An Editorial Tuesday night’s City Council meeting on the proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library tax initiative felt less like civic deliberation and more like a three-ring circus. Council members appeared unfamiliar with the very Citizens’ Initiative before them. Initiative organizers spoke confidently while glossing over foundational gaps. City staff filled airtime with conceptual slides. AndContinue reading “Concerns Over El Cerrito’s Library Tax Proposal”
Category Archives: State Audit
Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito
City Council supporters and library-initiative advocates have repeatedly said there is no handout to the developer—that the developer would simply add parking or housing to the El Cerrito Plaza project. If that’s true, an obvious question follows: Why is the library initiative structured as a parcel tax that allows the City to deliver roughly $30Continue reading “Why Upfront Library Financing Raises Concerns in El Cerrito”
Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax
El Cerrito residents are being asked to approve another permanent tax — again. This time it’s wrapped in the language of libraries and community investment. But the real driver isn’t a building. It’s a budget that is being steadily consumed by pension costs, City leadership has failed to confront. El Cerrito residents are being toldContinue reading “Nearly 30% of El Cerrito’s Operating Budget Goes to Pensions — And That’s Why They’re Pushing Another Forever Tax”
Napoleon Is Always Right
Tomorrow, January 20, the City Council will accept certification of the Citizens Initiative Petition for the El Cerrito Library Initiative and, in the same meeting, present a Library Facility Update. That alone should give residents pause. As you’re pausing, consider this: None of those discussions change the core reality. This initiative creates a permanent parcelContinue reading “Napoleon Is Always Right”
Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up
Only after meaningful opposition emerged did El Cerrito finally release updated cost estimates for a new library. Now that the numbers are public, the headline is unmistakable: The Plaza Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) library is now estimated to cost $37 million. That figure, provided by consultant Griffin Structures, will be presented to the City CouncilContinue reading “Plaza Station Library Estimate Jumps to $37 Million — And the Tax Risk Just Went Up”
El Cerrito’s 2025 Survey Is Up. The Full Story Still Isn’t Public.
At the Tuesday, January 20, 2026 City Council meeting, expect a fair amount of congratulating. There will likely be high-fives, back-patting, and reassuring statements about progress — particularly around the City’s summary of the 2025 National Community Survey (NCS), which shows an increase in overall confidence in City government. According to the City’s published highlights,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s 2025 Survey Is Up. The Full Story Still Isn’t Public.”
When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity
Reposting with correction: A concerned citizen reported an error. The city’s attorney did not write the initiative. As required by law, he wrote the initiative summary for the ballot. See correctiuon below: Reportedly, Karen Pinkos, City Manager of El Cerrito, characterized statements that she was involved in the library tax as “a lie.” That framingContinue reading “When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity”
When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity
Reportedly, Karen Pinkos, City Manager of El Cerrito, characterized statements that she was involved in the library tax as “a lie.” That framing relies on a narrow legal distinction that may be defensible on paper—but it collapses under ethical scrutiny and lived experience. The issue is not whether the City Manager is legally permitted toContinue reading “When Legal Distinctions Replace Ethical Clarity”
El Cerrito Qualified a Tax. Not the Case for It.
El Cerrito has qualified a ballot measure proposing a 17-cent-per-square-foot tax, yet has not publicly released an analysis explaining why that specific rate is necessary, how it was calculated, or how it aligns with project scope, alternatives, and realistic timelines. That absence is no longer theoretical. It is now part of the public record. What theContinue reading “El Cerrito Qualified a Tax. Not the Case for It.”
