We recently received a thoughtful comment from a concerned citizen regarding our previous blog post on the suspension of remote public comments in El Cerrito. The commenter rightly pointed out that the decision to halt remote participation was a direct response to coordinated “Zoom bombing” incidents, where non-residents disrupted meetings with antisemitic and white supremacistContinue reading “Community Feedback: Revisiting Remote Public Comments in El Cerrito”
Tag Archives: news
El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?
In the upcoming El Cerrito City Council meeting, the focus turned to expanding cannabis opportunities as a revenue source. This comes on the heels of the establishment of two major dispensaries, NUG (opened in 2021) and STIIIZY (opened in 2023), which contribute community benefits fees and fund initiatives for local projects. While cannabis operations promiseContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Push for Cannabis Revenue: A Sustainable Strategy or a Red Flag?”
Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes: El Cerrito’s Path to Stability
El Cerrito’s financial journey over the past two decades highlights a persistent pattern of fiscal instability and difficult decision-making. While the city recently managed to remove itself from the State Auditor’s High-Risk Cities List, over 450 cities in California are still more well-run, underscoring the ongoing challenges the city faces. From Stability to Decline: TheContinue reading “Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes: El Cerrito’s Path to Stability”
The 2019 Warning: El Cerrito’s Financial Woes Began Long Before the 2021 Report
In 2019, the City of El Cerrito was formally placed under the spotlight of the California State Auditor’s Local High Risk Program, signaling serious concerns about its financial health. This was not a sudden revelation. The State Auditor’s assessment highlighted longstanding fiscal challenges that required immediate attention. By February 2020, the Joint Legislative Audit CommitteeContinue reading “The 2019 Warning: El Cerrito’s Financial Woes Began Long Before the 2021 Report”
El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility
As the latest election results roll in, it’s clear that El Cerrito is on the cusp of a significant shift in its City Council. With current vote tallies, Ktsanes leads Helion, signaling that residents are ready to move toward a more financially responsible future. In an area where community engagement and fiscal stewardship have beenContinue reading “El Cerrito Council Election: Ktsanes Leads Helion, Paving the Way Toward Fiscal Responsibility”
Don’t Be Fooled: El Cerrito Needs Real Change, Not More of the Same
As the deadline to run for office neared, incumbent insider Tessa Rudnick decided not to seek re-election. In response, the insiders quickly rallied behind Courtney Helion as their candidate. However, Helion’s lack of financial expertise is alarming, especially when combined with her unwavering support for the city manager, despite the glaring issues facing El Cerrito.Continue reading “Don’t Be Fooled: El Cerrito Needs Real Change, Not More of the Same”
Why El Cerrito’s City Manager Karen Pinkos is Not Fit to Lead: A Timeline of Missteps
In March 2021, the California State Auditor released a report warning that El Cerrito was the 6th most likely among 400+ cities in California to face bankruptcy. This report outlined serious concerns about the city’s overspending, poor budgeting practices, and insufficient efforts to address financial challenges. Under City Manager Karen Pinkos, who took office inContinue reading “Why El Cerrito’s City Manager Karen Pinkos is Not Fit to Lead: A Timeline of Missteps”
El Cerrito’s GFOA Budget Award: A Hollow Victory for a City in Financial Turmoil
It turns out that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) did, in fact, award the City of El Cerrito with a budget award. But before we break out the confetti, it’s important to understand what this award actually measures—and what it doesn’t. The GFOA budget award, despite its name, isn’t actually a “budget award” inContinue reading “El Cerrito’s GFOA Budget Award: A Hollow Victory for a City in Financial Turmoil”
A Tale of Two Cities: How El Cerrito Can Learn from Hercules’ Financial Struggles
As residents of El Cerrito, it’s important that we take a hard look at our city’s fiscal health and understand the broader context within which we’re operating. The recent ranking by the California State Auditor places El Cerrito in a precarious financial position—13th most likely city in California to face bankruptcy. But what does thisContinue reading “A Tale of Two Cities: How El Cerrito Can Learn from Hercules’ Financial Struggles”
El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves
El Cerrito has faced budget deficits in 18 of the last 21 years. Since 2003, the city has been plagued by financial shortfalls, repeatedly dipping into emergency reserves and relying on short-term loans, known as “TRANS” (Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes), to stay afloat. By 2017, the reserves were fully depleted, leaving the city with noContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Financial Mismanagement: A Legacy of Deficits, Missed Promises, and Depleted Reserves”
Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight
With election season here and three out of five City Council seats up for grabs, it’s a critical time for El Cerrito residents to cast their votes for representatives who will rigorously hold the City Manager accountable for her performance. After serving 12 years as Assistant City Manager, Karen Pinkos took over the role ofContinue reading “Accountability on the Agenda: Electing El Cerrito City Council Members Committed to Oversight”
The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting
Both Lisa Motoyama and Karen Pinkos consistently claim that El Cerrito is in a strong financial position. However, they often blur the line between restricted and unrestricted reserves, combining them to paint a rosier picture. What they don’t mention is that approximately $10 million of these reserves are restricted, meaning that they cannot be usedContinue reading “The Truth Behind El Cerrito’s Financial Position: Misleading Reserves Reporting”
El Cerrito’s Troubling Financial Journey: A Timeline of Decline and Efforts for Recovery
In the past decade, El Cerrito has experienced a tumultuous financial journey, marked by repeated warnings from the State, declining credit ratings, and a high risk of bankruptcy. This blog will outline the significant events that have shaped the city’s fiscal landscape, highlighting the key figures and decisions involved. Early Warnings and Declining Ratings DecemberContinue reading “El Cerrito’s Troubling Financial Journey: A Timeline of Decline and Efforts for Recovery”
Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to El Cerrito
This past Sunday at the Solano Stroll, a resident of El Cerrito had the chance to speak with candidates running for office in Berkeley and Albany about their positions on open government, transparency, and free speech. Based on their responses, it seems that supporters of open government would feel much more comfortable in these neighboringContinue reading “Neighboring Cities’ Approach to Free Speech and Open Government: A Stark Contrast to El Cerrito”
Microblog: Will El Cerrito Continue to Support Higher Taxes with Fewer Services?
In a surprising turn of events, the $20 billion Bay Area housing bond proposal has been pulled from the November ballot. The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority made this decision in light of dwindling support for new taxes, according to recent polls. This development raises significant questions for residents of El Cerrito, a city thatContinue reading “Microblog: Will El Cerrito Continue to Support Higher Taxes with Fewer Services?”
Moving the Goal Line: The City’s Ever-Shifting Standards for Financial Stability
In the realm of public finance, the goalposts seem to shift whenever it suits those in power. In El Cerrito, we’ve seen this play out with how the city measures the health of its General Fund reserves. When the City meets the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) guidelines, it’s cause for celebration. But when theContinue reading “Moving the Goal Line: The City’s Ever-Shifting Standards for Financial Stability”
Creating Accountability for City Leadership
In the complex landscape of municipal governance, accountability is paramount. As El Cerrito faces persistent fiscal challenges, creating a system of accountability for the City Manager and their direct reports is crucial to ensuring transparent and effective decision-making. Data-driven leadership can play a vital role in establishing this accountability, driving improved performance, and regaining publicContinue reading “Creating Accountability for City Leadership”
The Hidden Cost of Loyalty: A Closer Look at El Cerrito’s Leadership
In the heart of our diverse and vibrant community, a troubling trend persists within El Cerrito’s city leadership—a trend that raises questions about loyalty, vested interest, and the real cost to our city’s future. At the helm of this trend is the City Manager, whose ability to cultivate unwavering loyalty from her staff comes atContinue reading “The Hidden Cost of Loyalty: A Closer Look at El Cerrito’s Leadership”
Candidates for El Cerrito Council
Incumbents Candidates There is still time to run for council. November 2024 Candidates The City of El Cerrito General Municipal Election will be held on November 5, 2024, to fill three seats on the City Council. Terms are for four years, and successful candidates will be sworn into office at a City Council meeting heldContinue reading “Candidates for El Cerrito Council”
The City of El Cerrito: Tactical Decisions Masquerading as Strategy
In the City of El Cerrito, leadership often touts their decision-making as strategic. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that many of these decisions are nothing more than transactional and tactical. True strategy involves long-term vision and comprehensive planning, but the city’s recent actions demonstrate a lack of such foresight. Short-Term Budget Fixes OneContinue reading “The City of El Cerrito: Tactical Decisions Masquerading as Strategy”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 