El Cerrito is at a crossroads. As property taxes, sales tax, and now a proposed $300 parcel tax continue to rise, many homeowners feel squeezed by the financial burden of living here. The question is not just about funding vital services—it’s about ensuring that the people who already call El Cerrito home can afford toContinue reading “Making Property Taxes Fair in El Cerrito: A Call for Balance and Affordability”
Author Archives: eccrg
Assessing Kensington’s Fair Share in Fire Services
When it comes to fire services, fairness and equity are essential to maintaining trust between neighboring communities. The El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department, which provides critical fire protection and emergency medical services, serves both the city of El Cerrito and the smaller, affluent community of Kensington. However, questions have arisen about whether Kensington, with its populationContinue reading “Assessing Kensington’s Fair Share in Fire Services”
Community Feedback: Revisiting Remote Public Comments in El Cerrito
We recently received a thoughtful comment from a concerned citizen regarding our previous blog post on the suspension of remote public comments in El Cerrito. The commenter rightly pointed out that the decision to halt remote participation was a direct response to coordinated “Zoom bombing” incidents, where non-residents disrupted meetings with antisemitic and white supremacistContinue reading “Community Feedback: Revisiting Remote Public Comments in El Cerrito”
A Transparency Issue Beyond Just Numbers
Residents tuning into El Cerrito’s much-anticipated audit presentation were met with a frustrating and concerning reality: they simply couldn’t hear it. Those in attendance at the council chamber struggled to catch the details, while remote listeners missed most of the discussion entirely. What makes this situation even more perplexing is that earlier commentary during theContinue reading “A Transparency Issue Beyond Just Numbers”
Updated 1/22/25 Reviving Remote Public Commentary in El Cerrito
The former mayor of El Cerrito, Tessa Rudnick, made the controversial decision to suspend remote public commentary during council meetings, citing concerns over antisemitic remarks. However, this reasoning serves as a red herring—masking the true impact of silencing community voices, particularly those who cannot attend in person. Remote participation provided an essential platform for residentsContinue reading “Updated 1/22/25 Reviving Remote Public Commentary in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito Financial Audit: Transparency Concerns
As the community eagerly awaits the results of El Cerrito’s financial audit, concerns about transparency and clarity in the city’s financial reporting continue to mount. A concerned citizen recently highlighted critical questions that remain unanswered ahead of Tuesday’s city council meeting. Key Financial Terms Still Unclear Despite repeated calls for greater transparency, essential financial termsContinue reading “El Cerrito Financial Audit: Transparency Concerns”
Microblog: Concerns Over Community Engagement in El Cerrito’s Richmond Street Planning
A concerned resident shared frustrations about a November workshop that left attendees feeling unheard. The meeting format, which featured a presentation and stations around the room, seemed to lack opportunities for meaningful dialogue or the presentation of alternative viewpoints. “We’re invited to these meetings, but I don’t think they’re set up in a way thatContinue reading “Microblog: Concerns Over Community Engagement in El Cerrito’s Richmond Street Planning”
El Cerrito’s Financial Transparency Under Scrutiny
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the City of El Cerrito will receive a presentation on its Fiscal Year 2023-24 financial statements, prepared by Sheldon Chavan of Chavan & Associates LLP. While this presentation should provide critical insights into the city’s financial health, there are glaring concerns about transparency and objectivity in how the information willContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Transparency Under Scrutiny”
El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?
In the upcoming El Cerrito City Council meeting, the focus turned to expanding cannabis opportunities as a revenue source. This comes on the heels of the establishment of two major dispensaries, NUG (opened in 2021) and STIIIZY (opened in 2023), which contribute community benefits fees and fund initiatives for local projects. While cannabis operations promiseContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?”
