El Cerrito residents now pay among the highest tax rates in the region, yet services continue to lag and inefficiencies persist. Now, as we transition our focus to the captivating concept of Fiscal Responsibility, we unravel the complexities and overlooked ramifications of self-governance gone awry. This edition of our blog sharpens its lens on aContinue reading “Rising Taxes and Falling Services”
Category Archives: State Audit
Don’t Be Misled
Supporters of the library tax are presenting a rosy picture. However, the details they leave out are significant. Here’s how their claims stack up against the facts: Their Claim The Facts “The library will have underground parking.” The underground parking is for the housing project—not library visitors. The library footprint will also consume 800 PlazaContinue reading “Don’t Be Misled”
Off the Watch List, But Still Among the Riskiest Cities in California
The City is no longer on the State Auditor’s formal High-Risk Watch List, but it remains in the bottom 20% of more than 400 cities statewide. That’s nothing to celebrate. After years of warnings, El Cerrito has improved its standing with the California State Auditor’s Office. Once ranked among the bottom 3% of cities forContinue reading “Off the Watch List, But Still Among the Riskiest Cities in California”
El Cerrito’s Library and Senior Center Mirage
Behind the promises lies a project built on misrepresentation and political spin. Greg Lyman has once again reappeared in El Cerrito politics, this time working alongside the City of El Cerrito, the Contra Costa County (CCC) Library system, CCC Supervisor John Gioia, and developer Halladay—the lead partner on the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project known asContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Library and Senior Center Mirage”
Bond Ratings Up, But Paid For With Your Taxes and One-Time Funds
Federal relief dollars, new taxes, and emergency fund raids aren’t financial stewardship — they’re passing the buck. In the September 2025 City Manager’s report, El Cerrito highlighted what it framed as good news: S&P Global Ratings raised the City’s bond ratings to A+ and A-, with a positive outlook for future upgrades. This was presentedContinue reading “Bond Ratings Up, But Paid For With Your Taxes and One-Time Funds”
The Mindset Behind El Cerrito’s Finances
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, in her landmark book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, explains why some people and organizations adapt and thrive while others stagnate. Her research on fixed vs. growth mindsets offers a powerful lens for understanding El Cerrito’s current leadership. A fixed mindset avoids mistakes, resists accountability, and clings to appearances. That’sContinue reading “The Mindset Behind El Cerrito’s Finances”
🚢 El Cerrito’s Library Tax: Boarding the Titanic Again
The Committee for a Plaza Station Library wants your support—and your money. But before you sign their petition or vote to raise your taxes, here’s what you should know. Who’s Really Behind This? This campaign may feature Greg Lyman and a few “concerned citizens,” but make no mistake—El Cerrito’s leadership is pulling the strings. CityContinue reading “🚢 El Cerrito’s Library Tax: Boarding the Titanic Again”
El Cerrito Needs An Overhaul—Not Cosmetic Fixes
El Cerrito’s problems run far deeper than budget shortfalls and service delays. They are systemic—rooted in a culture of poor financial stewardship, opaque decision-making, and an entrenched unwillingness to hold leadership accountable. These challenges cannot be resolved by tinkering at the margins or by trusting the same people who created them to suddenly reverse course.Continue reading “El Cerrito Needs An Overhaul—Not Cosmetic Fixes”
Libraries are good. This plan isn’t.
El Cerrito deserves a great library—but not at the wrong price. The City’s plan locks residents into $75M+ in new taxes for a ground-floor space in a BART housing project that the City won’t even own. We need a better plan—one that gives El Cerrito a true library, not just another forever tax. 👉 IfContinue reading “Libraries are good. This plan isn’t.”
