As residents learn more about El Cerrito’s plan to relocate its public library, troubling patterns continue to emerge—ones that echo a long history of misleading ballot language, murky financial practices, and vague development promises with no realistic funding plan. Here are three major concerns residents should understand: The Parcel Tax “Exemption” Is Not What ItContinue reading “What El Cerrito Isn’t Telling You”
Author Archives: eccrg
A Library for Her Résumé, Not for El Cerrito: Editorial
From the very beginning, the El Cerrito library project hasn’t been about books, learning, or community need. It’s been about speculative development and the City Manager’s résumé. The proposed library—nestled into the ground floor of a six-story apartment complex across from BART—isn’t being driven by the needs of residents. It’s being designed to impress theContinue reading “A Library for Her Résumé, Not for El Cerrito: Editorial”
El Cerrito’s Challenges: High Taxes and Economic Growth
El Cerrito stands at a pivotal juncture in its economic development. Despite its strategic location and vibrant community, the city struggles to attract and retain businesses. High tax rates and unfavorable comparisons to neighboring municipalities have created a challenging environment for economic growth. The Tax Burden Pushing Businesses Away El Cerrito’s tax structure places aContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Challenges: High Taxes and Economic Growth”
El Cerrito’s Misguided Development Gamble
El Cerrito’s City Council is pursuing a plan to relocate the public library into a high-density development at the Plaza BART Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) site. They claim it’s about modernizing services. In reality, it’s about propping up their speculative “urban village” vision—an idea that casts the library not as a civic resource, but as anContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Misguided Development Gamble”
El Cerrito’s Financial Reckoning: A Call for Long-Term Responsibility
A recent public comment submitted by a concerned El Cerrito resident—featured on page 735 of the June 3, 2025, City Council agenda packet—highlights urgent and deeply troubling issues regarding the city’s financial practices. The letter, written by Janos Szlatenyi, outlines not only a critique of the city’s current fiscal approach but also a clear warning:Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Reckoning: A Call for Long-Term Responsibility”
El Cerrito’s “Library Project”: A Gift to the City, a Burden to the Taxpayer
In El Cerrito, they’re calling it a library. But in truth, it’s a full-scale development project—wrapped in community language and funded entirely by parcel taxpayers. The City of El Cerrito plans to build a new library, not as a standalone public building, but as the first-floor “condominium unit” in a six-story apartment complex across fromContinue reading “El Cerrito’s “Library Project”: A Gift to the City, a Burden to the Taxpayer”
🌐 One Rule for the City Manager, Another for Everyone Else 🌐
In El Cerrito, we see a troubling example of how power can become concentrated in the hands of a few—an oligarchy. When decisions are made behind closed doors, transparency is ignored, and public input is dismissed, it’s the residents who suffer. The council has allowed city leadership to repeatedly ignore public engagement, preferring decisions madeContinue reading “🌐 One Rule for the City Manager, Another for Everyone Else 🌐”
El Cerrito’s Use of Reserves Amidst Rising Expenses
Have you seen the agenda packet for Tuesday’s city council meeting? El Cerrito’s proposed budget for FY 2025-26 raises significant concerns about fiscal sustainability, particularly in its handling of unrestricted General Fund reserves and a growing budget gap. According to the latest budget report, the City projects General Fund expenditures totaling $53.76 million, setting aContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Use of Reserves Amidst Rising Expenses”
The High Cost of Inadequate Analysis: NHA’s Failure on El Cerrito’s Pension Liability
El Cerrito’s financial health is under increasing scrutiny, and rightly so. Residents deserve clear, actionable insights into the city’s long-term obligations, especially when it comes to pension liabilities. Unfortunately, the city’s decision to pay NHA Advisors over $100,000 for financial consulting services has left more questions than answers. 🔍 Where Did the Money Go? AccordingContinue reading “The High Cost of Inadequate Analysis: NHA’s Failure on El Cerrito’s Pension Liability”
The Real Problem: Expenses Outpacing Revenue
One Next Door writer made a good point: The core financial challenge facing the City of El Cerrito is not incremental Section 115 investment strategies or portfolio decisions—it is the fundamental and ongoing imbalance between rising expenses and flat revenue. This structural issue is the root cause of the city’s mounting fiscal stress and long-termContinue reading “The Real Problem: Expenses Outpacing Revenue”
El Cerrito’s Pension Burden: Rankings Reveal Troubling Financial Trends #4
