The last blog focused on DEEP DENIAL: More than Guard Rails Needed. This episode spotlights FUTURE TAX INITIATIVES SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO OVERSIGHT AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. When finding a solution to the operating crisis facing El Cerrito, the only plan coming from City leaders is more taxes. Like many other Cities, El Cerrito adopted aContinue reading “Oversight Needed”
Category Archives: Transparency
Deep Denial; More Guard Rails Needed
The last edition spotlighted the Need for Guard Rails. This edition highlights DEEP DENIAL: More than Guard Rails Needed. El Cerrito Council members have already missed and plan to miss future opportunities to address community challenges because they opted for an abbreviated summer schedule. According to the National League of Cities, local legislators and councilmembersContinue reading “Deep Denial; More Guard Rails Needed”
Time For The Guard Rails
The last blog focused on Deceit: How City Leadership Has Repeatedly Misled the Community. Today’s blog is titled Time For The Guardrails! The competing goals are playing themselves out as the volunteer three-member Financial Advisory Board tries to implement a policy for the General Reserve Fund for the City. What are these goals? Obviously, theContinue reading “Time For The Guard Rails”
Broken Promises
The last blog focused on the MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE, and the eminent ask for more taxpayer bailouts. This episode spotlights Broken Promises: The myth that City Leadership allocates resources to improve the lives of El Cerrito residents. A new Library, a Senior Center, better services — these things elected El Cerrito Officials mindlessly assureContinue reading “Broken Promises”
MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE
The last blog focused on the unbalanced budget and the eminent use of general fund reserves to balance the budget. This episode spotlights on MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE. When finding a solution to the operating crisis facing El Cerrito, the only plan coming from City leaders is more taxes. That’s not a plan, but unlimitedContinue reading “MORE TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE”
El Cerrito Hiring Challenges…and solutions
The City of El Cerrito is conducting a classification and compensation study. Presumably, the study is commissioned to support their assertion that they can’t fill their positions because the salaries are too low. The premise of wages as the sole reason for the City’s inability to attract talent is not only erroneous, but it alsoContinue reading “El Cerrito Hiring Challenges…and solutions”
Low Voter Turnout
Low voter turnout has allowed Gabe Quinto to keep his seat on the Council. As readers of this blog will likely surmise, this author is not pleased. Akin to a few other Contra Costa County results like the Sherriff’s and County Assessor’s races, El Cerrito lacks accountability, transparency and humanity in El Cerrito. Even so,Continue reading “Low Voter Turnout”
El Cerrito Election Links
There is still time to vote! Do you need to cram to catch up on the issues? If so, this post is for you! You can find many of the essential links here. Enjoy! Web pages Vanessa Warheit’s web page Vanessa Warheit’s YouTube Channel Carolyn Wysinger’s web page Gabe Quinto’s web page Disclosures El CerritoContinue reading “El Cerrito Election Links“
Conflict of Interest
In this town, things are getting worse. They have scheduled an event titled “Lunch with El Cerrito’s Mayor and City Manager,” where members of the public join them to have a conversation with Mayor Gabe Quinto and City Manager Karen Pinkos on the latest happenings in the City of El Cerrito, and what’s next forContinue reading “Conflict of Interest”
Press Release Gone Bad
Last week, the Council Members posted on social media. Then the City of El Cerrito issued a press release claiming victory over the financial crisis. Still, the State Auditor and the East Bay Times disagreed. On October 24, 2022, the East Bay Times article here said, “While this is the first year the cityContinue reading “Press Release Gone Bad”
El Cerrito Staff continue to show lack of transparency with the budget
Tomorrow September 1st at 430pm El Cerrito City Council is having a special budget meeting. They have not yet completed their 20/21 budget which started in July. For information on the meeting click here. The meeting is once again scheduled at a time that is not accessible for many residents. While I understand that some of thisContinue reading “El Cerrito Staff continue to show lack of transparency with the budget”
The struggle for transparency in El Cerrito
I wrote previously about the TRAN loans that have been keeping the city afloat since 2011. On May 21, 2020, I sent a request for information on the costs of these loans. It specifically said “I saw in the supplemental slide set some info about the trans. What I would like to know is 1.Continue reading “The struggle for transparency in El Cerrito”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 