The League of Women Voters Forum Highlights Transparency Gaps and Senior Center Needs in El Cerrito

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Yesterday’s League of Women Voters forum for the El Cerrito City Council candidates made one thing clear: there is a significant divide in priorities when it comes to the future of our city. Independent candidate William Ktsanes stood out with a strong and heartfelt focus on transparency and addressing the long-overdue need for a dedicated senior center. In contrast, the three insider candidates—Lisa Motoyama, Rebecca Saltzman, and Courtney Helion—unified around a new Plaza library (funded by a $300 forever tax), overlooking what many residents see as a more urgent concern.

William Ktsanes: A Strong Voice for Seniors and Transparency

Ktsanes’ performance during the forum was compelling and personal. He spoke movingly about the importance of a senior center, drawing on his own experiences caring for his mother. El Cerrito is the only city in the region without a dedicated senior center, and Ktsanes underscored the need for action now. He presented several potential locations for a center, highlighting that this issue cannot continue to be ignored.

More than just a senior center advocate, Ktsanes repeatedly addressed the lack of transparency in city finances, particularly regarding the Measure G survey. He emphasized that the city’s most pressing issue is the need for more openness and better financial decisions. His commitment to transparency was a breath of fresh air in a city that continues to struggle with fiscal mismanagement, such as its unfunded pension liability, which has ballooned to $85 million.

The Insider Candidates: Unanimous on the Library, Silent on Senior Needs

In stark contrast, the three insider candidates—Motoyama, Saltzman, and Helion—focused on the Plaza library project, advocating for a $300 per year forever tax to fund it. They largely spoke as one voice, downplaying the immediate need for a senior center and prioritizing the library instead.

Lisa Motoyama claimed the city’s budget process was transparent but failed to address the $85 million pension liability or the city’s BBB credit rating. She also didn’t acknowledge that El Cerrito pays double what nearby Albany does for pension liabilities. When Motoyama mentioned senior services, she implied that the city supports programs at St. John’s, Christ Lutheran, and Sakura Kai senior centers. However, this is misleading. These programs are actually provided by West Contra Costa County Adult Education in partnership with the churches, and Sakura Kai operates independently as a nonprofit. The City of El Cerrito has no formal relationship with these programs, and they serve adults 55 and older across the county, not just in El Cerrito.

Motoyama’s focus on distributed senior services came off as an excuse to delay a real solution, and her support for Measure G’s “forever” tax seemed out of touch with the urgent need for fiscal transparency. She failed to mention the potential loss of parking in the current library proposal and gave little reassurance to residents concerned about the city’s long-term financial health.

Rebecca Saltzman echoed many of Motoyama’s points, positioning the senior center as a future concern rather than a current priority. She touted her experience with BART’s finances but offered little insight into how El Cerrito’s financial struggles could be managed more effectively or how she contributed to BART’s fiscal cliff. Courtney Helion, meanwhile, appeared to lack a deep understanding of the issues, siding with Motoyama and Saltzman on nearly every point. Her responses on transparency and finances felt vague and uninformed; she didn’t address the frustrations many citizens feel when trying to get clear answers from the city.

The Reality: El Cerrito’s Mismanagement Continues

While the insider candidates seemed content to focus on the Plaza library, El Cerrito residents face serious issues that go beyond new infrastructure. The city’s spending continues to rise, while essential services have been scaled back. We are now facing a budget deficit for FY 2024 despite higher-than-expected tax revenues. Our pension liabilities have increased from $57.8 million to $85 million, and the city remains on the state auditor’s high-risk list after more than three years of promised improvement.

For 1,640 days and counting, El Cerrito has been without a senior center, yet the city continues to push for a library project with a “forever” tax. The passport office has been closed, and even appreciation dinners for community volunteers have been canceled. Meanwhile, over $500 was spent on a dinner for department heads—just one example of the fiscal mismanagement that plagues the city.

The forum made it clear that El Cerrito residents need to demand more from their city leaders. William Ktsanes’ focus on transparency and fiscal responsibility sets him apart as the candidate willing to address the real issues facing our community. His passion for establishing a senior center is a necessary step in meeting the needs of our growing senior population.

El Cerrito needs leaders who will take action now—not years from now. We can’t afford to ignore the city’s financial problems or continue operating in an opaque manner. Residents deserve better, and it’s time for a change.

El Cerritans, let’s not settle for vague promises and hidden agendas. We need leaders who will prioritize transparency and make tough financial decisions. Our seniors deserve a center they can call their own, and our city deserves leaders who will confront the fiscal reality head-on.

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