of thousands of kids, millions probably, around the world.”

President Trump used immigration policy as a focal point of his campaigns during his first and second terms as he continues to press Congress to get legislation through.

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Kiera Seapy

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As Pride Month comes to a close, two of Coachella Valley hospitals are receiving national recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients.

Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage has been named an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs was named a Healthcare Equality Leader and received a perfect score of 100 on the index.

The designation is apart of the Healthcare Equality Index, which is a national tool that evaluates hospitals on polices and practices related to LGBTQ+ patient care, visitor experience, and workplace inclusion.

Mike Thompson, the CEO of LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert said “often times people come to us because they’ve had frustrations in accessing the appropriate type of care.”

They then look to the center to find out who they can go to and what care one needs based on their identity, then they “Point to Eisenhower because we know they’re going to get the care they need at Eisenhower Health ” said Thompson.

Hospitals included in the index say they will continue expanding efforts to ensure respectful and equitable care for all patients.

“It’s a wonderful recognition of the time, energy and effort we as an organization have put into delivering health care to everyone in our community, especially the LGBTQ plus community who come to us with special needs and concerns and requests.” said Carl Enzor, Chief Administrative officer of primary care and speciality care, Eisenhower health.

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