This week in Redlands: A packed school board meeting draws unprecedented public pushback, the city approves $1.97 million for street repairs, and a beloved coffee cart blossoms into a full café. Plus, Redlands FC takes down the division leader—and they’re not done yet.
EDUCATION
Redlands Unified flooded with 500+ public comment cards over library, flag policies
Board cuts speaking time, passes revised book removal process and flag rules despite overwhelming opposition from students, parents, and teachers
In an extraordinary show of public opposition, the Redlands Unified School Board received more than 500 comment cards Tuesday night – an unprecedented volume that officials acknowledged could stall or delay votes on a slate of controversial policies.
“I’ve never been in a meeting where we had 500 cards turned in,” Superintendent Juan Cabral said before the board called a five-minute recess to organize the stacks of submissions. Some individuals submitted dozens of cards each to speak on separate items. One speaker reportedly requested 75 cards to comment on every individual agenda item.
Despite the pushback, the board ultimately passed three controversial policies in 3–2 votes, with Board Members Patty Holohan and Melissa Ayala-Quintero casting dissenting votes.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
CITY HALL
🚧 44 street segments slated for resurfacing: Redlands City Council unanimously approved a major street improvement project aimed at enhancing safety and mobility across the city during their June 17 meeting. Funded through California’s SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act, the project is expected to receive $1.97 million in state funding for the upcoming 2025–2026 fiscal year. Read more here.
Kathryne Mccann
🌳 City Council to weigh Climate Action Plan update, zoning and fire hazard maps: The Redlands City Council is set to meet Tuesday, July 1, to consider a broad agenda that includes a Climate Action Plan 2050 update, zoning amendments aligned with the housing element, and a new fire hazard severity map. The meeting also features a public hearing on delinquent fines and updates to city purchasing rules. Read more here.
Kathryne Mccann
PUBLIC SAFETY
🦁 Mountain lion found dead in Redlands backyard: A Redlands couple discovered a deceased mountain lion near their garden Sunday, prompting curiosity and concern. California Fish and Wildlife officials said Monday that the animal was tagged and likely traveled from the Santa Maria Plateau. Read more here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🚨 Weekly Crime Report: Phone Scam, Vehicle Theft, and Roadside Crash: Redlands police are warning residents about a phone scam involving a fake officer and spoofed department number. Officers also made arrests in an attempted car theft, a burglary involving a partially clothed suspect and responded to a crash that damaged a police vehicle. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
⚽️ Redlands FC vs Ventura County Fusion – June 27
After knocking off the division’s top team, Redlands FC is charging toward the playoffs—and they need your support. Be there for the biggest match of the season as they take on first place Ventura County Fusion Friday night before hosting Socal Eagles on July 5 at Dodge Stadium at Redlands High School:
📅 Friday, June 27 vs. Ventura County FC
📅 Saturday, July 5 vs. Socal Eagles
🎟️ Get your tickets at the gate or before the game:
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
☕ Hooray Coffee opens cozy café in East Redlands, builds on local roots: What started as a mobile coffee cart inside Kith & Kissui has grown into a full-service café in East Redlands. Hooray Coffee’s new brick-and-mortar space offers specialty beans from around the world, light food options and a warm, communal vibe. Cyclists get a discount—and regulars might just make a new friend at the counter. Read more from community reporter Siw Heede here.
Siw Heede
🎶 Redlands Bowl kicks off 102nd season with star-studded tribute: Nicole Henry brought the house down at the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival opener with a tribute to iconic divas like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. The community showed up strong—an estimated 6,000 people filled the amphitheater for the start of the 102nd season. Read more from community reporter Shantell Sunderman here.
Shantell Sunderman
HEALTH
🩺 In This Week’s Health Spotlight: A new study from Loma Linda University Health reveals that irregular or heavy periods might be more than just a hormonal issue — they could be an early warning sign of heart disease. Learn how menstrual symptoms may signal deeper metabolic problems, and why doctors are being urged to take a closer look at insulin levels. This could change how we think about women’s health from the inside out. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
SPORTS
⚽ Redlands FC defeats division champs, eyes top spot: Redlands FC kept their playoff hopes alive with a decisive 2-0 win over first-place FC Tucson. Goals by Enzo Mauriz and Luka Lukic lifted Redlands into second place in the division by total points. Next up: a massive home match against Ventura County Fusion on Friday, June 27. Read more here.
Caden Henderson
Caden Henderson
⚾ All section team announced: Three players from Redlands schools made the recently announced, prestigious All-CIF-Southern Section baseball team. Arrowhead Christian Academy’s Diesel Toth and Bobby Mahoney and Citrus Valley’s Cole West grace the all-section Division 3 team.
West hit .387 with five home runs and 27 runs batted in. Citrus Valley went 16-13 overall and lost a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 opening round game to Glendora, 4-1. Read more from sports writer John Murphy here.
John Murphy
🍊 🦘Aussie Ball returns: For more than 30 years, teen players from Redlands, California, and Redlands Shire, Queensland, have faced off in a friendly baseball rivalry. The Aussie Ball tour returns July 5. Read more here.
John Murphy
EVENTS
📌 Sat. June 28 - Sun. June 29, A Poirot Double Bill at Redlands Footlighters Theatre: Fundraising kicks off with three charity shows happening June 28 - 29 where attendees can enjoy a mixer with wine and appetizers followed by a benefit performance of “A Poirot Double Bill” by Agatha Christie. Show times and ticket information here.
Siw Heede
📌 Fri. July 4, Redlands Fourth of July 2025: The city of Redlands will celebrate Independence Day with a full slate of activities on Thursday, July 4, beginning with live entertainment and a morning parade at Sylvan Park and ending with a fireworks spectacular at Moore Middle School. Details and ticket link here:
Community Forward Redlands
📌 Schedules for outdoor summer concerts and plays in Redlands
ICYMI
Need a safe spot for Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace pickups?
In case you missed it, The Redlands Police Department offers a monitored 24/7 e-commerce exchange zone outside its main station at 1270 W. Park Ave. Whether you're meeting a buyer from OfferUp or selling through Facebook Marketplace, the video-surveilled parking lot provides a safer alternative to meeting at a stranger’s home or an unfamiliar location. Learn more about how to stay safe during in-person transactions. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
🍊 Want to advertise to our highly engaged growing audience? Email hello@communityforwardredlands.com or fill out this form.
😄 Thank you to our paid subscribers and sponsors who make Community Forward possible!
📩 Missed a newsletter? Catch up here.
