The city of El Cerrito is approaching a key moment: Gabe Quinto — now in his eleventh year on the City Council — has confirmed to Livable El Cerrito on October 31, 2025, that he plans to run for re-election in 2026. At the same time, he is slated to be selected as mayor inContinue reading “Gabe Quinto’s Path to Re-Election: Promises vs. Reality”
Author Archives: eccrg
Why El Cerrito Residents Pay More — And Get Less
We reviewed the new Master Fee Schedule. The Council quietly approved the changes after about a decade of no changes. They could have explained the changes, but it’s hard to explain why El Cerrito residents are paying some of the highest costs in the region for basic city services. But it’s not because our servicesContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Residents Pay More — And Get Less”
Leadership Isn’t Optics — It’s Obligation
Mayor Carolyn Wysinger and the Measure of True Inclusion Mayor Carolyn Wysinger entered office with a powerful story — one rooted in representation, visibility, and inclusion. As the first openly Black lesbian mayor in California, her leadership carries symbolic weight and a promise of progress for a city still emerging from years of fiscal strain.Continue reading “Leadership Isn’t Optics — It’s Obligation”
Why Are We Calling It a “Library Initiative”?
Understanding What’s Actually Being Proposed in El Cerrito In recent months, El Cerrito residents have increasingly heard about a “library initiative.” The term sounds straightforward — a voter measure dedicated to building and supporting a new public library. But here’s the issue: 📌 There is no specific proposed legislation focused solely on library services currentlyContinue reading “Why Are We Calling It a “Library Initiative”?”
El Cerrito First Quarter Financial Update: Key Takeaways
If you tuned into this week’s City Council meeting, you probably noticed something unusual — the financial presentation actually made sense. That’s thanks to Claire Coleman, who walked through the First Quarter General Fund update with calm confidence. No reading word-for-word from a script. No jargon marathon. Just a clear explanation of where we standContinue reading “El Cerrito First Quarter Financial Update: Key Takeaways”
The Controversy of Library Foundation Donations in El Cerrito
A concerned El Cerrito resident’s perspectiveThe discussion surrounding El Cerrito’s library has become one of the most complicated and emotionally charged issues in our city. While residents debate the financial responsibility and structural soundness of the proposed Plaza Station Library plan, another issue also deserves attention: the funding of the campaign supporting this measure. RecentContinue reading “The Controversy of Library Foundation Donations in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito’s Transparency Crisis: Understanding SB 707
For years, El Cerrito residents have requested greater transparency, easier access to public meetings, and more opportunities to participate in local government. Instead of expanding access, our city has quietly moved backward—removing remote public comment, ending livestreams of critical boards and commissions, and limiting public visibility into the decisions that shape our community. Now, withContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Transparency Crisis: Understanding SB 707”
Underground Power Lines: El Cerrito’s $2M+ Opportunity
El Cerrito has an estimated $2 million+ available from PG&E specifically for undergrounding local power lines — a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve safety, reliability, neighborhood aesthetics, and property values. Despite this, the City Manager has shown no interest in pursuing the funds, even though PG&E is actively encouraging cities to partner on undergrounding as partContinue reading “Underground Power Lines: El Cerrito’s $2M+ Opportunity”
Lost Productivity in El Cerrito: $3.2 Million Annually
Most working people know what a standard full-time schedule looks like: 40 hours a week—often more. That’s the reality for residents across El Cerrito who juggle jobs, commutes, family responsibilities, and rising costs of living. Yet when it comes to City Hall, the schedule looks very different. According to the posted hours, El Cerrito CityContinue reading “Lost Productivity in El Cerrito: $3.2 Million Annually”
El Cerrito’s Pension Crisis: A Deeper Look at Causes
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 $80 million + Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL), citing underperformance in investment returns. But that explanation doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. The presenter indicated that many cities are experiencing $80 million pensionContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Pension Crisis: A Deeper Look at Causes”
