Rising costs, shrinking services, and weak fiscal oversight are signs of a city led by well-meaning advocates—not disciplined stewards. El Cerrito residents are paying more but getting less. Service delivery has declined, costs have risen, and the city has repeatedly drawn on its reserves to balance its budget. The result: a community with stretched publicContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Leadership Problem: Passion Without Performance”
Category Archives: William Ktsanes
What Did Management and Council Really Do?
They often claim they “worked hard to turn things around,” but here’s what actually happened: • Accepted $6.1 million in ARPA funds • Accepted $4 million+ per year in RPTT • Increased property taxes after revaluation • Benefited from increased sales tax revenue after court decisions ➡️ Over $12 million per year in extra revenues.Continue reading “What Did Management and Council Really Do?”
El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation
El Cerrito stands out among its neighboring cities for its unusually high concentration of fire services relative to its population and geographic size. The California State Auditor previously recommended that El Cerrito conduct a staffing analysis to determine the appropriate staffing levels for each classification. However, nearly four years later, the city has disregarded thisContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Fire Service Staffing: A Costly Miscalculation”
Transparency and the Path Forward
The recent passage of Measure G marks a pivotal moment for the City of El Cerrito. With over 80% voter support, the extension of the 1 percent sales tax ensures funding for vital city services such as public safety, emergency response, park maintenance, and senior programs. City Manager’s recent newsletter emphasizes gratitude to the communityContinue reading “Transparency and the Path Forward”
Why We Can’t Trust the City to Use the $300 Forever Library Tax or Measure G as Promised
El Cerrito’s financial mismanagement continues to frustrate residents, and two new tax measures—Measure G, which extends the 1% sales tax indefinitely, and a $300 “forever” library tax (yet to be assigned a ballot letter)—are the latest proposals that demand scrutiny. The city has repeatedly broken promises about spending tax dollars, such as diverting federal COVIDContinue reading “Why We Can’t Trust the City to Use the $300 Forever Library Tax or Measure G as Promised”
Outsiders Benefit While El Cerritans Pay the Price: It’s Time for Change
In El Cerrito, a growing concern has emerged regarding the high salaries of city management staff, many of whom do not even live in the city. While they benefit from their generous wages, these employees are largely insulated from the very taxes they approve or advocate for. Instead, the burden of these increasing taxes fallsContinue reading “Outsiders Benefit While El Cerritans Pay the Price: It’s Time for Change”
Why El Cerrito’s City Manager Karen Pinkos is Not Fit to Lead: A Timeline of Missteps
In March 2021, the California State Auditor released a report warning that El Cerrito was the 6th most likely among 400+ cities in California to face bankruptcy. This report outlined serious concerns about the city’s overspending, poor budgeting practices, and insufficient efforts to address financial challenges. Under City Manager Karen Pinkos, who took office inContinue reading “Why El Cerrito’s City Manager Karen Pinkos is Not Fit to Lead: A Timeline of Missteps”
The Cost of Overstaffing: How El Cerrito’s Bloated Payroll is Draining Public Resources
In a startling comparison between two neighboring cities, El Cerrito and Hercules, we find an alarming disparity that should concern every resident and taxpayer in El Cerrito. Both cities cover roughly four square miles and serve similar populations, yet El Cerrito’s staff size is nearly twice that of Hercules. This bloated staff not only burdensContinue reading “The Cost of Overstaffing: How El Cerrito’s Bloated Payroll is Draining Public Resources”
Choose Fiscal Responsibility: Vote for ONE or TWO, Not Three
El Cerrito voters, while you can vote for up to three candidates, the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government urges you to cast your vote for just one or two candidates who will focus on fiscal responsibility. Newcomers Rebecca Saltzman and Courtney Helion are advocating for higher taxes, while William Ktsanes is committed to pushingContinue reading “Choose Fiscal Responsibility: Vote for ONE or TWO, Not Three”
Why El Cerrito Doesn’t Have a Senior Center: A Call to Action
For decades, El Cerrito was home to a vibrant senior center located behind the library on Stockton Avenue. The Open House Senior Center was a community hub where seniors could gather, take classes, enjoy meals, and access critical resources. However, in 2018, the West Contra Costa County School District reclaimed the building, forcing the cityContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Doesn’t Have a Senior Center: A Call to Action”
Greg Lyman: El Cerrito’s Power Broker of Fiscal Irresponsibility – It’s Time to Change the Guard
Greg Lyman, a former City Councilmember turned El Cerrito power broker, currently serving as Treasurer for two city council candidates he endorsed. Lyman has consistently pushed policies that exacerbate the city’s fiscal woes. Known for his influence on local decision-making and El Cerrito City Council candidates, Lyman has supported expanding city spending, including bloated administrativeContinue reading “Greg Lyman: El Cerrito’s Power Broker of Fiscal Irresponsibility – It’s Time to Change the Guard”
Who’s Really Voting for Perpetual Taxes in El Cerrito?
