Richmond Street has quietly become a test case for street redesign, and residents are feeling the consequences. The city moved forward with dramatic changes — including:

• Reducing on-street parking in multiple blocks, impacting most households for on street parking
• Installing barriers and diverters that restrict local access
• Doing all this without a comprehensive community consensus

Despite months of public comment, emails, and neighborhood meetings, residents’ concerns were minimized or ignored. Feedback about senior accessibility, visitor parking, service vehicles, and overall street safety didn’t meaningfully alter the plan. For many, it feels like the outcome was pre-determined.

What This Means for the Rest of El Cerrito

If you live on Norvell, Elm, Navellier, Ashbury, Colusa, or even smaller connector streets — pay close attention.

The City’s adopted Active Transportation Plan includes similar concepts throughout El Cerrito. What happened to Richmond Street could set the stage for:

• Your block becoming a one-way street
• Your parking eliminated or drastically reduced
• Traffic patterns changing with little input or flexibility
• Increased congestion on nearby streets as drivers reroute

All in the name of “complete streets” — with limited local adaptation or nuance.

The Bigger Issue: Ignoring Public Input

Perhaps the most concerning part of the Richmond Street project wasn’t just the design, but how the decisions were made. Despite vocal, repeated public opposition — including formal letters, petitions, and testimony — the concerns of residents were largely brushed aside.

What’s the point of public engagement if the outcome doesn’t change?

We’ve heard it before: “This isn’t final.” “We’re just piloting.” “It can be adjusted later.” But once infrastructure is poured and policies are adopted, rolling them back is rare. And expensive.

This Affects All of Us

Even if you don’t live on Richmond Street, you should care — because your neighbors do.

If we don’t speak up for each other now, who will speak up when it’s your block next?

What You Can Do:

• Review the Active Transportation Plan for your area
• Contact your City Councilmembers to express concerns
• Attend public meetings and speak out early in the process
• Share what’s happening with your neighbors

This is about transparency, process, and whether El Cerrito remains a community where residents have a meaningful say in how their streets are shaped.

Because if it happened to Richmond Street — it can happen to yours.

Let’s start with the basics.

Residents of El Cerrito vote for City Council members, not for a mayor. Once elected, councilmembers vote among themselves each year to determine who will serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. The positions typically rotate annually, and the vote is often ceremonial. The mayor has no executive powers that set them apart from their colleagues. They run meetings, sign proclamations, and represent the city at events—but the power lies with the council as a whole.

In other words, El Cerrito has a “weak mayor” form of government, where the mayor serves primarily as the public face of the council—not as a separate, powerful office.

So Why Do We Celebrate Our Mayors So Publicly?

Despite the absence of a citywide vote, we often hear phrases like:

“We elected our first Black woman mayor!” “El Cerrito just made history with its first openly gay mayor!” “We now have an Asian American mayor—representation matters!”

These headlines are well-meaning. They reflect civic pride and a desire to uplift leaders who reflect the diversity of our community. And they’re not wrong to celebrate what those milestones represent.

But here’s the nuance: the public didn’t choose that person to be mayor. They chose them to be a member of a five-person body—and that body rotated the title.

We’re not saying representation isn’t important. It is. In fact, it’s vital. But when the process is misunderstood, we risk over-crediting symbolism and under-valuing the substance of governance.

The Symbol vs. the System

In El Cerrito, the mayor is a symbol, not a separate office with a public mandate. When we celebrate a new “historic” mayor, we should ask:

What policies is the mayor advancing? How do they vote on key issues like budgeting, housing, infrastructure, and public safety? Are we holding all councilmembers equally accountable—regardless of who holds the rotating title?

If we’re not careful, celebrating identity milestones without examining governance records can let underperformance slip through the cracks. Representation without accountability is just good PR.

The Real Choice Happens at the Council Level

El Cerrito voters have the power to shape leadership—but only by voting for councilmembers. That’s the real election. That’s when policies, priorities, and values are supposed to be on the line.

If we want stronger, more responsive local government, we need to:

Focus on council elections and who’s running. Ask hard questions about performance, not just identity. Hold all councilmembers accountable—not just the one with the ceremonial title.

