The plight of El Cerrito’s senior community has become an enduring symbol of the city’s administrative inertia and misplaced priorities. Over seven years after a concerned citizen brought the issue of the Senior Center to the City Council at the October 3, 2017 meeting (timestamp 19:25), seniors remain displaced, and the city continues to evadeContinue reading “The El Cerrito Senior Center: A Case of Neglect and Mismanagement”
Category Archives: Financial Crisis
The Looming Pension Crisis: A $98 Million Unfunded Liability
On November 19th, the city council and staff marked the occasion of a $1.3 million contribution to a Section 115 pension investment. Notably, their consultant had advised a minimum contribution of $5 million, but the account was opened with only about 20% of that recommendation. Typically, cities that establish a Section 115 investment account areContinue reading “The Looming Pension Crisis: A $98 Million Unfunded Liability”
Political Opportunism, Silencing and Civil Liberties Concerns
A concerned citizen recently wrote to ECCRG. Their perspective offered some insight. Here are a few thoughts presented as a blog: Advocacy for Surveillance Technology El Cerrito’s city government has recently come under scrutiny, with allegations suggesting it operates as a “Good Ol’ Boys” club, lacking accountability and transparency. Residents express concerns that Mayor TessaContinue reading “Political Opportunism, Silencing and Civil Liberties Concerns”
Put the right people in the right places, doing the right things – a microblog
Ensuring that the appropriate personnel are in optimal positions and performing effectively is a fundamental principle of management. This principle becomes particularly apparent during the city’s annual budget development. The City Manager frequently dismisses requests for more detailed information or budget modifications with a recurrent excuse: a shortage of staff. This repeated response, which residentsContinue reading “Put the right people in the right places, doing the right things – a microblog”
Mayor Tessa Rudnick: How Will You Lead Differently as a Future City Manager?
Mayor Tessa Rudnick has expressed aspirations to become a city manager one day. This raises an important question: How would she approach governance differently to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility, and better outcomes for the residents of El Cerrito? With the State of the City Address approaching, now is the perfect time for Mayor Rudnick toContinue reading “Mayor Tessa Rudnick: How Will You Lead Differently as a Future City Manager?”
El Cerrito’s Budget Crisis: City Manager Salary Increase Sparks Debate
On Tuesday, December 3, the El Cerrito City Council, is poised to approve a new five-year contract for City Manager Karen Pinkos, elevating her salary to $261,384—despite the city’s ongoing financial challenges. Since 2019, El Cerrito has been under scrutiny from the state auditor due to significant fiscal concerns, including persistent budget deficits and insufficientContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Budget Crisis: City Manager Salary Increase Sparks Debate”
The 2019 Warning: El Cerrito’s Financial Woes Began Long Before the 2021 Report
In 2019, the City of El Cerrito was formally placed under the spotlight of the California State Auditor’s Local High Risk Program, signaling serious concerns about its financial health. This was not a sudden revelation. The State Auditor’s assessment highlighted longstanding fiscal challenges that required immediate attention. By February 2020, the Joint Legislative Audit CommitteeContinue reading “The 2019 Warning: El Cerrito’s Financial Woes Began Long Before the 2021 Report”
Four Years After the State Auditor’s Report: El Cerrito’s Financial Challenges Persist
Nearly 4 years ago in March 2021, the California State Auditor released a report exposing severe financial challenges in the City of El Cerrito. At that time, state auditor ranked El Cerrito, the sixth most likely city in the state of California to become bankrupt These issues included the depletion of unrestricted reserves, a structuralContinue reading “Four Years After the State Auditor’s Report: El Cerrito’s Financial Challenges Persist”
Prioritizing Proactive Policing Over Costly Technology in El Cerrito
The El Cerrito Police Department’s recent presentation on planned technology deployments has raised critical concerns about the city’s law enforcement priorities and fiscal responsibility. Proposals for tools such as Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) for parking enforcement, facial recognition systems for criminal investigations, and both indoor and outdoor drones signal a shift toward expensive, high-techContinue reading “Prioritizing Proactive Policing Over Costly Technology in El Cerrito”
Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Unrestricted General Fund Balance
Residents of El Cerrito are raising concerns about the city’s unrestricted general fund (GF) balance due to the lack of transparency in financial reporting. The city does not report the unrestricted balance separately; instead, they group all reserves together, occasionally breaking out portions such as the Section 115 or emergency fund balance. However, the unrestrictedContinue reading “Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Unrestricted General Fund Balance”
Hiding Behind the Brown Act
In El Cerrito, many residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of transparency from our city government. It seems that every time we request crucial information—whether about the library project, financial reserves, or decisions made on our behalf—we’re met with the same tired excuses: “releasing this information could harm the public,” or “the documentsContinue reading “Hiding Behind the Brown Act”
Revisiting El Cerrito’s Spending: Time for a New Approach to City Staffing?