When the Status Quo Becomes the Strategy—and the Excuse
Each budget season over her tenure, the City Manager and Finance team repeat the same core message: delivering services = people. A reduction in staff will significantly impact service delivery. In El Cerrito, that statement has hardened into doctrine. It is no longer tested, benchmarked, or questioned—and that is precisely the problem. It’s a cripplingContinue reading “When the Status Quo Becomes the Strategy—and the Excuse”
When the Bare Minimum Becomes the Standard: El Cerrito’s Selective Rulebook
A longtime resident recently commented, If it’s required by the state or legally binding, El Cerrito might follow it—and even then, only at the minimum level. But when it comes to internal policies, ethics, or transparency, it’s the Wild West. That observation isn’t hyperbole. It’s an accurate description of how governance now functions in ElContinue reading “When the Bare Minimum Becomes the Standard: El Cerrito’s Selective Rulebook”
El Cerrito Has a Trust Problem—and It’s Fixable
El Cerrito residents are not asking for perfection. They are asking for complete, clear, timely information so they can understand what is happening, weigh tradeoffs, and participate in good faith. Right now, El Cerrito’s own survey data shows a credibility gap that City leadership should treat as an operational risk, not a public relations problem.Continue reading “El Cerrito Has a Trust Problem—and It’s Fixable”
When a Post Gets Removed, the Questions Don’t Go Away
Repost: We’ve welcomed many new subscribers since yesterday, so we’re reposting this blog to make sure everyone has a chance to see it. Please share with other El Cerrito residents who may find it helpful. This blog is heavily influenced by a recent social media post that was removed despite strong engagement. A recent postContinue reading “When a Post Gets Removed, the Questions Don’t Go Away”
The Impact of Tax and Safety on El Cerrito Home Prices
Last week, we told you about the unusually low sales price of the home on Arlington. After further research, we found that selling prices have been declining for some time. There’s a quiet rewrite happening in how El Cerrito’s housing market is being described. Recent narratives lean on selective late-year sales and citywide median pricesContinue reading “The Impact of Tax and Safety on El Cerrito Home Prices”
Why El Cerrito Residents Should Vote No on the Parcel Tax
Not because residents don’t value libraries, but because this City has not earned another blank check. El Cerrito’s financial condition didn’t become fragile overnight — and it didn’t happen “to” the City. The California State Auditor found El Cerrito to be at high risk of financial instability due to continual overspending, poor budgeting, and theContinue reading “Why El Cerrito Residents Should Vote No on the Parcel Tax”
How El Cerrito Leaders Sold Out Richmond Street to Make the Library Pencil Out
For years, residents along Richmond Street have been told that proposed bike lanes and street changes are about safety, sustainability, and access. The public record tells a different story. When you read the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant applications tied to the El Cerrito Plaza Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), it becomes clear that RichmondContinue reading “How El Cerrito Leaders Sold Out Richmond Street to Make the Library Pencil Out”
An Open Letter on El Cerrito’s Library: What the Story Still Leaves Out
By a Concerned El Cerrito Resident El Cerrito’s library matters. That is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether residents are being given the full context before being asked to approve a long-term tax for a dramatically expanded library facility tied to a complex and uncertain development plan. A recent article by BayContinue reading “An Open Letter on El Cerrito’s Library: What the Story Still Leaves Out”
El Cerrito’s General Fund Update Is Late — Again
A resident-focused review of the Q1 General Fund Update presented November 18, 2025 El Cerrito residents deserve financial reporting that is timely, comparable, and designed for real oversight—especially in a city where taxes are already high, and the margin for error is shrinking. But the General Fund First Quarter Update presented on November 18, 2025,Continue reading “El Cerrito’s General Fund Update Is Late — Again”
Assessing El Cerrito’s City Services: A Call for Improvement
Residents do not pay taxes for a subpar City Hall . Taxpayers pay for services we can access and rely on: permits and plan checks that move on time, inspections that get scheduled, code enforcement follow-up, timely answers from the clerk and the front counter, and a City Hall that is available when people needContinue reading “Assessing El Cerrito’s City Services: A Call for Improvement”
The Swearing-In Wasn’t Just a Celebration. It Was a Soft Launch for a 2026 Tax Campaign
At the El Cerrito City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, regional and state elected officials joined Gabe Quinto as he was selected as mayor for next year. Attorney General Rob Bonta administered the oath, underscoring Quinto’s rising profile and the political attention El Cerrito continues to draw. But as the congratulations rolled in,Continue reading “The Swearing-In Wasn’t Just a Celebration. It Was a Soft Launch for a 2026 Tax Campaign”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 