A polished new website has appeared promoting the library tax measure on the June ballot. It is sleek.It is well designed.And it tells a compelling story about a modern library for El Cerrito. The site appears to be a rebrand of the earlier campaign website that focused heavily on a library at the Plaza. ItContinue reading “The New “Yes on the Library” Website: What It Says — and What It Doesn’t”
Category Archives: State Audit
Why Refreshing the Existing Site Makes the Most Sense
This blog was heavily influenced by social media commentary, public documents, and local news coverage. As voters consider the June 2 library tax initiative, one option continues to receive far less attention than it deserves: Refreshing and improving the existing library site. In a debate dominated by relocation plans and 20,000-square-foot expansion concepts, the mostContinue reading “Why Refreshing the Existing Site Makes the Most Sense”
El Cerrito has a habit of drawing a bull’s-eye around the arrow after it lands.
You’ve seen it: a decision gets made (or floated), then the City rushes to build a story around it—one that’s supposed to make the outcome feel inevitable. The problem is that the story often collapses the moment you ask a basic follow-up question. Here’s a perfect example. We’re told that if the library initiative passes,Continue reading “El Cerrito has a habit of drawing a bull’s-eye around the arrow after it lands.”
$37 Million for Another Community Center?
El Cerrito residents are being asked to consider a $37 million investment in a new library facility. Supporters describe a modern, code-compliant building with updated technology, expanded programming, improved accessibility, community gathering space, and even emergency shelter capabilities. Those goals sound positive on paper. But before we commit tens of millions of dollars, we needContinue reading “$37 Million for Another Community Center?”
El Cerrito: A Call for Leadership Reform Before New Taxes
El Cerrito is not a broken town. It is a town being asked to fund broken habits. We are no longer interested in new or renewed taxes. Not because we do not value services. Not because we do not care about parks, libraries, roads, safety, or community programs. But because El Cerrito has reached theContinue reading “El Cerrito: A Call for Leadership Reform Before New Taxes”
Who Is the New Library Really For?
Tuesday night’s City Council presentation finally included publicly shared usage data for the El Cerrito Library. That matters. Decisions of this magnitude should start with facts. According to the Library’s published FY 2024–25 statistics: • 10,622 El Cerrito cardholders • 35% of households with an active account • 102,362 annual visitors • 115,530 items borrowedContinue reading “Who Is the New Library Really For?”
Taxing Residents for Outdated Library Plans
Former Mayor and Councilmember Greg Lyman recently made a public remark that deserves a second look. He said, “We don’t mind taxing ourselves.” It was said publicly. And it shouldn’t be forgotten. Because what he really meant was this: We don’t mind taxing the property owners in El Cerrito. That is what this conversation isContinue reading “Taxing Residents for Outdated Library Plans”
There’s No Guarantee the Library Gets Built — But the Tax Is Guaranteed
Understanding What’s Actually Being Proposed in El Cerrito In June, El Cerrito voters will be asked to decide on a parcel tax being marketed as a “library initiative.” The vote is on. But residents deserve to understand exactly what they are being asked to approve before casting a ballot. Right now, there is no publiclyContinue reading “There’s No Guarantee the Library Gets Built — But the Tax Is Guaranteed”
Transparency Isn’t a Slogan. It’s Proof.
This post is informed by what residents are saying online and in community forums. People aren’t confused. They’re paying attention. The City continues to describe the proposed library tax process as “transparent.” But recent actions suggest something very different. A central claim in the City’s messaging is that a 17¢ per square foot parcel taxContinue reading “Transparency Isn’t a Slogan. It’s Proof.”
