From a recent social media discussion. At the October 7 City Council meeting, the Council considered authorizing an additional $391,000 to Ghirardelli Associates for “construction management services” related to the El Cerrito Del Norte Transit-Oriented Development Complete Streets Project. This wasn’t a competitive bid. It was a contract extension, justified by claims that the originalContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Selective Spending: Expert Voices Without Expertise”
Category Archives: City Council Meetings
El Cerrito’s Library Plan: Vague Before the Vote, Decided After
One of the most troubling patterns in El Cerrito’s governance is how little concrete information is shared before voters are asked to approve new taxes — only for detailed plans to surface after the initiative passes, when residents no longer have meaningful leverage. The proposed library tax measure is a prime example. Parking Details: Selective,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Library Plan: Vague Before the Vote, Decided After”
El Cerrito’s Workplace Standards
El Cerrito’s Leadership Crisis: Culture, Costs, and Consequences El Cerrito is in trouble. Services are declining, costs are rising, and the city’s workplace culture is not productive. This environment doesn’t just erode morale—it drives away top talent and makes recruitment nearly impossible. What’s left is mediocrity at best—and dysfunction at worst. Residents Deserve Better ElContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Workplace Standards”
Bond Ratings Up, But Paid For With Your Taxes and One-Time Funds
Federal relief dollars, new taxes, and emergency fund raids aren’t financial stewardship — they’re passing the buck. In the September 2025 City Manager’s report, El Cerrito highlighted what it framed as good news: S&P Global Ratings raised the City’s bond ratings to A+ and A-, with a positive outlook for future upgrades. This was presentedContinue reading “Bond Ratings Up, But Paid For With Your Taxes and One-Time Funds”
Image First, City A Distant Second
The City Manager is supposed to be the city’s CEO and chief strategist — the person responsible for setting priorities, stewarding resources, and ensuring residents receive the services they depend on. But in El Cerrito, the record tells a different story. The City hasn’t really recovered from her lack of focus. El Cerrito’s finances remainContinue reading “Image First, City A Distant Second”
El Cerrito’s Senior Center: A Promise the City Has Chosen to Forget
In March 2016, the El Cerrito City Council made a clear and unanimous commitment to its residents. Under then-Mayor Greg Lyman, the council voted for the Portola site as the location for a new library and explicitly rejected the “library-only” plan. Instead, they approved Proposal 1b, which included adequate space for a new senior center—aContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Senior Center: A Promise the City Has Chosen to Forget”
Understanding California’s Sunshine Ordinance
In today’s age of information, transparency in government is more than just a buzzword—it’s a fundamental pillar of democracy. Across California, the idea of a “Sunshine Ordinance” has come to symbolize the state’s commitment to keeping government operations open, accountable, and accessible to the public. While there isn’t one single, statewide sunshine ordinance, a mixContinue reading “Understanding California’s Sunshine Ordinance”
The Real Reason El Cerrito Isn’t Talking About Unrestricted Reserves Part II
Since FY22–23, El Cerrito’s unrestricted General Fund reserves have been in steady decline. And it’s no accident. Behind the scenes, the City has been quietly drawing down those reserves—while hoping the public won’t notice. Why? Because they’re counting on voters to approve the so-called “Forever Tax” to plug the holes. In 2023, the City CouncilContinue reading “The Real Reason El Cerrito Isn’t Talking About Unrestricted Reserves Part II”
🚨 El Cerrito’s Pension Time Bomb: Nearly $90 Million in Unfunded Liability—and No Real Plan
As CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, faces scrutiny over its growing investments in private equity, the City of El Cerrito is sitting on a fiscal time bomb: nearly $90 million in unfunded pension liability—and climbing. This burden, driven by a bloated payroll and decades of financial mismanagement, poses a threat to the city’s long-termContinue reading “🚨 El Cerrito’s Pension Time Bomb: Nearly $90 Million in Unfunded Liability—and No Real Plan”
Running on Empty
An Editorial El Cerrito’s silence on reserves raises real questions about liquidity, transparency, and long-term stability. For years now, El Cerrito’s leadership has assured residents that the city is on stable financial footing. They point to a “balanced budget,” downplay concerns about spending, and avoid discussing the one figure that tells the real story: unrestrictedContinue reading “Running on Empty”
Thank You to El Cerrito Daily News
At a time when too many residents feel unheard and overlooked, The El Cerrito Daily News has become a powerful force for civic awareness and engagement. We extend deep thanks to the founding members who stepped forward to shine light on our city’s decisions, priorities, and gaps. You’ve created a much-needed platform where truth canContinue reading “Thank You to El Cerrito Daily News”
Another Tax, Same Old Story: What’s Really Driving El Cerrito’s Library Measure?