El Cerrito’s Waste Management Costs: Need for Competitive Bidding
The City of El Cerrito has maintained a longstanding partnership with East Bay Sanitary Company for waste management services since 1941. While this enduring relationship has provided stability, the absence of competitive bidding in contract renewals raises concerns about cost efficiency and service quality. Rising Costs for Residents Over the years, residents have experienced consistentContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Waste Management Costs: Need for Competitive Bidding”
2025 El Cerrito Budget Priorities: No Meeting Scheduled
The last Priority Setting and Budget Kickoff for El Cerrito took place on January 13, 2024. Facilitated by consultants at a significant cost, the meeting was billed as an opportunity to shape the city’s goals and budget priorities. However, it left many community members disappointed. Concerns about insufficient advertising, minimal participation from city staff, andContinue reading “2025 El Cerrito Budget Priorities: No Meeting Scheduled”
How El Cerrito Could Save Millions on Pension Payments
On March 2, 2021, NHA Advisors, one of the City of El Cerrito’s financial consultants, presented a critical financial update to the city council. The presentation highlighted the City’s projected $70.3 million Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) as of June 30, 2021. During this session, NHA pointed out that other cities had successfully issued pension obligationContinue reading “How El Cerrito Could Save Millions on Pension Payments”
Why El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Value is in Question
As the new year begins, residents of El Cerrito may notice a stark contrast between their city’s operations and those of neighboring municipalities. While cities like San Pablo, Richmond, Albany, and Hercules are conducting city council meetings during the first full week of January, El Cerrito’s City Hall remains closed, with staff on a two-weekContinue reading “Why El Cerrito’s Taxpayer Value is in Question”
El Cerrito Budget: Rising Costs, Fewer Services
Over the past decade, El Cerrito’s city budget has grown from $54.8 million in FY 2015-16 to $65.3 million in FY 2024-25—an increase of $10.5 million, or 19.1%. Despite this significant rise, residents have seen fewer services instead of the expanded programs or enhanced infrastructure one might expect from such a budgetary increase. The closureContinue reading “El Cerrito Budget: Rising Costs, Fewer Services”
City Services vs. Staffing: A Call for Efficiency
The city faces an undeniable challenge: its staffing levels and payroll far exceed what is necessary to deliver essential services. Basic responsibilities like street maintenance, park upkeep, and permitting are falling short, while the workforce and associated costs continue to grow unchecked. Adding to the frustration, public information requests are often delayed or denied, leavingContinue reading “City Services vs. Staffing: A Call for Efficiency”
Why El Cerrito’s High-Risk Removal Doesn’t Mean Financial Stability
The City of El Cerrito has recently announced its removal from the California State Auditor’s High-Risk Local Government Agency Audit Program. While this may sound like a victory, it’s important to understand what this actually means. The “high risk” designation applies to only the worst 3% of cities in California. Being removed from this listContinue reading “Why El Cerrito’s High-Risk Removal Doesn’t Mean Financial Stability”
El Cerrito: The Case for Ethical Governance
Good governance is not just about following the rules—it’s about doing what’s right for the people you serve. In El Cerrito, recent actions by city leaders highlight a troubling pattern: decisions that may be technically permissible but lack a moral compass and integrity. These choices raise critical questions about whether city leaders put the communityContinue reading “El Cerrito: The Case for Ethical Governance”
Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes: El Cerrito’s Path to Stability
El Cerrito’s financial journey over the past two decades highlights a persistent pattern of fiscal instability and difficult decision-making. While the city recently managed to remove itself from the State Auditor’s High-Risk Cities List, over 450 cities in California are still more well-run, underscoring the ongoing challenges the city faces. From Stability to Decline: TheContinue reading “Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes: El Cerrito’s Path to Stability”
El Cerrito Holiday Closure: A City on Pause, But Not Its Paychecks
This holiday season, El Cerrito residents will find city offices closed from Friday, December 20, 2024, through Friday, January 3, 2025. While City Hall resumes regular business hours on Monday, January 6, 2025, the question remains: Why does a small city like El Cerrito shut down entirely for two weeks, leaving no coverage for publicContinue reading “El Cerrito Holiday Closure: A City on Pause, But Not Its Paychecks”
The Future of El Cerrito: Are We Heading in the Right Direction?
The El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) is committed to responsible governance where projects and policies reflect the best interests of all residents. A recent comment on our blog raises some serious concerns about the future of El Cerrito—specifically the Downtown project and its potential impacts on quality of life, property values, and communityContinue reading “The Future of El Cerrito: Are We Heading in the Right Direction?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 