Half-Million City Budget – Page-One News, June 16, 1949

If you turn to the front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, June 16, in 1949, you can find a snapshot of our community in its post-war growth years. Here are some of the actual headlines from the paper's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles: 

Budget Report
Shows City Is
Financially OK 

The new city budget report for fiscal 1949-50, which has been prepared with much care, forecasts the city will received $519,000 in revenue, with operating costs of $488,000. Receiving major attention will be city streets ($131,000), the fire department ($100,000) and the police department ($88,000). Capital outlays are expected to decrease from this year's $174,000 to $94,000.

El Cerrito C of C Asks
More Study on Lights

The board of directors of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce, meeting Tuesday evening in the offices of Judge Joe Martyn Turner, discussed the recommendation to improve lighting on San Pablo Avenue and to put the overhead power lines underground. The chamber was informed by the El Cerrito City Council that it had met with the Richmond City Council and that both councils concurred that the chamber should obtain support from 51 percent of property owners on the avenue before any action would be taken. The board also unanimously agreed that there is enough property off of San Pablo that could greatly relieve the avenue's parking problem. 

Library Features
Unusual Display
Of Lapidary Art

An exhibit of cut gems arranged by Gerould H. Smith of 643 Everett St. in El Cerrito will be on display at the El Cerrito Library. Smith is president of the East Bay Mineral Society and his work recently won second place at an Oakland showing sponsored by the society. The library is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Opening Set

Nearing completion in El Cerrito is the Mormon Church Stake Center, which will be the center for Mormon activities in the Richmond/El Cerrito/Berkeley area. The facility's formal opening was held last Tuesday.

Click  for other vignettes we've published about El Cerrito history. Click the Keep the Keep me posted button below for alerts to future articles in this series. You can find some back issues of the El Cerrito Journal at the Shadi Historical Room at City Hall, open to the public on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.