Political Corruption in California

A month ago, Raw Story reported that Maywood, California was about to lay off all its city employees, following "years of financial abuse and corruption" by its city council, and outsource most municipal services to the neighboring town of Bell.

But it appears that Bell is no shining example of fiscal management either. During a closed meeting late Thursday night, the city manager, assistant city manager, and police chief all resigned, following a public outcry over their combined annual salaries of $1.6 million. Many residents would like to see most members of the city council resign, as well.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown issued a statement saying, "These outrageous salaries in Bell are shocking and beyond belief." Bell, like Maywood, is a small and poverty-stricken suburb of Los Angeles, with a heavily Hispanic population of just 37,000 residents.

The Los Angeles Times reports, "The emergency meeting followed several days of negotiations between the officials and attorneys for the city to reach deals. The crowd began shouting when Councilman Lorenzo Velez's request to open the meeting to the public was overruled by the city attorney, who said the city would be at legal risk if it discussed personnel matters in public. Emotions ran so high that the council chamber was briefly cleared."

Local residents then waited outside from 4:30 until midnight to learn the results of the meeting. "The crowd erupted in applause after the announcement but immediately yelled out questions about what would happen to the council members. Four of the five are paid close to $100,000 annually. When their questions were not answered, they shouted, 'Recall!'"

A few hours later, the Bell Association to Stop the Abuse -- whose acronym, BASTA, is Spanish for "enough" -- called upon Mayor Oscar Hernandez and all but one of the city council members to step down. Council member Lorenzo Velez, who was appointed and not elected, earns only $8,076, and BASTA spokesman Ali Saleh said, "We support his staying if he's willing to help us fight the corruption."

Mayor Hernandez, however, charged the Los Angeles Times -- which set off the confrontation when it revealed last week that Bell officials were paid "some of the highest municipal wages in the country" -- with having a "skewed view of the facts."

Hernandez pointed proudly to Bell's "clean streets, refurbished parks and numerous programs for people of all ages" and said that over the last 17 years, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo had turned the city around from being $13 million in debt to having a budget surplus of $22.7 million.

In September 2005, California passed a law limiting the pay of city council members in small towns like Bell to about $400 a month, or slightly more if they also serve on city commissions. Two months later, Bell held "a little-noticed special election that attracted fewer than 400 voters" and declared itself a charter city, making it eligible to bypass the law.

Rizzo's current salary is $787,637 a year, and the Times notes that he owns a "sprawling horse ranch .. valued at more than $1 million" and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving this past March after he crashed into a neighbor's mailbox. When he steps down at the end of August, he will be entitled to a state pension of over $650,000 a year for life, making him the highest-paid retiree in the state system.

Police Chief Randy Adams makes $457,000 a year -- 50% more than the police chief of Los Angeles -- and could receive an annual pension of $411,000. Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia, who currently earns $376,288, could receive $250,000 a year when she reaches the age of 55.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office is now looking into whether any state laws have been violated. Attorney General Jerry Brown -- who is currently the Democratic candidate for governor -- is also investigating, as is the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers), which would be responsible for the pension payments.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Political
• Corruption
• in
• California

[VoodooPolitico]

ASK THAT COP how many cars he has criminally towed to get revune from the city? ALL of the Bell cops were corrupt they just werent getting anything out of it like the chief was. They wanted their share of the corruption money and thats why they are talking now.

[parentsforjustice]

Ojai rally against cover-up...youtube.com/watch?v­=DOWoWdWCN44

[txguy1973]

This is happening in every community accross the country. Every citizen eveywhere need to stand up and demand to see the records for every elected and appointed official.

You would be sickened if you really knew how much these people, from the local school officials up to the local mayor or city manager, are taking out of your pocket every year.

[art88]

People like this are sabotaging the economy at a time of war and should be looked upon as traitors to the county.