In 2020, the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) demonstrated that El Cerrito’s spending outpaced that of neighboring cities, putting a significant financial burden on its residents. Fast forward to 2023, and likely in 24/25, the city’s expenses remain higher than those of nearby communities, even as neighboring cities have taken steps to manageContinue reading “Revisiting El Cerrito’s Spending: Time for a New Approach to City Staffing?”
Is El Cerrito Building a Library or Something Much Bigger?
The City of El Cerrito has proposed “leasehold improvements” for a new public library. However, recent analyses by concerned citizens and experienced developers suggest that the project’s scope and budget may indicate plans for a multi-story apartment building rather than a standalone library. Key Concerns: El Cerrito Responsible Government Implications for Residents: If the projectContinue reading “Is El Cerrito Building a Library or Something Much Bigger?”
El Cerrito’s Priorities: Legal Fees and Polling Over Community Needs?
Between December 2023 and March 2024, El Cerrito spent over $186,000 of taxpayer money on legal fees with the firm Meyers Nave, alongside approxy $40,000 on polling services from Godbe Research. These expenditures are tied to the City’s push for a new library project, a venture that has raised serious concerns among residents. What’s evenContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Priorities: Legal Fees and Polling Over Community Needs?”
El Cerrito’s Road Conditions Decline Despite Dedicated Funding
El Cerrito residents are increasingly concerned about the state of their roads as the city’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score continues to decline. This index, which measures the quality of road infrastructure, shows a significant downward trend, despite a dedicated tax for road maintenance. Recent data from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Bay Area Toll Authority revealsContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Road Conditions Decline Despite Dedicated Funding”
El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility
As the latest election results roll in, it’s clear that El Cerrito is on the cusp of a significant shift in its City Council. With current vote tallies, Ktsanes leads Helion, signaling that residents are ready to move toward a more financially responsible future. In an area where community engagement and fiscal stewardship have beenContinue reading “El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility”
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”
El Cerrito Measure G: Mercury News & East Bay Times Recommend No Votes
Both the Mercury News and East Bay Times endorse a NO vote on El Cerrito’s Measure G. This measure seeks to make a 1% increase in the city’s sales tax permanent, pushing the combined rate to 10.25%. El Cerrito’s tax rate would remain one of the highest in California, despite an ongoing history of fiscalContinue reading “El Cerrito Measure G: Mercury News & East Bay Times Recommend No Votes”
Why Has El Cerrito Invested So Much in Polling and Legal Firms for the Library Project?
In recent months, El Cerrito has ramped up efforts to move forward with a new library project, spending over $186,000 in legal fees and significant amounts on polling residents. The City has long neglected the library, offering limited hours and resources, so why the sudden urgency to push through a new, costly project? The likelyContinue reading “Why Has El Cerrito Invested So Much in Polling and Legal Firms for the Library Project?”
Editorial: Why I’m Voting No on Prop 5 and Supporting William Ktsanes for El Cerrito City Council
As a concerned citizen of El Cerrito, I am deeply worried about the City Council’s support for Proposition 5, which would lower the required voter approval threshold for bonds from 67% to just 55%. On the surface, it may seem like a small change, but in practice, it opens the door for risky, taxpayer-funded projectsContinue reading “Editorial: Why I’m Voting No on Prop 5 and Supporting William Ktsanes for El Cerrito City Council”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 