In a previous blog, we posed a simple question: How has Karen Pinkos made the lives of seniors better? Unfortunately, based on her actions and the policies implemented under her leadership, it seems the reality paints a much grimmer picture for our senior community.
Under Pinkos’ watch, seniors have faced significant setbacks that seem to contradict her claim of making people’s lives better. The closure of the Senior Center, a critical hub for our aging population, is only the most visible example. Many seniors relied on the center not just for social activities but for health, wellness, and support programs—vital services that improve quality of life, reduce isolation, and promote community engagement.
Instead of protecting this vital resource for our seniors, the center was shut down and rented out to Kensington. This decision is emblematic of an administration that seems out of touch with the needs of its most vulnerable residents. As seniors are left without a dedicated space, the city’s leadership continues to expand its own ranks—claiming to be “lean on staff” while maintaining high-level administrative positions like the Assistant City Manager, even though the city can barely balance its budget.
This failure to prioritize the needs of seniors is especially concerning when you consider that 20% of El Cerrito’s population is over the age of 65. These are our elders, the ones who built the community we live in today, and yet they are being ignored in favor of decisions that place financial strain on the city while offering them nothing in return.
Raising Taxes and Fees: A Burden on Seniors
Adding to the pain, under Karen Pinkos’ leadership, the City of El Cerrito has repeatedly turned to raising property taxes, sales taxes, and a variety of fees to shore up the city’s struggling finances. This approach disproportionately impacts seniors, many of whom are living on fixed incomes. For them, every tax increase, every additional fee, represents a significant financial strain.
Property taxes, in particular, hit seniors hard. As longtime residents, many have paid off their homes but now face rising property tax bills, which continue to climb. The increase in sales tax also eats into their limited budgets, affecting their ability to afford everyday necessities. Pinkos has not only pushed for these tax hikes but also failed to address the root causes of El Cerrito’s financial problems—choosing short-term fixes over sustainable, long-term solutions.
In addition to property and sales tax increases, the city has implemented or raised other fees—from garbage collection to utilities—creating yet another burden for seniors. These constant increases come without the promise of improved services for the elderly population, making it harder for seniors to maintain a decent standard of living in their own community.
Misguided Spending Decisions
The city has claimed an inability to fund the Senior Center and even went so far as to cut library hours, further impacting seniors and other residents who depend on these resources. Yet, despite these “financial constraints,” the city found $1.5 million to purchase a local church, which appraised for less than $1.3 million. This decision raises serious questions about the city’s priorities.
How can the city afford to overspend on random real estate purchases while failing to keep essential services like the Senior Center open and cutting back library hours?
This financial mismanagement is further evidence of a leadership that is out of touch with the needs of the community. For seniors, who already face rising taxes and diminishing services, these choices feel like a slap in the face. The money spent on purchasing the church could have easily been used to support the Senior Center or restore the library hours that so many residents, particularly seniors, rely on.
A Failure of Leadership
Karen Pinkos has stated in interviews that the city is making people’s lives better, but for our senior community, this simply isn’t true. Instead, her actions have led to reduced services, increased financial pressures, and a lack of transparency on how senior-focused services are being prioritized (or rather, deprioritized).
If you believe our seniors deserve better, it’s time to take action. Post on social media and tag City Manager Karen Pinkos and the City Council. Ask for an explanation of the decisions that have hurt our senior community. Demand answers about why the Senior Center was closed, why no alternatives were provided, and how they plan to restore essential services for our elderly residents. Challenge them on the misguided spending decisions, including the purchase of the church above-appraisal value, while cutting critical services for residents.
Let’s flood social media and city council meetings with the voices of concerned citizens who demand transparency and accountability.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 