El Cerrito’s Tax Dilemma: A Call for Accountability and Transparency El Cerrito boasts one of the most robust tax bases in California, yet there’s an ongoing push for even higher taxation. Alongside this, questions arise about the city’s responsible use of the previously approved taxes. Sales Tax in El CerritoAs of October 2023, El Cerrito’sContinue reading “More taxes to cover mismanagement – a fool’s errand.”
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El Cerrito Wants to Charge a $300 / year Forever Tax
While El Cerrito’s population may be relatively small at 25,000, the city is ambitiously proposing a $21 million library project, which translates to an investment of $840 per resident towards its construction. This ongoing tax of around $300 per homeowner will sustain the library’s operations long after its completion. The city commissioned surveys among ElContinue reading “El Cerrito Wants to Charge a $300 / year Forever Tax”
Not a Good Idea to Renew the City Manager’s Contract
This Series:YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTIONis titled: Renewal of the City Manager’s Contract: A Call for Consideration During the Public Works presentation, the City Manager, while participating remotely, was heard saying, “Yvetteh, Shut the F word (profanity) up!” The City Manager’s recent conduct has raised significantContinue reading “Not a Good Idea to Renew the City Manager’s Contract”
Overtaxed and Underperforming
El Cerrito recently distributed a mailer seeking support for an upcoming tax increase proposal while emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency. However, examining the City Manager’s track record in these areas is crucial before embracing the rhetoric. One concerning instance is the city’s expenditure of half a million dollars to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit,Continue reading “Overtaxed and Underperforming”
Business as Usual
While other cities placed a moratorium on travel and meals when revenues decreased during the pandemic, El Cerrito was business as usual, spending recklessly and mismanaging public funds. On April 30, 2022, the city manager spent $583.66 at San Rafael Joe’s – not an El Cerrito establishment. Apparently, there was a gathering for department heads,Continue reading “Business as Usual”
Performance Management
Part ii Karen Pinkos is the City Manager for the City of El Cerrito. As the City Manager, Karen serves as the City’s chief executive officer and is responsible for the management of all affairs and departments operating within the City. Karen is committed to the mission, vision, and values of El Cerrito and worksContinue reading “Performance Management”
Performance Management
Series: Performance is only as good as the evidence indicates. ICYMI, working hard in and of itself is not a reflection of outstanding leadership. Performance measurement is essential to the success of any City Manager because executives do not get paid to tread water, or make excuses but to consistently deliver measurable results. PerformanceContinue reading “Performance Management”
El Cerrito Bond Rating Increase
In 2013, the rating was lowered from AA- to A+.In 2018, the rating was lowered from A+ to A-.In 2019 the rating was lowered from A- to BBB.In 2020 the rating was lowered from BBB to BBB-.In 2023, the rating was upgraded from BBB- to BBB. Let’s hope the overspending and depletion of nonrestricted reservesContinue reading “El Cerrito Bond Rating Increase”
GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports
YOU CAN’T JUST LEAVE THOSE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEM IN CHARGE OF THE SOLUTION is titled – GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports It’s easy to get excited about organizational changes when you’re the force behind them. Still, it’s typically disastrous for an outside entity to recommend a necessary change. There are sevenContinue reading “GFOA Best Practices Budget on Timely Financial Reports”
Deceit
The last blog focused on the Broken Promises: The myth that City Leadership allocates resources to improve the lives of El Cerrito residents. This follow-up episode spotlights Deceit: How City Leadership Has Repeatedly Misled the Community Merriam-Webster defines deceit as a noun: de·ceit di-ˈsēt Deceit: the act of causing someone to accept as accurate or valid whatContinue reading “Deceit”
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“
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”
The Mayor has abandoned the Library!
El Cerrito has three candidates running for two seats on the City Council. Plaza for the People sent six questions to the candidates, whom all took the time to respond to the Plaza for the People questionnaire. The candidate responses provide a window into their ability to address some of the City’s current and futureContinue reading “The Mayor has abandoned the Library!”
Deep Denial by Council People
The State Auditor released its latest report earlier this week (Link to post) and scroll to the article. El Cerrito has improved seven spots from the 6th worst-run city to the 13th worst-run city. That means 417 California cities are better managed than El Cerrito. Yet some council members are patting themselves on the back.Continue reading ” Deep Denial by Council People”
El Cerrito Finances Continue to Be Poorly Ranked by the CA State Auditor
El Cerrito continues to claim they have solved their financial issues. Every time something around finances comes up they are the first to pat themselves on the back and say the problem is solved. Guess what? The CA State Auditor does not agree. The new Dashboard ranking is out and while El Cerrito has improvedContinue reading “El Cerrito Finances Continue to Be Poorly Ranked by the CA State Auditor”
Councilperson Gabe Quinto’s record on financial issues
An Analysis of the record of El Cerrito Councilmember Gabe Quinto With the election just around the corner, it is time to discuss candidates. As you may have read, we have sent a list of questions to each candidate. We only have one incumbent. For Gabe Quinto, we can analyze his past statements and votesContinue reading “Councilperson Gabe Quinto’s record on financial issues”
Vanessa Warheit answers our questions
Two weeks ago we sent questions to each of the three candidates running for the two open El Cerrito City Council seats. As of today, only one has responded. The deadline is today so perhaps others will respond. For me, the response or non-response is an indicator of how they will respond to constituent concerns. We veryContinue reading “Vanessa Warheit answers our questions”
City Manager Up to Her Tricks again aided by Mayor Quinto
The City Manager and the Mayor set the agenda for each council meeting. Things that are put on the consent calendar get passed all at once. Often this is for items like proclamations etc but in recent El Cerrito history it was also used to pass the September response to the state auditor. Council membersContinue reading “City Manager Up to Her Tricks again aided by Mayor Quinto”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 