Karen Pinkos, El Cerrito’s City Manager, has had more than five years to address the pressing concerns raised by the State Auditor, but rather than take meaningful action, she continues to insist that everything is just fine. This lack of transparency and failure to act has done little to reassure the residents of El Cerrito, who have been left to bear the consequences of her inaction.
Before the State Auditor’s 2021 report, two letters of concern had already been sent to El Cerrito, warning of the city’s poor financial management and operational inefficiencies. These warnings were a clear signal that change was needed, but Karen Pinkos has chosen to focus on telling everyone how well she’s doing rather than fixing the real problems.
Despite having years to turn things around, the financial mismanagement continues, and city services have declined. Residents are being told that all is well, yet they are living through higher taxes, reduced services, and a city that remains in financial distress. Pinkos’ persistent marketing of her so-called success rings hollow when faced with the facts.
During the council meeting, when asked about making budget cuts, she explained that services would have to be reduced. It’s important to note that costs have significantly increased over the past five years, yet services have not improved. Therefore, reducing costs does not automatically mean a decrease in services.
The state’s intervention should have been a wake-up call, but Karen Pinkos seems more focused on protecting her image than doing the hard work required to put El Cerrito on stable financial ground. The residents deserve better—leadership that faces reality and takes action to solve the city’s longstanding issues, not someone who dismisses warnings and pretends everything is under control.
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El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 