Editorial: What’s Missing from the Narratives

The City of El Cerrito just announced an upgrade in its bond ratings—a real improvement worth acknowledging. Mayor Carolyn Wysinger released a statement praising the City’s financial progress, saying she was proud of the hard work that’s gone into strengthening reserves and building stability.

But here’s what stands out: while Mayor Wysinger has spoken just a few times about finances, those comments have only come in carefully prepared statements. She’s never addressed the city’s financial challenges. And during the most troubling times—when deficits mounted, reserves were drained, services were cut, and the senior center was closed—she never pressed the City Manager with the tough questions that residents wanted answered.

Those cuts have never been fully restored, yet leadership speaks only of progress, never of what was lost.

Why It Matters

Leadership on financial issues isn’t about showing up for polished announcements—it’s about being present and engaged when the numbers are discussed, the tradeoffs are debated, and the tough questions need to be asked. Residents deserve leaders who acknowledge both the progress and the problems, not just the success stories.

The Bottom Line

Yes, El Cerrito’s bond upgrade is good news. But it’s only part of the financial picture. Residents need leaders who talk about the challenges with the same energy they put into celebrating the wins. A press release is not enough—our community deserves real leadership, not just scripted sound bites.

Micro-Blog:

El Cerrito leaders love the headlines—bond upgrades, “robust” reserves, balanced projections. But during the hardest times, when deficits continue to grow, services were cut and the senior center was closed, no tough questions were asked of the City Manager. Those cuts remain.

Real leadership means showing up when it’s hard, not just when the script is good.