Mayor Lock Dawson’s priorities focus on strengthening Riverside’s economy, quality of place, public infrastructure, policy leadership, and shared civic pride.
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Strategic Economic Growth
Locally diverse. Workforce Ready. Globally competitive.
Attracting high-quality jobs, strengthening Riverside’s clean and green technology sector, and connecting residents to future-focused career opportunities.
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Mayor Lock Dawson is taking an intentional approach to economic development, actively attracting industries that strengthen our economy and create high-quality jobs for our residents. With anchors like UC Riverside and the California Air Resources Board, our city is emerging as a leader in clean and green technology.
Building on our legacy, from the historic greenbelt to today’s growing green tech hub, we are drawing national and international companies to invest and grow here. Through strong partnerships with local schools, colleges, universities, and workforce training programs, Riverside is building a workforce pipeline that connects education to career opportunities while aligning training with high-growth industries such as clean technology, aerospace, and healthcare. Riverside is no longer just a pass-through for goods; it is becoming a destination for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.
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Quality of Place
A City people choose.
Creating welcoming public spaces, expanding recreation, supporting local dining and arts, and improving access to community gathering places.
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Mayor Lock Dawson is committed to creating a city people choose, celebrating creativity, expanding recreation, supporting local dining, and creating community gathering places. This vision includes the long-standing “Put the River Back in Riverside” initiative, transforming the Santa Ana River into a destination for recreation.
From activating historic spaces like the Armory to expanding access to trails and recreation, Riverside is creating places where residents and visitors want to spend time. Through regional partnerships, Riverside is working to address homelessness by expanding access to mental health services, emergency shelter, and job training programs, ensuring we serve with compassion while maintaining welcoming and accessible public spaces for all.
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Safe & Strong Foundations
Modern infrastructure. Safe neighborhoods.
Investing in the essential services residents rely on every day, including streets, infrastructure, police, fire, and long-term preparedness.
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While we celebrate Riverside’s growth, Mayor Lock Dawson recognizes that we cannot lose sight of the essential work local government must do to keep a city running safely and smoothly. Investing in modern infrastructure, well-maintained streets, and fully staffed public safety departments ensures every neighborhood remains safe, resilient, and prepared for the future.
Through record investments in street paving, long-term infrastructure planning, and support for police and fire services, Riverside is strengthening the foundations residents rely on every day.
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Policy Leadership
Broad Influence. Local Impact.
Expanding Riverside’s voice in regional, state, and national policy conversations to secure resources and deliver results locally.
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Riverside deserves a seat at every table where decisions are made. As Chair of California’s Big City Mayors, Mayor Lock Dawson leads a coalition representing more than 11 million Californians, advocating for policies that strengthen cities across the state. She champions critical priorities for Riverside, including housing, infrastructure, healthcare, and public safety in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Her appointment to the California Air Resources Board further expands Riverside’s voice in shaping statewide climate and clean air policy. It’s a false choice to say we must pick between a strong economy or a healthy environment; our city is proving we can achieve both. Through strategic leadership and collaboration, Riverside is influencing policy and securing resources that deliver real results for our community.
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Culture & Civic Pride
Proud to be a Riversider!
Celebrating Riverside’s story, neighborhoods, culture, artists, and shared identity as a city of arts, innovation, and civic pride.
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A shared identity as Riversiders strengthens our sense of belonging and fuels the success of our city. Mayor Lock Dawson believes that telling Riverside’s story, celebrating our history, honoring our neighborhoods, and highlighting the people who make our city unique builds pride and confidence across the community.
From supporting local artists and cultural events to elevating Riverside’s voice as the City of Arts & Innovation, this work ensures our story is told with authenticity and purpose. When residents feel proud of where they live, businesses choose to invest, visitors choose to return, and communities grow stronger together.