[jgstargazer]

My city council and they mayor are a joke. They are just figure heads and "yes" men when told how to act by their city attorney (employee), I guess they don't want to appear "stupid" at city council meetings. Everytime you want answers right now they always refered you to other people or it's taken into concideration for a later date. So much for their motto "strong leadership" when running for re-election. Corruption and violations of due process are another topic.

[SparkyBrownPride13]

You want respec gives us respect fucken mayor I hope they Fuck you in Jail all your fucken coruption.

[IdolHans]

YouTube Search = Sewer Soon City OR Sewer Soon City Police Misconduct

[danielcooper1000]

SBX 211 corrupt judges go to full disclosure and juditial watch and Dr shirley moore.

We need to show support to bringing these courpt judges to justice. the los angeles superior court judges are stealing 50,000 each times all 436 of them = 21,000,000.00

per year. if we don't get angry about it they will get away with it. twenty one million per year.

[danielcooper1000]

We will never be able to seek justice if the very place that we go to seek justice is dealt by judges that are corrupt. To fight this title wave of corruption in our county we must begin at the very place that we bring our evidence of corruption for justice. We would feel secure in the fact that the decisions made by the court would be made by evidence and truth and integrity and not made in the favor of party that slips them $50,000. CHANGE MUST START WITH THESE COURTS

see SBX 211

[AhuitzotI]

Why is California bankrupt?

Why are California's elected officials THIEVES?

Answer: MEXICANS!!! FUCKING MEXICANS!!

[m420carbine4]

no wonder the us is so bankrupt

[VulcanXL]

No Government job should pay more than $400,000 a year, with the president being paid the most. As well, when retired, they should only get 1/3 of that. So a $300,000 job after retirement should only be like a $150,000 a year. The Western Freedom Alliance is disgusted. by stuff like this and seeks to inspire stuff like this to be dealt with!

[Tejanito]

California corruption ha..............expected....

[spiritofshiloh]

@RAGINGWATERS70 My late husband was also born in ElPaso. We used to go visit there from Cal.every year and I loved going to Juarez to curio shop. That was in the 70's. You couldn't pay me enough now with all the crime and corruption to go there today:( Criminals ruin everything.The almighty DOLLAR is the reason there is so much crime and corruption today.

[spiritofshiloh]

Why should those bastard crooks get a pension? The tax payers will be footing the bill. Again,I say deportALL the crooks to an abondoned island and let them ROT! And yes Rizzo is a FAT GREEDY PIG...TUB O LARD:)

[hpcwsd]

@spiritofshiloh That's not nice calling that "tub of Lard" Robert Rizzo "Fatso"

[rw5791]

@hpcwsd It seems these scumbags are all registered democrats.I mean damn,nigga,dat ain't right.

Know what I'm sayin"?

[michellekwan483]

John Locke once said " If a government is corrupt, then we must overthrow."

[RAGINGWATERS70]

I live in el paso and the same thing happened over here and i'm digusted!!!

[spiritofshiloh]

Deport ALL the crooks as they don't belong in the US. Also,I am so glad FATSO Robewrt Rizzo was arrested.:)

[purerevere]

@MySweetEscape1 - The list of salaries that you looked at included benefits too. Also people need to understand that those salaries are not the lowest or the highest. they are actually right in the middle of what other officers in similare size cities should be earning. We also have to remember police officers are doing a job that put their lives at risk more so then most jobs... If we decided we are going to pay police officers crumbs then we probably should start expecting crummy officers.

[hpcwsd]

Bunch of CROOKS ... scum ! More city governments should be scrutinized ... I would say ZOOM in on San Diego CA ! (they have had corruption charges in the PAST, but they are STILL AT IT !!!! )

[GORDOMAX22]

fucken ratas all the cars they take away from our ppl all fuken corrupt muther fukkkers all the fuken high taxes shit we live in a nice city better thanbell and ppl pay more than our city pinches ratas de bell

[fightdude123able]

man i live in that city

[MySweetEscape1]

this officer needs to shut up because I saw the list of salaries and police officers in Bell were averaging around 120k a year in salary. waaaay too much. only two officers were making 95,000 a year which is still too much!!!