California municipalities are ranked each year based on key fiscal indicators—including net worth, pension costs, and pension obligations. These rankings, which compare cities statewide, offer insight into local governments’ fiscal health and future sustainability. For El Cerrito, the trend is clear: while the city has improved its relative standing, the underlying numbers still reflect aContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Pension Burden: Rankings Reveal Troubling Financial Trends #4”
El Cerrito’s $89M Pension Crisis: Misplaced Blame on CalPERS #3
During the May 20, 2025 presentation to the El Cerrito City Council, NHA Advisors—serving as the city’s financial advisor—essentially blamed CalPERS for El Cerrito’s $89 million Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL), citing underperformance in investment returns. But that explanation doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Other cities relying on CalPERS are not facing pension liabilities near thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s $89M Pension Crisis: Misplaced Blame on CalPERS #3”
The Comfort of Consultants
In El Cerrito, consultants don’t just provide professional services—they provide reassurance. And for a city in financial distress, that comfort has become dangerously convenient. At the May 20, 2025, City Council meeting, NHA Advisors—El Cerrito’s longtime financial consultants—blamed CalPERS investment performance for the city’s soaring $89 million pension liability. But that narrative ignores reality. NearlyContinue reading “The Comfort of Consultants”
El Cerrito’s Fire Station Density: A Critical Analysis
Fire protection is one of the most visible and vital services cities provide regarding public safety. But how many fire stations are enough—and at what cost? Let’s examine El Cerrito’s performance in terms of fire station density, risk exposure, and financial sustainability compared to other Contra Costa County cities. More Fire Stations per Square MileContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fire Station Density: A Critical Analysis”
Expose Budgeting Tactics in El Cerrito: A Call for Reform – Microblog
El Cerrito residents deserve a transparent and responsible budgeting process—but we’re getting sleight of hand instead. During the cityCouncil meeting today, City Manager Karen Pinkos continued to present an operating budget that deliberately excluded known expenses. These aren’t surprises. They’re foreseeable needs—yet they’re left out of the formal budget and funded later using unrestricted reserves.Continue reading “Expose Budgeting Tactics in El Cerrito: A Call for Reform – Microblog”
El Cerrito Bond Ratings: A Decade of Decline
Understanding Municipal Bond Ratings Municipal bond ratings assess a city’s creditworthiness and directly affect the interest rates it pays when borrowing. Agencies like S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s issue these grades, with higher ratings signaling strong financial health. A downgrade not only reflects concern—it costs cities more to borrow and weakens their financial position overContinue reading “El Cerrito Bond Ratings: A Decade of Decline”
Are Bike Lanes Necessary on Richmond Street? Exploring Alternatives
The Richmond Street Complete Streets Project is moving forward under the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) oversight, which issued the regional Request for Proposals (RFP 23-3) to deliver bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements across Contra Costa County. This initiative is funded through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which supports localContinue reading “Are Bike Lanes Necessary on Richmond Street? Exploring Alternatives”
Doing What They Want and Begging for What They Need
Truth is suppressed, not to protect the country from enemy agents, but to protect the Government of the day against the people. —— Essential, But Not Budgeted: The Cost of Poor Planning in El Cerrito El Cerrito continues to show signs of financial mismanagement—this time by failing to include known, essential expenses in the city’sContinue reading “Doing What They Want and Begging for What They Need”
What Grade Does El Cerrito Earn?
A Civic Report Card Behind the Illusion of Progress El Cerrito City Hall paints a picture of progress—balanced budgets, climate goals, vibrant neighborhoods. However, behind the branding is a different reality. Services have disappeared, debt has grown, and infrastructure has declined. While public statements promise fiscal stability and community investment, the numbers tell a differentContinue reading “What Grade Does El Cerrito Earn?”
El Cerrito’s Library Initiative: A Costly Gamble with Uncertain Benefits
The City of El Cerrito has proposed a new initiative that could dramatically reshape the city’s financial landscape and impose a significant burden on property owners. This initiative, known as the El Cerrito Library Initiative, seeks to fund the planning, construction, and furnishing of a modern library in El Cerrito. At first glance, the measureContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Library Initiative: A Costly Gamble with Uncertain Benefits”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 