This blog is informed by the concerns and research of engaged El Cerrito residents. El Cerrito voters are once again being asked to open their wallets—this time for a new library. But before signing on to another tax, residents should ask: Who really benefits? The Pattern: Promise a Service, Divert the Funds This isn’t theContinue reading “Another Tax, Same Old Story: What’s Really Driving El Cerrito’s Library Measure?”
Why El Cerrito Shouldn’t Trust Them with One More Dime
For years, El Cerrito residents have been misled — by City Attorney Sky Woodruff, who quietly shapes how ballot measures are presented, and by former Councilmember Greg Lyman, whose decisions nearly bankrupted the city. Now they’re back, pushing a new library tax through a campaign riddled with misleading claims and questionable tactics. This time, theyContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Shouldn’t Trust Them with One More Dime”
Richmond Street: The Train Has Left the Station
Informed by a concerned citizen Yesterday on June 26, 2025, El Cerrito management presented their vision for the Richmond Street project—and if you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording here: 🔗 Watch the Presentation 📊 View the Survey Results Let’s start with the good news. There were a few bright spots: Public EngagementContinue reading “Richmond Street: The Train Has Left the Station”
El Cerrito’s Budget Priorities: More Spending, Fewer Services, and Forgotten Promises
El Cerrito is once again on a path toward increased spending—despite acknowledging numerous infrastructure needs that remain unfunded. Instead of addressing those basics, city leadership is setting the stage for higher expenditures in other areas, including potential raises for management. The justification? They’ve “sacrificed” enough- yeah right! Yet, residents are still waiting for real resultsContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Budget Priorities: More Spending, Fewer Services, and Forgotten Promises”
Why El Cerrito Residents Should Question the New Library Tax
El Cerrito residents will once again be asked to approve a new tax—this time to fund a library at the Plaza BART station. The campaign is framed as a grassroots effort to promote education and community investment. But behind the glossy messaging lies a troubling pattern of fiscal mismanagement, political maneuvering, and a lack ofContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Residents Should Question the New Library Tax”
EL CERRITO MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER SOLD OUT RICHMOND STREET RESIDENTS FOR AN $8 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT
Despite hosting public meetings and inviting resident feedback, the City of El Cerrito had already accepted $8 million in federal funding before residents were shown the final plan. The public input process was performative—a façade of engagement after the decision had already been made. The Richmond Street Complete Streets Project will remove 160 out ofContinue reading “EL CERRITO MAYOR, COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER SOLD OUT RICHMOND STREET RESIDENTS FOR AN $8 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT”
Budget Approved. Services Denied. El Cerrito’s Fiscal Path Back to the Brink – Again
Despite mounting deficits, rising liabilities, and a shrinking cushion of reserves, the El Cerrito City Council voted 4-1 to adopt the FY 2025–26 budget. The lone dissenting vote came from Council Member William Ktsanes—the only member to stay true to his campaign commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparent governance. He recognized what the others ignored:Continue reading “Budget Approved. Services Denied. El Cerrito’s Fiscal Path Back to the Brink – Again”
El Cerrito’s FY 2025–26 Budget Reduces General Fund Reserves to Cover Operating Gap
At its June 17, 2025 meeting, the El Cerrito City Council is scheduled to adopt the FY 2025–26 budget. While the proposed budget is presented as balanced, it includes a planned $2.3 million reduction in the City’s unrestricted General Fund balance to close a projected operating shortfall—continuing a troubling trend of using one-time reserves to fundContinue reading “El Cerrito’s FY 2025–26 Budget Reduces General Fund Reserves to Cover Operating Gap”
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 Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 