The El Cerrito city manager has chosen to drag her feet on the state auditor’s 2021 recommendation to conduct a crucial staffing needs study. Instead of addressing this significant issue, she has announced a slew of other initiatives as priority measures, pushing the study to the back burner.

Not so coincidentally, this delay aligns perfectly with the planned property tax measure—a $300 per year forever tax. This measure seems to be a strategic move to avoid any reductions in overstaffing by increasing revenue instead. Unfortunately, her mismanagement may cost El Cerrito residents dearly.

El Cerrito has the largest Police department per capita in Contra Costa County but with all those guns, the crime rate remains among the highest in Contra Costa County. Remarkably, El Cerrito is the only northern California city of 25,000 people with four battalion chiefs in its fire department. Additionally, the city manager’s office includes an assistant city manager and an executive assistant, making it the only city of its size in Contra Costa County with such a large city manager’s office. This overstaffing is a clear indicator of inefficient management that the proposed tax measure aims to sustain.

The residents of El Cerrito deserve better. We deserve transparent, accountable leadership that prioritizes the financial health of our city and the well-being of its citizens. Ignoring the state auditor’s recommendations and opting for a perpetual tax increase is not the solution.

Call to Action:
We urge all residents to voice their concerns and demand action. Attend city council meetings, write to your representatives, and let the city manager know that we will not stand for this mismanagement. Our city’s future depends on it.

Take Action Today!

Attend City Council Meetings: Your presence and voice can make a difference.

Contact Your Councilmembers: Write letters and emails expressing your concerns.

Spread the Word: Share this post and use the hashtags to raise awareness.

Together, we can ensure a better future for El Cerrito. Let’s hold our city leadership accountable and demand the transparency and responsibility we deserve.