Most working people know what a standard full-time schedule looks like: 40 hours a week—often more. That’s the reality for residents across El Cerrito who juggle jobs, commutes, family responsibilities, and rising costs of living. Yet when it comes to City Hall, the schedule looks very different.
According to the posted hours, El Cerrito City Hall operates just 37.5 hours a week. Offices close every other Friday, and the remaining weekdays follow reduced schedules compared to what residents work themselves.
Monday, Wednesday, and alternate Fridays: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed every other Friday That means City Hall is open fewer hours than the very residents it serves are expected to work.
Why It Matters
This might seem like a small detail, but it speaks volumes about priorities. Residents are asked to shoulder tax increases, weather service cuts, and tolerate deferred maintenance of city facilities. Yet the government providing those services has carved out a work schedule that doesn’t align with the demands placed on the public. It also means that every hour beyond 37 1/2 hours means we pay for overtime and comp time for work that doesn’t benefit the city of El Cerrito.
Reduced access means fewer opportunities for residents to get help in person. It means City services aren’t available at the same pace as the private sector or other local governments that manage to keep full schedules. And it raises the question: Why should taxpayers accept “less” when they’re constantly being asked to give “more”?
To make matters worse, residents who want to participate in city government must show up in person—because El Cerrito does not allow public comment unless you are physically present at the meeting. That creates a barrier for working families, seniors, and others who simply cannot rearrange their lives around City Hall’s limited hours.
Accountability and Service
Just because it’s a government office doesn’t mean shortcuts are acceptable. Residents who work hard every week to support their families and pay taxes should be able to count on a City Hall that’s equally committed.
The city often talks about “community engagement” and “responsiveness,” but real engagement starts with accessibility. Real responsiveness means being there when residents need you—not just when the doors happen to be open.
Moving Forward
El Cerrito faces serious financial and governance challenges. Addressing them requires leadership, transparency, and commitment—not reduced hours and closed doors. A community working 40+ hours a week deserves nothing less than a City Hall that matches that effort.
It’s time for City Hall to align its work ethic with the people it serves—and to stop making participation harder than it needs to be.
#ElCerrito #Accountability #BetterGovernment #PublicService
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 