This is a weekly program with commentary on current issues.

Turns out City Hall has been treating some of the most passionate boosters (and potential users) of Riverside ’s Fox Theater the way they treated the museum ‘n’ library lovers: with dismissive contempt.

Just as it was forced to do ith the muz-lib expansion, city management abruptly shifted into “we-want-to-hear-from-you” mode, largely at the urging the new councilman, Mike Gardner, and the old mayor, who evidently took a vow of silence during the dismissive-contempt era. But the mayor still reads election returns. He’s speakin’ up for the peeps now Ron Loveridge wants another term.

So it was that local performing arts groups jammed City Hall this week, hoping to lay claim to what may become (the city could still screw this up) the cultural jewel of downtown Riverside. Opera, ballet and choral groups envision publicly owned Fox as their home base.