El Cerrito’s Priorities: Legal Fees and Polling Over Community Needs?

Between December 2023 and March 2024, El Cerrito spent over $186,000 of taxpayer money on legal fees with the firm Meyers Nave, alongside approxy $40,000 on polling services from Godbe Research. These expenditures are tied to the City’s push for a new library project, a venture that has raised serious concerns among residents. What’s even more frustrating is that the money spent on legal fees and polling could have funded much-needed community services, like a senior center. Yet, the City continues to focus on initiatives that raise taxes for residents while leaving crucial needs unmet.

Legal Fees and Polling: What’s Really at Stake?

The City’s significant legal costs, combined with the $40,000 spent on Godbe Research, reflect a strategy aimed at securing public support for a controversial library project. While the project may appear to be a community enhancement, the underlying motivation seems to be the approval of a permanent $300 supplemental property tax—the “forever tax.” This tax will place an indefinite financial burden on homeowners, yet the community has had little opportunity to shape or fully understand this decision.

Instead of allocating funds to legal maneuvering and public polling, the City could have used those same dollars to directly benefit residents by investing in services that enhance the quality of life, such as a senior center—a long-overdue need in El Cerrito.

A Senior Center: A Missed Opportunity?

With the combined $226,000 spent on legal and research services, El Cerrito could have easily funded a more fully operational senior center. Senior centers provide vital services like recreational activities, social programs, health support, and a sense of community for older residents. Despite the growing need for such a facility, the City has not prioritized this kind of investment.

Instead, the City has focused on a new library project funded by a perpetual tax increase, all while long-standing needs—like improving resources for seniors—remain ignored. For years, El Cerrito has underfunded the library, offering limited hours and reduced services. Now, the City has fast-tracked an expensive construction project that feels more like a financial maneuver than a genuine response to community needs.

Why Does the City Keep Pushing Tax Increases?

El Cerrito seems trapped in a cycle of tax-raising initiatives rather than managing its existing resources effectively. The proposed $300 “forever tax” is just the latest example, and it will place a lasting financial strain on homeowners. Residents have had little input on whether this tax increase is the best way to fund new projects.

Even more concerning is the fact that city council member Lisa Motoyama and member-elect Rebecca Saltzman are strongly in favor of these tax increases, despite the City’s unclear motives, lack of transparency, and reputation for shoddy financial analysis. Their support for new taxes, without addressing critical community concerns, highlights the disconnect between the Candidates and the real needs of its residents.

Residents Deserve Better

The City’s investment in legal services and polling should have been directed toward tangible community improvements, like a senior center, better library services, or expanded public amenities. It’s time for El Cerrito to shift its focus away from expensive tax-increasing projects and toward addressing the immediate needs of residents.

The aggressive polling and legal expenditures suggest the City is more interested in shaping public opinion to justify permanent tax increases than in genuinely engaging with residents. The community deserves a more transparent process and a chance to voice their concerns.

A Call for Fiscal Responsibility

The City must be held accountable for its spending decisions. Why are taxpayer dollars being spent on legal fees and polling when those funds could be used for real, tangible improvements? El Cerrito residents need to ask tough questions about the City’s priorities.

Contact Your Officials

If you’re concerned about the future of El Cerrito’s spending priorities, contact your City Manager and City Council members today. Demand transparency and accountability on why taxpayer dollars are being spent on legal fees and polling instead of essential community services.

El Cerrito City Manager:
Karen Pinkos
Phone: (510) 215-4300
Email: citymanager@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us

El Cerrito City Council:

• Mayor Tessa Rudnick
  Phone: (510) 215-4300
  Email: trudnick@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
• Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Wysinger
  Phone: (510) 215-4300
  Email: cwysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
• Councilmember Gabe Quinto
  Phone: (510) 215-4300
  Email: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
• Councilmember Paul Fadelli
  Phone: (510) 215-4300
  Email: pfadelli@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
• Councilmember Lisa Motoyama
  Phone: (510) 215-4300
  Email: lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us

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