Last night, we introduced you to Cliff Williams, a resident of Whitewater — a small, often-overlooked community off Highway 62 in unincorporated Riverside County. It’s a place you might drive past without noticing, especially at night when there are no streetlights to guide your way.
But Cliff noticed. And he’s had enough.
Frustrated by the lack of lighting and the increase in illegal dumping, Cliff tried reaching out to Southern California Edison without success. So, he turned to NBC Palm Springs. And when we shared his story, things started to change.
Shortly after our report aired, Riverside County Supervisor Manny Perez took action. One of his staff members contacted Cliff directly to discuss the lighting situation and promised to work toward a solution. As Cliff suggested, even one streetlight per street would make a noticeable difference in Whitewater’s safety and visibility.
It wasn’t just the lighting issue that got attention. Our past reports on the growing problems tied to short-term rentals—particularly in Thousand Palms—also reached Perez. Those party houses have created disturbances for years, prompting repeated complaints from neighbors.
In response, Supervisor Perez has now successfully extended a temporary moratorium on new short-term rentals through February of next year—a significant win for residents who have been asking for change for nearly a decade.
Fair is fair. We’ve been critical of Supervisor Perez in the past, but this time, he listened to the people and responded swiftly. And that’s something worth acknowledging.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: Fred Roggin
April 16, 2025
