El Cerrito’s $700,000 Employees: What Transparent California Reveals Influenced by social media posts of concerned citizens Have you wondered why city officials say El Cerrito needs higher taxes? Before voters are asked to approve a permanent new parcel tax, it’s worth examining publicly available compensation data to see how city dollars are already being spent.Continue reading “How El Cerrito’s Payroll Is Impacting Future Taxes”
Author Archives: eccrg
Stolen Yard Signs and Selective Enforcement in El Cerrito
Over the past month, multiple El Cerrito residents have reported that yard signs opposing the El Cerrito parcel tax have been taken—quietly removed, without notice, and without explanation. Most recently, a sign near the curb was removed, while another on the same property—closer to the house—remained untouched. That inconsistency matters. Most residents understand the City’sContinue reading “Stolen Yard Signs and Selective Enforcement in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito’s Missing Generation — And Why Young People Aren’t Staying
EDITORIAL El Cerrito is a community filled with history, character, and long-time residents who care deeply about this city. But if we step back and look at our demographics, one trend stands out above all others: El Cerrito is getting older, and young people are not staying. According to recent Census data, our median ageContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Missing Generation — And Why Young People Aren’t Staying”
Parcel Tax Legitimacy: El Cerrito Residents Speak Out
Shaped by expressions of Concerned El Cerrito Residents More and more residents are speaking out against this initiative. Like many El Cerrito residents, we value our library and believe the community deserves a modern, welcoming facility. Supporting a new library, however, does not require blind acceptance of a deeply flawed financing plan and a processContinue reading “Parcel Tax Legitimacy: El Cerrito Residents Speak Out”
When Cities Go Bankrupt: The Warning Signs Are Not a Mystery
Municipal bankruptcy does not happen overnight. Cities do not wake up one morning and discover they are insolvent. Bankruptcy is the end of a long sequence of ignored warning signs—patterns that repeat themselves with remarkable consistency. California offers clear case studies. Vallejo filed for bankruptcy in 2008. San Bernardino followed in 2012—different cities, different politicalContinue reading “When Cities Go Bankrupt: The Warning Signs Are Not a Mystery”
Unequal Enforcement at El Cerrito City Meetings: A Call for Change
At the most recent El Cerrito City Council meeting, the City Clerk clearly stated the rules governing public comment: • Items not on the agenda are to be addressed at the beginning of the meeting during general public comment• Agenda items are to be discussed only when they appear on the agenda These rules areContinue reading “Unequal Enforcement at El Cerrito City Meetings: A Call for Change”
Understanding Library Financing Risks
Supporters of the library initiative often focus on the size of the proposed building—a 20,000-square-foot library—and argue that El Cerrito simply needs something bigger and more modern. But square footage alone does not determine cost. Financing does.And financing magnifies every unanswered question. When voters are asked to approve a parcel tax that allows the CityContinue reading “Understanding Library Financing Risks”
Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Library Tax Proposal
An Editorial Tuesday night’s City Council meeting on the proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library tax initiative felt less like civic deliberation and more like a three-ring circus. Council members appeared unfamiliar with the very Citizens’ Initiative before them. Initiative organizers spoke confidently while glossing over foundational gaps. City staff filled airtime with conceptual slides. AndContinue reading “Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Library Tax Proposal”
Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito
City Council supporters and library-initiative advocates have repeatedly said there is no handout to the developer—that the developer would simply add parking or housing to the El Cerrito Plaza project. If that’s true, an obvious question follows: Why is the library initiative structured as a parcel tax that allows the City to deliver roughly $30Continue reading “Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito”
Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax
El Cerrito residents are being asked to approve another permanent tax — again. This time it’s wrapped in the language of libraries and community investment. But the real driver isn’t a building. It’s a budget that is being steadily consumed by pension costs, City leadership has failed to confront. El Cerrito residents are being toldContinue reading “Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax”
Napoleon Is Always Right
Tomorrow, January 20, the City Council will accept certification of the Citizens Initiative Petition for the El Cerrito Library Initiative and, in the same meeting, present a Library Facility Update. That alone should give residents pause. As you’re pausing, consider this: None of those discussions change the core reality. This initiative creates a permanent parcelContinue reading “Napoleon Is Always Right”
Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up
Only after meaningful opposition emerged did El Cerrito finally release updated cost estimates for a new library. Now that the numbers are public, the headline is unmistakable: The Plaza Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library is now estimated to cost $37 million. That figure, provided by consultant Griffin Structures, will be presented to the City CouncilContinue reading “Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up”
El Cerrito’s 2025 Survey Is Up. The Full Story Still Isn’t Public.
At the Tuesday, January 20, 2026 City Council meeting, expect a fair amount of congratulating. There will likely be high-fives, back-patting, and reassuring statements about progress — particularly around the City’s summary of the 2025 National Community Survey (NCS), which shows an increase in overall confidence in City government. According to the City’s published highlights,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s 2025 Survey Is Up. The Full Story Still Isn’t Public.”
When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity
Reposting with correction: A concerned citizen reported an error. The city’s attorney did not write the initiative. As required by law, he wrote the initiative summary for the ballot. See correctiuon below: Reportedly, Karen Pinkos, City Manager of El Cerrito, characterized statements that she was involved in the library tax as “a lie.” That framingContinue reading “When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity”
When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity
Reportedly, Karen Pinkos, City Manager of El Cerrito, characterized statements that she was involved in the library tax as “a lie.” That framing relies on a narrow legal distinction that may be defensible on paper—but it collapses under ethical scrutiny and lived experience. The issue is not whether the City Manager is legally permitted toContinue reading “When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity”
El Cerrito Qualified a Tax. Not the Case for It.
El Cerrito has qualified a ballot measure proposing a 17-cent-per-square-foot tax, yet has not publicly released an analysis explaining why that specific rate is necessary, how it was calculated, or how it aligns with project scope, alternatives, and realistic timelines. That absence is no longer theoretical. It is now part of the public record. What theContinue reading “El Cerrito Qualified a Tax. Not the Case for It.”
When the Status Quo Becomes the Strategy—and the Excuse
Each budget season over her tenure, the City Manager and Finance team repeat the same core message: delivering services = people. A reduction in staff will significantly impact service delivery. In El Cerrito, that statement has hardened into doctrine. It is no longer tested, benchmarked, or questioned—and that is precisely the problem. It’s a cripplingContinue reading “When the Status Quo Becomes the Strategy—and the Excuse”
When the Bare Minimum Becomes the Standard: El Cerrito’s Selective Rulebook
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”
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”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 