Demanding Honest Climate Leadership

By a Concerned El Cerrito Citizen

At the July 15 City Council meeting, something fundamental became painfully clear: the real greenhouse-gas giants—the military-industrial complex, Big Oil and refineries, industrial agriculture, and the chronic underfunding of clean, long-range mass transit—are going unchallenged, while working-class residents, seniors, and disabled individuals on Richmond Street are the ones being asked to sacrifice.

Let’s call it what it is: a distraction. A cosmetic fix that sidesteps the real contributors to climate change.

In a functioning democracy, citizens are entitled to informed consent—or dissent. On July 15, that right felt hollow. The Council pushed forward with significant parking reductions, citing “safety” without presenting meaningful data. No bicycle-involved injuries were noted on Richmond Street. The plan may feel good, but it solves nothing and creates many problems to the residents on Richmond Street.

Meanwhile, Liberty Street—less busy, already one-way, and a natural fit for bike lanes—was left out of the conversation. Instead, we were asked to imagine an 80-year-old biking to Monterey Market in Berkeley, then hauling groceries up the hill. This isn’t policy—it’s fantasy.

What about families with two cars and short driveways? What about those with mobility challenges? What about families with small children? Do you take groceries home while leaving them unattended in the car? Or do they leave those littles at home while they trek to the car to get the groceries? Those practical concerns were dismissed by those living in an alternate reality where symbolism is mistaken for substance.

Here’s the truth: this isn’t about reducing emissions. It’s about performative politics. If the City were serious about addressing GHG emissions, they’d push for regional transit solutions, not gut neighborhood parking.

And let’s not forget: Councilmember Gabe Quinto voted for the Richmond Street bike lane—despite having spent his entire elected career championing Chevron, one of the world’s biggest polluters. The contradiction is stunning. You can’t prop up fossil fuel interests for years and then pretend bike lanes make up for it.

Residents who question this narrative risk being labeled reactionary, even MAGA, which is laughable. It’s the oldest trick in the political playbook: label and dismiss anyone who deviates from the script. But many of us are simply tired of the same two-party shell game, where both sides enable the status quo.

I applaud Councilmember William Ktsanes. He may not share every view I’ve expressed here, but he stands on his own convictions. That takes courage.

This resident has lived in El Cerrito since 1976. They have seen the decline—not just in climate, but in political integrity. I’m not running for office. I prefer to speak freely, without the burden of party politics or performative alliances.

We deserve better leadership. We deserve vision:

Investment in real mass transit, not just trendy striping on streets. A peace dividend, redirecting military excess to infrastructure. Genuine policies that respect and include the elderly, disabled, and working class

Until we demand it, we’ll continue to receive distractions like this one—and the people who have benefited from the current system will continue to pretend it’s progress.

The election is just over a year away.