Selective Solidarity: El Cerrito City Council’s Inconsistent Stance on Foreign Policy Engagement

Editor’s Note: The mayor has indicated that they paid their own airfare (coach) and the trip was not expenced to El Cerrito.

A long time El Cerrito resident recently shared their thoughts on a blog post titled “Insider Gets Special Treatment,” highlighting how the city council’s engagement in foreign policy seems to be swayed by political imagery rather than principled stances. Read on…..

While I understand the perspective on city council not getting involved in foreign policy, this city council consistently does so when it benefits their political image. Here are just a few examples:

Ukraine: On February 21, 2023, they allowed Igor Tregub to give a presentation about the horrible things happening in Ukraine, then declared February 24 to be Ukraine Solidarity Day, and flew the Ukrainian flag. They also passed a resolution condemning the actions of Russia.

Tibet: On March 7, 2023 (and nearly every year prior), they issued a proclamation recognizing the Tibetan Uprising against the brutal Chinese regime, and also hung the flag in City Hall.

Furthermore, Quinto’s critique that the “city council should stay In its lane” (Dec. 19, 2023), contrasts with his acceptance of a fully sponsored trip to Israel, financed by groups linked to AIPAC, during his tenure on the city council in 2019. Tessa undertook a similar journey in 2023. Both individuals have shared insights from their travels at standard city council gatherings. Although the business class flights to Israel may have been luxurious, it remains unclear how these experiences could have directly contributed to the welfare of El Cerrito.

So unfortunately the perspective that the city council shouldn’t get involved in foreign policy is just gaslighting by folks who prefer that city council only get involved in *certain* foreign policy affairs.