Why This Matters Now

El Cerrito faces real challenges: a shaky financial future, aging infrastructure, rising pension costs, and critical decisions about how to serve an aging population.

We need councilmembers who are ready to lead—not just take turns with a title. We should care more about how they govern than how they look at a podium.

And if we want a directly elected mayor with a clear mandate from voters? That would require a change to our city charter—a conversation worth having, but one that hasn’t yet been meaningfully pursued.

Final Thoughts

Let’s continue celebrating the diversity of our leaders. Let’s also be honest about the system that puts them in those roles. El Cerrito doesn’t elect mayors. We rotate them. And while that tradition has benefits—shared leadership, low drama, less politicking—it also calls on residents to look deeper.

Don’t let symbolism substitute for scrutiny. Pay attention to who’s on the council, how they vote, and what they stand for—because that’s where real leadership lives.

If you want more transparency in El Cerrito government, demand better. If you want real change, vote with purpose. The title of “mayor” may rotate, but your voice as a resident never should.

With the November 2026 El Cerrito municipal election just over a year away, now is the time for voters to examine whether the city’s leadership is truly delivering on promises—or simply performing for the spotlight.

Since the pandemic, Council member‑turned‑Mayor Wysinger has repeatedly voted to tap into El Cerrito’s unrestricted reserves to plug budget holes. This pattern of drawing on savings has left the city with thinner financial cushions—raising the risk that a downturn could spark cuts to essential services. Instead of rebuilding reserves or reforming expenditure, the city continues a path of short-term fixes—and long-term fragility.

Under Mayor Wysinger’s leadership, the Richmond Street “Complete Streets” redesign is moving forward—touting safety improvements as justification, despite the plan eliminating about two-thirds of street parking. That displacement falls hardest on seniors, disabled residents, and working families who depend on curb access.

But critically, no specific data has been presented to demonstrate Richmond Street is unsafe. Public incident logs show multiple vehicle collisions with injuries—but none involving bicycles, and most at Potrero or side-street intersections, not along the main stretch. Despite the absence of injury claims, the redesign is being implemented in full. Families with young children now face a daily dilemma: unload groceries with no nearby parking, or leave kids unsupervised while retrieving meals. Disabled residents may have to walk long distances from side-street spaces.

In a recent council meeting, Wysinger responded by referencing her own childhood hardship—but countered resident concerns not with data or compromise, but with rhetoric about privilege. Her behavior is her way of getting even with people who have achieved the American dream. But…..It’s not okay to impose hardship on others simply because you’ve experienced hardship, especially when policy impacts our working-class neighbors most.

Mayor Wysinger highlights her significance as El Cerrito’s first out Black lesbian mayor and positions herself as an equity champion. But when her actions—draining reserves and removing parking—negatively impact families, renters, seniors, and people with disabilities, symbolism loses its power against daily challenges.

We should ask: Are policy decisions rooted in empathy and data, or just optics? True equity means resilience for all—not just flashing rainbow banners.

With the 2026 election ahead, El Cerrito residents deserve leadership that lives within its means and meets real needs.

Show the data: where are safety risks on Richmond Street? How often have bicyclists or pedestrians been injured? If the risk isn’t proven, redesigns and sacrifices demand stronger justification.

Policy must integrate input from those most affected. Ideas like one-side parking, permit zones, or accessible side-street drop-offs are scalable if backed by open discussion.

You can make a difference. Attend Council meetings and speak during public comment to bring urgency to real concerns. Demand transparency on reserves—ask how much remains, what’s being planned, and what alternatives exist. Push for Richmond data—request design metrics from Public Works: traffic counts, accidents, and survey results. Start preparing for 2026—endorse candidates, volunteer, or run for office. Bring leaders to the table who match talk with action.

El Cerrito can be inclusive, safe, and financially sensible. But that starts with leaders who govern with accountability, empathy, and data. Carolyn Wysinger’s record of reserve depletion and parking policies serve as a caution—echoes of performative leadership without grounded, community-centered solutions.

This city deserves more than optics. It deserves leadership rooted in evidence, equity, and common sense. Now’s the time to demand it—and vote accordingly.

