Riverside, California SperlingViews

Riverside has several great universities, but I wouldn't call it your usual university town as the cultural side of this fairly large city is poor. And it is definately a city in which you need a car. Though Riverside is by far the largest city in what is affectionately termed The Inland Empire, many of the major stores are anchoring themselves outside of Riverside as there is the mentality that residents will drive to shop. This is problematic as the traffic is always bad and with gas prices high, fewer people are chosing to make these drives. Then there is the problem with the schools. In the middle school, for example, there are 250 kids on the playing field with only 5 adults to supervise them. Schools are horribly under-funded and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight to change this long-running problem. The schools are over crowded (over 32 kids is many 4th grade classrooms with only one teacher and no aide) and there are nearly 3,000 kids attending MLK high school with only 1 school counselor. Then there is the issue of few jobs that pay a living wage. There are very few professional jobs in the City of Riverside and its outskirts and when you read that there is high job growth in the area, notice that they are really talking about service / retail jobs. Most professionals have to commute over an hour to a major city to find a job that pays what a professional should be paid for their educaton and experience. I cannot recommend this city to anyone outside of California, though inside California it is quite a steal for home prices - particularly because of the number of foreclosures on every block.

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Transportation - 10/30/2007

We need more buses and trains to transport[read more...]

Recreation in Riverside Ca - 9/19/2007

Recreation options in Riverside California are one of the most underrated aspect of living in the Inland Empire as we call it. We live at the foot of the great San Bernardino Mountains that include[read more...]

Well Rounded - 7/17/2007

Perhaps if some of these people writing were to have half a brain and weren't racist, they might realize how well rounded Riverside is, with numerous school programs, city events, community events,[read more...]

Riverside/Inland Empire, CA Cost of Living - 6/27/2007

One of the last areas in the Southern California region where finding affordable housing is still[read more...]

What can I add? - 6/9/2007

I have read the comments about Riverside. Unfortunately, they are all true. Lived here since 1977 and can't wait to get out of the traffic, congestion, smog, "desert," rude people, crime, and[read more...]

response to teacher comments - 6/2/2007

Riverside does have a well known School for the Deaf. My daughter had been in special education since 3yrs in Orange County where the regional program is fantastic so was sent to school pathologists[read more...]

You don't want to live here - 5/20/2007

Riverside is great if you like expensive homes 400,000+, congested traffic, unsafe schools, and no community spirit. People are indifferent or downright unfriendly. I would not recommend Riverside[read more...]

P - A - T - H - E - T - I - C ! ! - 10/24/2006

If you're into torn old beer/blood stained couches resting on the unmowed/dead lawns of paint-repellant shanties (I'm sorry, houses), this place is for you!!! Even if you're one of the outsiders who[read more...]

Teachers....What about the schools??? - 8/16/2006

With the comments of over-crowding of illegals in the public schools in Riverside, how does that effect the teachers and their time spent with the english learners vs. non-spanish speaking students?[read more...]

Are you kidding me? - 8/3/2006

The town is a dump. Lots of illegals and air you can see (that ain't good). time to get out of Dodge boys and girls.[read more...]

Worst of both worlds - 8/2/2006

Until the recent housing boom Riverside used to be a pretty good place to live. There was little congestion, housing and general cost of living was pretty affordable, and though there wasn't much to[read more...]

Riverside is lame.. - 7/12/2006

I've lived here all of my life. When I was younger, I recall Riverside being very chill. Not too many people..but not boring. Well, now that at least 10 years have passed, Riverside is growing to be[read more...]

Riverside used to be the ideal city to live in - 6/24/2006

Riverside used to be a nice place to live when I first moved there in 1985. This city is located in a ideal location-- close to the mountains, beaches, lakes, other major cities (LA, OC, SD), etc. [read more...]

RIVERSIDE CA, USE TO BE A NICE PLACE TO LIVE - 3/23/2006

Riverside CA, was a nice place to live.....it was a large city with a country feel. The roads about 6 to 7 years ago use to be empty now it takes 45 min to drive 12 miles. It's getting very crowded[read more...]