A longtime resident recently commented, If it’s required by the state or legally binding, El Cerrito might follow it—and even then, only at the minimum level. But when it comes to internal policies, ethics, or transparency, it’s the Wild West. That observation isn’t hyperbole. It’s an accurate description of how governance now functions in ElContinue reading “When the Bare Minimum Becomes the Standard: El Cerrito’s Selective Rulebook”
Author Archives: eccrg
El Cerrito Has a Trust Problem—and It’s Fixable
El Cerrito residents are not asking for perfection. They are asking for complete, clear, timely information so they can understand what is happening, weigh tradeoffs, and participate in good faith. Right now, El Cerrito’s own survey data shows a credibility gap that City leadership should treat as an operational risk, not a public relations problem.Continue reading “El Cerrito Has a Trust Problem—and It’s Fixable”
When a Post Gets Removed, the Questions Don’t Go Away
Repost: We’ve welcomed many new subscribers since yesterday, so we’re reposting this blog to make sure everyone has a chance to see it. Please share with other El Cerrito residents who may find it helpful. This blog is heavily influenced by a recent social media post that was removed despite strong engagement. A recent postContinue reading “When a Post Gets Removed, the Questions Don’t Go Away”
The Impact of Tax and Safety on El Cerrito Home Prices
Last week, we told you about the unusually low sales price of the home on Arlington. After further research, we found that selling prices have been declining for some time. There’s a quiet rewrite happening in how El Cerrito’s housing market is being described. Recent narratives lean on selective late-year sales and citywide median pricesContinue reading “The Impact of Tax and Safety on El Cerrito Home Prices”
Why El Cerrito Residents Should Vote No on the Parcel Tax
Not because residents don’t value libraries, but because this City has not earned another blank check. El Cerrito’s financial condition didn’t become fragile overnight — and it didn’t happen “to” the City. The California State Auditor found El Cerrito to be at high risk of financial instability due to continual overspending, poor budgeting, and theContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Residents Should Vote No on the Parcel Tax”
How El Cerrito Leaders Sold Out Richmond Street to Make the Library Pencil Out
For years, residents along Richmond Street have been told that proposed bike lanes and street changes are about safety, sustainability, and access. The public record tells a different story. When you read the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant applications tied to the El Cerrito Plaza Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), it becomes clear that RichmondContinue reading “How El Cerrito Leaders Sold Out Richmond Street to Make the Library Pencil Out”
An Open Letter on El Cerrito’s Library: What the Story Still Leaves Out
By a Concerned El Cerrito Resident El Cerrito’s library matters. That is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether residents are being given the full context before being asked to approve a long-term tax for a dramatically expanded library facility tied to a complex and uncertain development plan. A recent article by BayContinue reading “An Open Letter on El Cerrito’s Library: What the Story Still Leaves Out”
El Cerrito’s General Fund Update Is Late — Again
A resident-focused review of the Q1 General Fund Update presented November 18, 2025 El Cerrito residents deserve financial reporting that is timely, comparable, and designed for real oversight—especially in a city where taxes are already high, and the margin for error is shrinking. But the General Fund First Quarter Update presented on November 18, 2025,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s General Fund Update Is Late — Again”
Assessing El Cerrito’s City Services: A Call for Improvement
Residents do not pay taxes for a subpar City Hall . Taxpayers pay for services we can access and rely on: permits and plan checks that move on time, inspections that get scheduled, code enforcement follow-up, timely answers from the clerk and the front counter, and a City Hall that is available when people needContinue reading “Assessing El Cerrito’s City Services: A Call for Improvement”
The Swearing-In Wasn’t Just a Celebration. It Was a Soft Launch for a 2026 Tax Campaign
At the El Cerrito City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, regional and state elected officials joined Gabe Quinto as he was selected as mayor for next year. Attorney General Rob Bonta administered the oath, underscoring Quinto’s rising profile and the political attention El Cerrito continues to draw. But as the congratulations rolled in,Continue reading “The Swearing-In Wasn’t Just a Celebration. It Was a Soft Launch for a 2026 Tax Campaign”
El Cerrito’s Long-Term Tax Measure: Hidden Costs Explained