Revitalizing El Cerrito: Lessons from Emeryville
El Cerrito’s most significant sources of business revenue come from Safeway, Lucky’s, Honda, Chevron, CVS, STIIIZY, and Trader Joe’s—solid employers and recognizable brands, but not the kind of economic anchors that transform a city. Yet year after year, City Hall turns to residents with another tax measure instead of turning outward with a real economicContinue reading “Revitalizing El Cerrito: Lessons from Emeryville”
El Cerrito Seniors Deserve a Dedicated Center
The main reason there’s no Senior Center is because the City Manager uses that funding for the multiple layers of management in Administrative, Police, and Fire Departments (see cited roles below). For decades, El Cerrito was home to a vibrant senior center located behind the library on Stockton Avenue. The Open House Senior Center wasContinue reading “El Cerrito Seniors Deserve a Dedicated Center”
Dramatic Fee Hikes in El Cerrito: A Breakdown
Fact Box: What Changed and by How Much Category Fee (Old → New) % Increase Single-Family Home Design Review $959 → $2,320 +142% Typical Planning Project (Combined Fees) $3,198 → $5,939 +86% ADU Permit $367 → $950 +159% Tree Planting (DIY Permit) $59 → $533 +803% City Vegetation Removal $75 → $775 +933% Street TreeContinue reading “Dramatic Fee Hikes in El Cerrito: A Breakdown”
Where Did the Money Go?
El Cerrito’s Tax Trail—and Why Voters Should Demand Accountability Before Approving Another $3 Million a Year For more than a decade, El Cerrito has asked residents to dig deeper into their wallets—promising better services, improved facilities, and stronger community programs. The problem? Despite layer upon layer of new taxes, residents still can’t see where theContinue reading “Where Did the Money Go?”
El Cerrito Plaza TOD: Delays and Community Concerns
Written by a group of concerned citizens As concerned citizens of El Cerrito, we’ve followed the City’s plans for the El Cerrito Plaza Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) with great interest — and growing concern. This project was promoted as a showcase of smart growth, featuring dense housing near transit, new retail and public spaces, and aContinue reading “El Cerrito Plaza TOD: Delays and Community Concerns”
El Cerrito’s Tax Burden Is Driving People Away
Let’s talk about what no one at City Hall wants to admit — El Cerrito’s taxes are out of control. Our sales tax rate is among the highest in the region, making even everyday purchases feel like a penalty for shopping locally. Residents are voting with their wallets — going elsewhere to buy groceries, clothes, or hardware.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Tax Burden Is Driving People Away”
El Cerrito: Tackling Excess Management and High Costs
El Cerrito’s $53.8 million operating budget is being stretched thin by payroll and pension costs that far exceed those of neighboring cities. Each year, the city spends about $8.5 million on required pension contributions — nearly 16% of the total operating budget — while still carrying an unfunded pension liability of roughly $83 million. ThatContinue reading “El Cerrito: Tackling Excess Management and High Costs”
Is El Cerrito’s Library Tax Too Vague? Key Concerns
The City of El Cerrito has released its official Notice of Intention regarding a proposed library tax measure. At first glance, it reads like a standard statement of purpose. But when you look closer, several key discrepancies emerge—raising questions about transparency, scope, and what residents are truly being asked to support. The Notice Frames theContinue reading “Is El Cerrito’s Library Tax Too Vague? Key Concerns”
Successful Library Funding: Lessons from Nearby Cities
When nearby cities like Pinole, San Pablo, and Albany wanted new libraries, they didn’t rush to tax their residents indefinitely — nor did they ask for three times more than the project actually costs. El Cerrito officials claim the new library will cost about $21 million, yet they’re asking voters to approve a tax thatContinue reading “Successful Library Funding: Lessons from Nearby Cities”
El Cerrito Library Tax: Neutrality or Campaigning?
In recent months, the City of El Cerrito has repeatedly claimed to be “neutral” on the proposed parcel tax to fund a new city library. Yet, by the City’s own account, it hired two consulting firms — Godbe Research and the Lew Edwards Group — to measure voter support and assess the feasibility of aContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Tax: Neutrality or Campaigning?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 