Editorial

El Cerrito doesn’t exist to generate profit. They exist to serve. But service without stewardship erodes confidence.

Residents are more willing to invest when they see clear outcomes, prudent financial management, and leaders who communicate transparently. Unfortunately, El Cerrito is still stuck in reactive mode—approving budgets, signing off on reports, speculative library funding and rarely challenging assumptions.

In this environment, passive governance becomes an active liability.

Strong governance bodies—whether city councils, oversight boards, or commissions—have the power to:
✅ Ask the hard questions
✅ Align funding with outcomes
✅ Prioritize long-term impact over short-term optics
✅ Earn (and re-earn) public trust
And with each new funding request, that trust is tested again.

What Voters Want (And Deserve)

The public doesn’t expect perfection. But they do expect:
Accountability: Where is the money going? What’s the return?
Clarity: What’s the real cost—and for how long?
Stewardship: Are we solving problems, or simply managing symptoms?
Representation: Are our boards and councils advocating for real needs—or just rubber-stamping staff recommendations?

When the city council models fiscal discipline and strategic thinking, they create space for the community to say yes. But when they punt tough decisions, chase shiny projects, or ask for more without showing impact—they fuel frustration.

As BoardSource notes, “The trust of your stakeholders is your greatest currency. That trust must be earned through sound governance, not just good intentions.”
(BoardSource: Leading with Intent)

This Is a Moment for Leadership

Local government is where policy meets people. And right now, the people are watching.
As leaders, we must build boards and councils that are:
• Service-driven and data-informed
• Transparent and willing to question the status quo
• Financially savvy and equity-focused
• Bold enough to say not yet when an idea isn’t fully baked. Because “put it on the ballot” can’t be our default strategy. Especially when communities are asking for answers, not just taxes.

Strong Governance Is the Antidote to Tax Fatigue

If we want to restore faith in public institutions, we need governance that shows—not just tells—the public that their voices and dollars matter.
That starts with how we select, train, and empower our boards and elected officials.
Because in a time when public trust is fragile and every dollar matters, it’s not just about getting measures passed. It’s about making sure the outcomes are worth the investment.

Let’s raise the bar on how we lead, how we govern, and how we serve.

Sources
• BoardSource: Leading with Intent
• Deloitte: The Evolving Role of Public Sector Boards
• OECD: Trust in Government