Before the election, we warned that this would happen—but voters chose Rebecca Saltzman anyway. Now that she sits on the El Cerrito City Council, the warnings have become reality. She has carried over the same pattern of voting for budget deficits that defined her 12 years as a BART Director. Under her leadership, El Cerrito approved deficit budgets and midyear expense increases that drained city reserves—mirroring the very financial habits that left BART in constant crisis. At BART, this approach left the agency chronically underfunded and increasingly dependent on new taxes and toll hikes just to keep trains running. In El Cerrito, it has already led the city to the reality of higher taxes simply to sustain basic city services. Instead of addressing structural problems, Saltzman’s record shows a reliance on stopgap tax measures that burden residents while failing to solve the underlying issues.
A Record of Fiscal Mismanagement
At BART, Saltzman consistently supported policies that drove the agency toward financial instability. Fare evasion spiraled out of control under her watch, draining millions in revenue that could have funded operations and safety improvements. Instead of addressing this crisis with effective solutions, Saltzman repeatedly ignored the issue, leaving BART reliant on future tax hikes to survive.
Ignoring Safety, Fare Evasion, and Crime
Fare evasion at BART was more than a financial problem—it became a public safety crisis. News coverage and BART’s own internal reports showed that a large percentage of violent incidents on the system involved individuals who did not pay their fare. By failing to take fare enforcement seriously, Saltzman allowed conditions to worsen for paying riders and frontline workers alike.
The consequences of this inaction were tragic. In one widely reported case, a woman was shoved in front of an oncoming train and killed—her attacker was a fare evader with a history of violent behavior. This was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern: fare evasion created an environment where crime thrived, making both passengers and staff less safe. Saltzman’s refusal to act demonstrated a disregard for both fiscal responsibility and public safety.
The COVID Vaccine Mandate Controversy
Saltzman was a driving force behind BART’s strict vaccine mandate, requiring every employee to comply or face termination. The policy fell hardest on frontline workers—train operators, maintenance crews, and station staff—who had no choice but to show up in person every day to keep the system running. These were the very employees she was supposed to protect.
Yet while they faced the daily risk of exposure, Saltzman continued to work safely from home. The message was clear: different rules for leadership, harsher consequences for workers.
This double standard not only eroded trust but also led to costly consequences. When six terminated employees challenged the policy in court, a federal jury sided with them, ruling that BART had failed to provide reasonable accommodations. The result was a $7 million payout—money BART did not have to spare, thanks in part to the very financial mismanagement Saltzman helped oversee.
What This Means for El Cerrito
Saltzman’s record at BART was one of deficits, safety failures, and misplaced priorities. On the El Cerrito City Council, the same behavior has already taken hold, with deficit budgets and reserve-draining midyear expenses weakening the city’s financial position.
El Cerrito residents should take note: this is not a question of what might happen in the future—it is already happening. Under Saltzman’s leadership, the city has seen more budget deficits, higher tax pressures, and the same double standards that left BART in disarray.
It was predictable, and the warnings were ignored. But we should not let history repeat itself. El Cerrito cannot afford to be caught unprepared again—we need leaders who will put fiscal stability, safety, and accountability first.
The responsibility to choose more wisely now rests with the voters.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 