Join the Hemet Rising Community Today
Connecting neighbors, sharing ideas, and growing together in Hemet.
Join the Hemet Rising Community Today
Connecting neighbors, sharing ideas, and growing together in Hemet.
About Us - Hemet Rising
Our Story
Founded in 2025, Hemet Rising began out of a group of individuals within the county area known as the Hemet sphere of influence who shared a passion for opposing current homeless housing and high density projects being processed by the County of Riverside despite local opposition . Momentum by the Oppose Citrus Development grew into a need to unify.
Seeing an opportunity after the passing of former resident and leader Keith Garrison, who had organized and submitted a public annexation request known as Hemet United, the group took the opportunity to assume leadership and steer the direction of this effort to achieve local control.
BACKGROUND:
A group of citizens residing in the unincorporated area of Hemet has commenced an annexation effort which, if approved by LAFCO, would place most of the currently unincorporated Hemet area into the municipal boundaries of the City of Hemet. Several months ago, Hemet United submitted a petition to LAFCO containing approximately 1,500 signatures of registered voters residing in unincorporated Hemet requesting annexation to the City of Hemet. The City has confirmed that LAFCO certified the petition as containing the requisite number of signatures for an annexation submittal. The annexation petition listed the following reasons for the proposed annexation:
(a) Currently, tax dollars from County residents are sent to Riverside to be distributed county-wide. After the annexation, a greater share of the taxpayer dollar will remain within the community, creating a better opportunity for more responsive, effective, and efficient public services.
(b) The annexation will provide greater local input and control over governmental activity and will afford citizens a greater opportunity to have a voice in governmental decisions that affect them directly.
(c) The residents of the proposed annexation area identify their home community as Hemet, and the area’s incorporation into the City of Hemet represents a logical extension of the city limits.
(d) Hemet would become a city of over 120,000 which would make it the 4th largest in Riverside County, translating into more recognizable importance within the County, and more tax dollars from the State and Federal levels.
(e) Local governance of the annexation area will promote improved planning in land use and development related issues, especially those concerning streets and flood control, and transportation.
ADVISORY BOARD
- ANDREW KOTYUK
- BRUCE WALLIS
- DEBBIE GREENE
- LORI VANARSDALE
- SEAN MURPHY
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