A well-known El Cerrito city booster has repeatedly written to us to complain about our blogs and to highlight what he perceives as “inaccuracies.” He is a reliable and vocal proponent of virtually anything the City proposes—whether or not it makes fiscal sense or improves services to the community. His latest claim is that theContinue reading “Residents Urged to Challenge El Cerrito Library Claims”
Category Archives: State Audit
Funding Priorities: El Cerrito Library and TOD Projects
October 7, 2025 — The City of El Cerrito continues to act as though the proposed library initiative has already passed—even though it hasn’t. On tonight’s City Council agenda, two significant consent calendar items reveal just how far preparatory work has gone behind the scenes. While preparatory work is expected, the scope and timing ofContinue reading “Funding Priorities: El Cerrito Library and TOD Projects”
El Cerrito’s Workplace Standards
El Cerrito’s Leadership Crisis: Culture, Costs, and Consequences El Cerrito is in trouble. Services are declining, costs are rising, and the city’s workplace culture is not productive. This environment doesn’t just erode morale—it drives away top talent and makes recruitment nearly impossible. What’s left is mediocrity at best—and dysfunction at worst. Residents Deserve Better ElContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Workplace Standards”
El Cerrito Library Proposal: Who Really Benefits?
El Cerrito is moving ahead with plans to build a new library at Fairmount and Liberty, near the Plaza BART station. At first glance, the idea of a modern library sounds appealing—who doesn’t want better facilities for families, students, and lifelong learners? However, upon closer examination, serious disadvantages become apparent. This isn’t about opposing libraries.Continue reading “El Cerrito Library Proposal: Who Really Benefits?”
El Cerrito Deserves Better: Why It’s Time to Move On from Gabe Quinto
For more than a decade, Councilmember Gabe Quinto has sat on the El Cerrito City Council. With his visibility at community events and a polished public persona, he’s managed to remain in office. But when you peel back the layers, one fact becomes undeniable: he has done nothing to strengthen this city or to meetContinue reading “El Cerrito Deserves Better: Why It’s Time to Move On from Gabe Quinto”
El Cerrito’s Bond Upgrade: Progress, But Claiming Victory Far Too Early
El Cerrito’s leaders are eager to celebrate. Last month, the City announced an upgrade to its bond rating, which highlights its financial strength and responsible management. On the surface, that sounds like a success story—especially for a city that once ranked among the bottom 3% of California municipalities for fiscal health. But peel the onion.Continue reading “El Cerrito’s Bond Upgrade: Progress, But Claiming Victory Far Too Early”
El Cerrito’s Childcare Dilemma: Safety, Vacancies, and City Priorities
El Cerrito is a city of just four square miles, yet the debate over childcare facilities reveals much about how our leaders balance community needs, safety, and fiscal priorities. Recently, the El Cerrito Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit to convert a single-family home at 556 Richmond Street (at Lincoln Avenue) into a childcareContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Childcare Dilemma: Safety, Vacancies, and City Priorities”
Rising Taxes and Falling Services
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”
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?”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 