When Questions Get Shut Down, It Tells You Something
On Saturday evening an El Cerrito resident posted a Vote Yes advertisement on NextDoor promoting the library tax. When community members began asking reasonable questions—about costs, long-term impacts, and accountability—the response wasn’t engagement. It was restriction. Comments were immediately closed. No further discussion was allowed. And prior comments were erased. The post stayed up. TheContinue reading “When Questions Get Shut Down, It Tells You Something”
Who Profits from the Library Tax? Taxpayer Concerns Explained
Editorial The February 19 special meeting was presented as a chance to explain the details of the proposed library initiative. But let’s be clear: this is not simply about a library. This is about a tax. It is about creating a permanent revenue stream so the City can immediately issue approximately $37 million in bondsContinue reading “Who Profits from the Library Tax? Taxpayer Concerns Explained”
From $157,000 to Nearly $800,000: Why Trust Is Fracturing in El Cerrito
Residents are not confused. They are reading. On page 24 of the City’s own impact report, the current library’s annual operating cost is listed at $157,615. On the same page, the report acknowledges that operating and maintenance costs could reach $797,000 annually for the El Cerrito Plaza library — a more than 400% increase. AgendaContinue reading “From $157,000 to Nearly $800,000: Why Trust Is Fracturing in El Cerrito”
Understanding El Cerrito’s Midyear Budget Dilemma
Pages 37–43 of yesterday’s City Council agenda packet, which contain the staff report for the Midyear Budget Update, should give every El Cerrito resident pause. Together with the accompanying budget presentation, they show a city that is increasingly relying on reserves to cover routine expenses, allowing costs to grow faster than revenues, and drifting towardContinue reading “Understanding El Cerrito’s Midyear Budget Dilemma”
Seven Differences. One Bad Deal.
A concerned neighbor created this Library Tax Comparison after learning that the El Cerrito Library Tax language was modeled on San Rafael’s Measure P. They decided to put the two initiatives side by side. What they found is sobering. Seven critical differences — and in every case, El Cerrito residents get the worse deal. •Continue reading “Seven Differences. One Bad Deal.”
El Cerrito’s $2.3M Taxpayer Loss
On the agenda for the February 17, 2026 City Council Meeting — Agenda Item 8.A, tomorrow Tuesday Most people will never notice this item on the City Council agenda. It sounds routine. A technical “true-up.”An “accounting adjustment.”A request to close out old accounts. It doesn’t sound controversial.It doesn’t sound urgent.It doesn’t sound expensive. But buriedContinue reading “El Cerrito’s $2.3M Taxpayer Loss”
El Cerrito’s 17¢ Story Doesn’t Add Up
EC Library: They’re Asking You to Pay $340/Year — But the Math Says $860 Influence by social media posts and comments For months, voters were told a simple, digestible number: 17 cents per square foot.A 2,000-square-foot home = $340 per year. It sounded responsible. But critical financial information was not disclosed. At the February 3rdContinue reading “El Cerrito’s 17¢ Story Doesn’t Add Up”
The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Library Campaign Promises
The campaign for a new library in El Cerrito now has a slick website and a rebrand at https://www.anewelcerritolibrary.com/ It promises a modern space with more computers, community areas, expanded programming, and new services — all things most of us genuinely value.But building a new website and putting a fresh coat of paint on aContinue reading “The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Library Campaign Promises”
The City Manager, the Loopholes, and the Politics Behind Another Tax
If there were an Olympic event for exploiting loopholes, our City Manager would be bringing home gold. Over and over again, residents are told that this tax or that funding source is for a specific purpose. We are assured the money is restricted, safeguarded, and protected from misuse. And yet—time and again—the funds end upContinue reading “The City Manager, the Loopholes, and the Politics Behind Another Tax”
Why Taxes Are Stacking Against El Cerrito Residents
Shaped by public discussion and social media analysis from concerned residents across the community. If this feels familiar, it should. In 2016, El Cerrito voters rejected a library tax after the city failed to identify a location, and costs rose sharply just before the vote. Voters said no—not because they don’t value libraries, but becauseContinue reading “Why Taxes Are Stacking Against El Cerrito Residents”
The Cost of Ignoring Grant Funding in El Cerrito
Residents of El Cerrito deserve honesty—especially when it comes to millions of dollars and long-term tax burdens. The City Manager gives shifting reasons for not applying for state library grants. -First, we were told the City was understaffed.-Then, that staff didn’t know how to apply.-Then, that El Cerrito lacked matching funds. None of these explanationsContinue reading “The Cost of Ignoring Grant Funding in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 