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?”
Category Archives: library
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 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?”
Tax Fatigue in El Cerrito: A Never-Ending Cycle?
#ElCerrito #TaxBurden #FiscalAccountability El Cerrito residents are staring down the barrel of a probable $300 “forever” tax measure on the 2025 ballot. Many are skeptical, given the City’s history of reneging on promises made during previous tax campaigns. Already burdened by high taxes, including the Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) that hit us when purchasingContinue reading “Tax Fatigue in El Cerrito: A Never-Ending Cycle?”
Editorial: Why Karen Pinkos Has Not Been Successful as El Cerrito’s City Manager
Karen Pinkos, El Cerrito’s City Manager, has had more than five years to address the pressing concerns raised by the State Auditor, but rather than take meaningful action, she continues to insist that everything is just fine. This lack of transparency and failure to act has done little to reassure the residents of El Cerrito,Continue reading “Editorial: Why Karen Pinkos Has Not Been Successful as El Cerrito’s City Manager”
Hypocrisy Unveiled
In a performance reminiscent of the republican VP candidate’s debate tactics, El Cerrito’s City Manager, Karen Pinkos, proved herself a master at shapeshifting. She pulled out every rhetorical trick in the book to sidestep looming questions during the recent City Council meeting. It didn’t take long for the council to join in to congratulate themselves.Continue reading “Hypocrisy Unveiled”
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”
The El Cerrito Library: A Tale of Workshops, Secrecy, and Misguided Plans
The City of El Cerrito continues to hold “public workshops” that are nothing more than pep rallies for the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library. At the last event held at the library, no information was distributed, and no relevant questions were answered. The city has little involvement in operating the library. The County has total controlContinue reading “The El Cerrito Library: A Tale of Workshops, Secrecy, and Misguided Plans”
Greg Lyman: A Record of Financial Mismanagement and Misleading Narratives
During Greg Lyman’s tenure on the El Cerrito City Council from 2008 to 2020, the city’s financial health sharply declined, culminating in a bond rating drop from AA- to BBB-. Lyman’s leadership failed to adapt to the city’s financial “new normal,” despite attributing the need to draw on reserves to the 2008 recession. This short-sightedContinue reading “Greg Lyman: A Record of Financial Mismanagement and Misleading Narratives”
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?”
A Tale of Two Cities: How El Cerrito Can Learn from Hercules’ Financial Struggles
As residents of El Cerrito, it’s important that we take a hard look at our city’s fiscal health and understand the broader context within which we’re operating. The recent ranking by the California State Auditor places El Cerrito in a precarious financial position—13th most likely city in California to face bankruptcy. But what does thisContinue reading “A Tale of Two Cities: How El Cerrito Can Learn from Hercules’ Financial Struggles”
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”
Examining the City Manager’s Financial Report – What’s the Real Picture?
At the September 17 City Council meeting, the City Manager presented the 4th Quarter General Fund Update, painting a rosy picture of El Cerrito’s financial health. While the report claims fiscal prudence and a surplus in the General Fund, we believe the City Manager’s interpretation of the numbers may be misleading. Misleading Use of “GeneralContinue reading “Examining the City Manager’s Financial Report – What’s the Real Picture?”
El Cerrito City Manager Newsletter: A Concerned Citizen’s Observations
The El Cerrito City Manager recently published her monthly newsletter, and as concerned citizens, we believe it’s important to take a closer look at the finance section she provided. For your convenience, here is the El Cerrito September City Manager Newsletter. But before diving into the city’s narrative, some key pieces of information are missingContinue reading “El Cerrito City Manager Newsletter: A Concerned Citizen’s Observations”
Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight
With election season here and three out of five City Council seats up for grabs, it’s a critical time for El Cerrito residents to cast their votes for representatives who will rigorously hold the City Manager accountable for her performance. After serving 12 years as Assistant City Manager, Karen Pinkos took over the role ofContinue reading “Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight”
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”
Vote NO on Tax Measures Without a Sunset: El Cerrito’s Never-Ending Taxation
El Cerrito’s City Council is returning, pleading for more tax revenue from its residents. In 2022, it was the parcel transfer tax. Now, they want to pass Measure G, which means our sales tax will be 10.25%—and make it permanent. Yes, you read that right. Despite the voter mandate to sunset this tax in MarchContinue reading “Vote NO on Tax Measures Without a Sunset: El Cerrito’s Never-Ending Taxation”
El Cerrito Secures $39 Million for Affordable Housing: Is the $300 Forever Tax Necessary?
The City of El Cerrito recently secured $39.1 million in funding to build the first of six affordable housing structures near BART, marking a significant investment in the city’s future. This news, while positive on the surface, raises an important question: Is the proposed $300 forever tax truly necessary? The $39.1 million from the stateContinue reading “El Cerrito Secures $39 Million for Affordable Housing: Is the $300 Forever Tax Necessary?”
Democratic Forum for El Cerrito Council Candidates: A Closer Look
On Saturday, August 17, 2024, the El Cerrito Democratic Club hosted a forum featuring four candidates vying for seats on the City Council. As the forum unfolded, it became clear that the issues facing our city are both urgent and complex. If you missed the live discussion, I strongly encourage you to view the recordedContinue reading “Democratic Forum for El Cerrito Council Candidates: A Closer Look”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 