It’s not easy to ask hard questions, especially when public discourse is limited and tightly controlled. However, as the November 2026 election approaches, we must take a clear-eyed, data-driven look at the record of El Cerrito’s longest-serving council member, Gabe Quinto.

Councilmember Quinto often speaks passionately about equity, fiscal responsibility, and public safety. But when you examine his voting record over the past decade, the gaps between his words and his actions become hard to ignore.

A Fan of Chevron, But No Parking for Seniors?

Councilmember Quinto has long been a vocal supporter of Chevron—one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluters. Yet this year, he voted to eliminate street parking on Richmond Street, making it harder for elderly and disabled residents to access their own homes. This decision was made over the objections of community members who were directly affected and who offered reasonable alternatives. It’s hard to reconcile his professed values with his vote.

A Record of Spending Increases—Outpacing Inflation

In March 2014, the city’s Finance Director publicly shared that the independent auditor had warned El Cerrito might not be able to continue as a “going concern.” Just months later, Gabe Quinto was elected to the City Council.

In 2013, the General Fund budget was $28.9 million. By 2018, it had grown to $36.6 million—a 26% increase, while inflation (CPI) rose just 16%. That’s a 4.8% annual growth in spending versus a 3% increase in costs. Councilmember Quinto voted for every one of those budgets.

Today, that trend has only accelerated. The FY 2025 General Fund budget is $53.7 million—a 47% increase over seven years. That’s an average of 5.7% growth per year, compared to a CPI increase of just 3.3% per year. And once again, Quinto voted in favor of every one of those budgets.

Since the pandemic, El Cerrito has consistently outspent revenue, draining reserves.

So where is the fiscal prudence?

Promises Made to Seniors—Then Broken

In 2018, Quinto asked voters to support a new real property transfer tax, in part to help fund a permanent home for the senior center. The tax passed.

In 2020, the senior center was permanently closed. And now, Quinto claims the city can’t afford a senior center.

What happened?

El Cerrito is one of the oldest and fastest-aging communities in the Bay Area. But instead of protecting services for seniors, Councilmember Quinto has consistently prioritized large capital projects and consultant contracts—while basic needs for our older residents go unmet.

Big Projects, But Not the Basics

In recent years, Quinto has voted to support:

• A multi-million-dollar aquatics center upgrade,
• A library project expected to cost over $100 million over 30 years,
• Several consultant contracts with limited public accountability.

At the same time, the city couldn’t fund a critically needed fire truck or essential public safety equipment in its latest budget cycle.

Councilmember Quinto says he supports public safety—and we appreciate that. But if public safety is truly a priority, why does it keep falling to the bottom of the funding list? Where’s the substance?

The Role of a Councilmember: Public Service, Not Pet Projects

Our elected officials are supposed to serve the public—not special interests, not political allies, and not their personal agendas. Yet time and again, Quinto has supported costly projects and symbolic spending that don’t reflect the priorities of everyday residents.

Seniors, working families, and small business owners have been left behind. Services that support daily life and community well-being have been deprioritized or ignored.

We need people in office who are willing to represent all residents—not just the loudest advocates or the most well-connected insiders.

Where’s the Public Dialogue?

Council meetings are increasingly scripted. There’s little debate. Few questions are answered. And the public is often relegated to the sidelines.

What’s missing is open, honest discussion about how taxpayer dollars are spent—and how those decisions affect our quality of life. We deserve more than ceremonial speeches. We deserve accountability.

Time for New Leadership

After more than a decade on the council, it’s time to ask: Does this leadership still serve El Cerrito? Is it aligned with our values, our needs, and our hopes for the future?

By every measurable standard, city spending has outpaced inflation. Services have been reduced. Promises to seniors have been broken. And transparency has eroded.

The November 2026 election is our opportunity to course correct.

We need new leadership—leadership that:

• Prioritizes public good over personal legacy,
• Listens to residents before casting votes,
• Fights for core services like public safety and senior care,
• And puts fiscal sustainability ahead of political symbolism.

We need leaders who don’t just speak well—but who vote well.

Let’s vote for someone who will represent all of us—not just pet projects, not just consultants, and not just the politically connected.

Let’s vote for someone who remembers what public service is supposed to be.