When we closely examine who supports taxes with no sunset in El Cerrito, we see a pattern. It’s not the average resident, small business owner, or family planning to stay in the city for years to come. Instead, the push for these endless taxes often comes from groups who are far removed from the financialContinue reading “Who’s Really Voting for Perpetual Taxes in El Cerrito?”
El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves
El Cerrito has faced budget deficits in 18 of the last 21 years. Since 2003, the city has been plagued by financial shortfalls, repeatedly dipping into emergency reserves and relying on short-term loans, known as “TRANS” (Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes), to stay afloat. By 2017, the reserves were fully depleted, leaving the city with noContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves”
The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting
Both Lisa Motoyama and Karen Pinkos consistently claim that El Cerrito is in a strong financial position. However, they often blur the line between restricted and unrestricted reserves, combining them to paint a rosier picture. What they don’t mention is that approximately $10 million of these reserves are restricted, meaning that they cannot be usedContinue reading “The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting”
The League of Women Voters Forum Highlights Transparency Gaps and Senior Center Needs in El Cerrito
Yesterday’s League of Women Voters forum for the El Cerrito City Council candidates made one thing clear: there is a significant divide in priorities when it comes to the future of our city. Independent candidate William Ktsanes stood out with a strong and heartfelt focus on transparency and addressing the long-overdue need for a dedicatedContinue reading “The League of Women Voters Forum Highlights Transparency Gaps and Senior Center Needs in El Cerrito”
Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to El Cerrito
This past Sunday at the Solano Stroll, a resident of El Cerrito had the chance to speak with candidates running for office in Berkeley and Albany about their positions on open government, transparency, and free speech. Based on their responses, it seems that supporters of open government would feel much more comfortable in these neighboringContinue reading “Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to El Cerrito”
How Has Karen Pinkos Made the Lives of Seniors Better?
A recent post from a member of our senior community raised a critical question: How has El Cerrito City Manager Karen Pinkos made the lives of seniors better? This inquiry was sparked after seniors in our city experienced firsthand the closure of the Senior Center—a space once dedicated to them, now rented out to Kensington.Continue reading “How Has Karen Pinkos Made the Lives of Seniors Better?”
Editorial: El Cerrito Isn’t the Center of the Universe
Living in El Cerrito, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a bubble. There’s a prevailing sense that everyone shares the same views on politics, social issues, and how life should be lived. But the reality is that everyone doesn’t see things the same way. El Cerrito, like many small California towns, can become isolatedContinue reading “Editorial: El Cerrito Isn’t the Center of the Universe”
El Cerrito’s UNRESTRICTED General Fund (GF) Reserves May Have Been Depleted
At the August 27, 2024, Financial Advisory Board (FAB) meeting, an important financial policy recommendation was approved and will be sent to the City Council for consideration. This new policy specifies that the UNRESTRICTED General Fund (GF) reserves should be maintained at a minimum of 17% of the city’s GF expenditures. In comparison, the EmergencyContinue reading “El Cerrito’s UNRESTRICTED General Fund (GF) Reserves May Have Been Depleted”
The Merits of Moving On: A Strategic Perspective on Long-Term Goals
In the the June budget meeting, the City Manager presented the council with a balanced budget, expressing deep emotion and gratitude toward her finance team. Her voice wavered, almost to the point of tears, as she thanked them for their dedication and hard work. For many, this moment might have seemed like a triumph—a testamentContinue reading “The Merits of Moving On: A Strategic Perspective on Long-Term Goals”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 