In a performance reminiscent of the republican VP candidate’s debate tactics, El Cerrito’s City Manager, Karen Pinkos, proved herself a master at shapeshifting. She pulled out every rhetorical trick in the book to sidestep looming questions during the recent City Council meeting. It didn’t take long for the council to join in to congratulate themselves.
The topics avoided? The city’s unrestricted general fund reserve balance (or lack thereof), its embarrassing BBB bond rating, probable overstaffing, ballooning costs, and declining quality of services. Yet, instead of addressing these glaring financial issues head-on, Pinkos spent over five minutes congratulating herself and her staff on a presentation award, spinning it as if it were a genuine achievement for financial stability.
For those who aren’t aware, El Cerrito currently holds the ignominious title of the 13th worst-run city in California. The claim of financial stability couldn’t be further from the truth. How can the City Manager claim stability when residents are seeing reduced services, from park maintenance and street repairs being neglected to overall public infrastructure deteriorating? Meanwhile, the city remains overstaffed and operational costs continue to rise with no real plan to manage these issues in sight.
Financial Smoke and Mirrors
One of the most striking moments of the meeting was when City Manager Karen Pinkos danced around the question of the unrestricted reserve balance. A reserve balance is essentially the city’s rainy day fund, a key indicator of financial health. For a city like El Cerrito, which has been teetering on the edge of fiscal crisis for years, you’d think this would be a top priority. Instead, Pinkos sidestepped the question entirely, offering vague statements about “future plans” without giving any specifics. This kind of obfuscation only breeds mistrust.
And what about El Cerrito’s BBB bond rating? This low rating signifies high credit risk, making it more expensive for the city to borrow money. Rather than present a clear strategy for improving this rating, the City Manager offered more evasive answers, suggesting the city’s finances were on the mend without presenting any hard data or actions to back up these claims.
Declining Infrastructure and Ballooning Costs
The city’s deteriorating parks, paths, and streets are clear indicators of where El Cerrito’s priorities do not lie. Over the past few years, the Park Maintenance Index and Pavement Condition Index have both shown marked declines. Residents frequently report cracked sidewalks, poorly maintained park grounds, and deteriorating bike paths—all while the city continues to spend on non-essential projects and an overstaffed administration.
The city’s financial problems are exacerbated by this overstaffing, leading to a bloated budget that is becoming increasingly unsustainable. How can a city justify keeping more staff while public spaces and infrastructure continue to degrade?
When asked about this contradiction, Pinkos dodged once again, reverting to talking points about “staff retention” and “future initiatives.” What future initiatives? At a time when El Cerrito’s residents are getting less and less in return for their tax dollars, the idea of staffing up even more is baffling. There was no mention of plans to streamline operations, reduce redundancies, or even consider a hiring freeze.
Celebrating a “Presentation Award” as a Sign of Stability?
Perhaps the most insulting moment of the evening was the City Manager’s lengthy monologue praising herself and her staff for receiving a presentation award, which she framed as a “budget award.” Let’s be clear—this is not an award for sound financial management or fiscal responsibility. It’s a nod to how well a budget is presented, not how well it’s managed. To spin this into a symbol of financial stability is disingenuous at best and deceitful at worst.
We get it, Karen. You’re a master at shapeshifting, but we’re not buying it. El Cerrito’s residents deserve transparency and accountability, not more smoke and mirrors. While Pinkos and City Council members congratulated themselves, El Cerrito residents are left wondering: Where’s the transparency? Where’s the accountability? Where’s the plan to move this city away from the financial precipice?
Contact Your City Officials
If you’re tired of the non-answers, shapeshifing and dodging, it’s time to speak up. Let your voice be heard and demand real answers. Contact the City Manager and your City Council members today:
City Manager:
Name: Karen Pinkos
Email: kpinkos@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
City Council Members:
Name: Gabe Quinto
Email: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Name: Tessa Rudnick
Email: trudnick@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Name: Paul Fadelli
Email: pfadelli@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Name: Lisa Motoyama
Email: lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Name: Carolyn Wysinger
Email: cwysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
It’s time for El Cerrito’s leadership to stop the shapeshifting and start answering the tough questions. The city’s future depends on it.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 