Influenced by Concerned Citizens’ Social Media Posts Residents deserve transparency before voting on a tax that won’t deliver what’s being promised El Cerrito is once again being asked to approve a long-term tax measure — this time advertised as an initiative for a new library. But before anyone votes, residents deserve to understand what thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Long-Term Tax Measure: Hidden Costs Explained”
Overstaffing in El Cerrito: Impacts on Expenses and Services
El Cerrito stands out among its neighboring cities for its unusually high concentration of fire services, considering its population and geographic size. More than five years ago, the California State Auditor recommended that the city conduct a staffing analysis to determine the appropriate levels for each classification. While El Cerrito is finally conducting a staffingContinue reading “Overstaffing in El Cerrito: Impacts on Expenses and Services”
Transforming El Cerrito’s Policing: Strategies for Safer Communities
El Cerrito residents deserve a public safety strategy that matches the realities on the ground. Yet at a recent meeting, the Chief of Police proudly highlighted the additional revenue the department generated from citations — while saying nothing about the rise in property crime across our neighborhoods. That contrast tells you everything.When leadership celebrates ticketContinue reading “Transforming El Cerrito’s Policing: Strategies for Safer Communities”
El Cerrito’s Leadership Crisis: Time for New Voices
El Cerrito is long overdue for a change in leadership. Despite over a decade of warning signs—financial mismanagement, escalating liabilities, and a deeply troubled General Fund—City Hall has continued to cling to the same failing playbook and the same enabling cast of characters. And now, residents are being asked to fund a $75 million libraryContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Leadership Crisis: Time for New Voices”
A Legacy of Neglect
For nearly twenty years, El Cerrito residents have shouldered the consequences of City Hall’s fiscal negligence. The City’s pension costs now exceed $8.5 million every year—roughly 16 percent of the city’s entire General Fund budget. Those costs keep rising, even as service levels fall, and public safety concerns grow. This didn’t happen by chance. It’sContinue reading “A Legacy of Neglect”
El Cerrito’s Conflict of Interest in City Manager Expenses
Shame on the Mayor for shirking their responsibilities In municipal government, transparency and accountability start with something simple: who approves the expenses of the top executive. In nearly every California city, that responsibility rests squarely with the Mayor or City Council, not a subordinate employee. It’s a small but essential safeguard that ensures no oneContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Conflict of Interest in City Manager Expenses”
California’s Housing Funding Setbacks: The Plaza Library Challenge
The State of California’s Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has released staff recommendations for its latest round of affordable housing awards—funding essential for moving major transit-oriented development projects forward. El Cerrito Plaza’s Parcel C East did not receive an award, representing an early and important setback for the proposed Plaza Library, which is tied to ParcelContinue reading “California’s Housing Funding Setbacks: The Plaza Library Challenge”
A Better Alternative: Building a Library at Stockton Avenue
El Cerrito could have a modern library. But the Plaza library proposal is not the responsible path to get there. After months of shifting numbers, incomplete statements, and conflicting assumptions, one thing has become clear. This project is not financially sound, not transparent, and not in the long-term interest of residents. Voters should reject it.Continue reading “A Better Alternative: Building a Library at Stockton Avenue”
El Cerrito Residents Reject Library Tax Proposal
At the December 2 City Council meeting, El Cerrito residents showed up in force — and they were overwhelmingly opposed to yet another long-term tax for a library the city would not own. Six residents spoke against the proposal, raising concerns about the initiative’s structure, its lack of transparency, and the long-term financial impact onContinue reading “El Cerrito Residents Reject Library Tax Proposal”
Are Seniors Really Exempt from El Cerrito’s Library Tax?
El Cerrito neighbors and friends,you’ve probably heard one line over and over from supporters of the new library tax: “Seniors are exempt.” Not “low-income seniors under a strict state program.”Not “a few seniors who qualify after paperwork and audits.”Just a blanket “seniors are exempt.” That isn’t just misleading. It’s false.And the people leading this effort—CityContinue reading “Are Seniors Really Exempt from El Cerrito’s Library Tax?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 