Grasping at Straws
Proponents of the massive and costly library are grasping at straws. Some community members and leaders in El Cerrito argue that our city’s library is underused because it is “too old.” The implication is that if only we spent $75 million or more on a massive and costly new facility, people would suddenly flock backContinue reading “Grasping at Straws”
Rebecca Saltzman Should Recuse Herself from the Plaza BART TOD
El Cerrito is facing one of the most consequential projects in its history: the redevelopment of the El Cerrito Plaza BART station. The plan calls for six new buildings, nearly 750 homes (many of them affordable), retail space, and a public plaza that could eventually include a library. It will reshape traffic, parking, and communityContinue reading “Rebecca Saltzman Should Recuse Herself from the Plaza BART TOD”
El Cerrito: Services Down
El Cerrito’s leaders are celebrating a credit rating upgrade to A-, the same level the city held back in 2019. On paper, this looks like progress. But behind the headlines, residents should ask a harder question: how is the city really managing the money entrusted to it? Over the years, El Cerrito has consistently takenContinue reading “El Cerrito: Services Down”
Follow-Up: Borrowing Power or Just a Headline?
El Cerrito’s bond upgrade is being touted as proof the City is on solid financial footing. But let’s be honest—this is more about headlines than reality. A concerned citizen recently remarked that for years, El Cerrito couldn’t borrow for a hamburger today and pay tomorrow—the City was in such poor financial shape that no oneContinue reading “Follow-Up: Borrowing Power or Just a Headline?”
Editorial: What’s Missing from the Narratives
The City of El Cerrito just announced an upgrade in its bond ratings—a real improvement worth acknowledging. Mayor Carolyn Wysinger released a statement praising the City’s financial progress, saying she was proud of the hard work that’s gone into strengthening reserves and building stability. But here’s what stands out: while Mayor Wysinger has spoken justContinue reading “Editorial: What’s Missing from the Narratives”
El Cerrito Library Tax: What It Really Means for Homeowners
El Cerrito is moving forward with plans to place a new library tax on the ballot. The city is trying to keep itself at arm’s length by having former Councilmember Greg Lyman be the face of the measure. But make no mistake—El Cerrito is behind the scenes, pulling the levers. At first glance, the costContinue reading “El Cerrito Library Tax: What It Really Means for Homeowners”
Image First, City A Distant Second
The City Manager is supposed to be the city’s CEO and chief strategist — the person responsible for setting priorities, stewarding resources, and ensuring residents receive the services they depend on. But in El Cerrito, the record tells a different story. The City hasn’t really recovered from her lack of focus. El Cerrito’s finances remainContinue reading “Image First, City A Distant Second”
A Bait and Switch: The Library Tax That Won’t Guarantee a Library
El Cerrito agents are selling residents a dream: a new, state-of-the-art library. But hidden beneath the campaign’s glossy promises is a reality that voters need to understand. If passed, the proposed library tax will be collected regardless of whether the library project is ever implemented. That’s the bait and switch. Tax First, Deliverables Later—If EverContinue reading “A Bait and Switch: The Library Tax That Won’t Guarantee a Library”
Library Plan Serves Developers, Not Residents
Across El Cerrito, the agents of the City are holding meetings to promote its so-called “Transit-Oriented Development Library” project. They’re also going door to door promoting this initiative. On the surface, it sounds like progress—finally replacing the undersized, aging library. But residents should look more closely at what’s being pitched. This is not a trueContinue reading “Library Plan Serves Developers, Not Residents”
Fiscal Responsibility Missing from Local Endorsements
Back in 2020, Jennifer Greel stepped up with purpose and clarity. In a thoughtful response to the El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government’s budget question series, she demonstrated both compassion and a firm understanding of El Cerrito’s financial challenges. With her roots in criminal justice, re-entry work, and community outreach—from San Diego to San Quentin—GreelContinue reading “Fiscal Responsibility Missing from Local Endorsements”
A Response to Todays Post: Why I’m a No on the Library Deal
The City may hold the deed, but taxpayers carry the debt I am a no, plain and simple. But let’s be clear: the City will own the library in fee simple interest and will even hold a grant deed on it. Some claim this means the City is getting a “free” library, since the CityContinue reading “A Response to Todays Post: Why I’m a No on the Library Deal”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 