Four Bell council members must resign after turning city into ‘laughing stock,’ colleague says

[n2doc]

August 9, 2010 | 8:17 am
Bell City Councilman Lorenzo Velez, the only member of the City Council not under investigation for a high salary or being targeted for recall, is calling for the resignation of his four colleagues.

In a statement released late Sunday, Velez said he is now supporting the recall efforts of the Bell Assn. to Stop the Abuse and believes the city must "clean house." The four other council members -- Oscar Hernandez, Luis Artiga, Teresa Jacobo and George Mirabal –- had been earning $100,000 a year until they announced recently that they would take a 90% pay cut.

"They have no credibility and have made Bell the laughing stock of the nation," Velez said. "If they have any integrity remaining, they would save the city the cost of a recall and resign."

Velez said the city must appoint a new administrative officer, police chief and city attorney to assure residents that the city can heal and move forward.

Velez' statements come after new revelations that the city's former chief administrative officer, Robert Rizzo, was earning a compensation package of $1.5 million annually, nearly double the $787,000 annual salary that The Times' first reported. The councilman said he believes there is a "conscious effort to withhold information" and that officials have "dragged their feet" in releasing documents.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/four-bell-council-members-must-resign-after-turning-city-into-laughing-stock-colleague-says.html

also

Jerry Brown expands investigation into Bell, subpoenas nine current and former city officials
August 9, 2010 | 11:44 am
Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown announced Monday he is expanding his investigation into the activities of officials in Bell to include allegations of voter fraud involving absentee ballots.

The Times last week reported allegations from Bell voters that city officials had told them how to vote on their absentee ballots, filled them out for some voters and picked up completed ballots from other voters, apparently in violation of the state election code.

In addition, Brown said his office was serving subpoenas Monday on nine current and former Bell officials to compel them to give depositions and to turn over federal and state income tax returns, records relating to pay and pension benefits, gifts they have received and documents relating to bank accounts and business interests.

Brown also issued a subpoena for records involving the city's former law firm, Best, Best and Krieger.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/jerry-brown-expands-investigation-into-bell-subpoenas-9-current-and-former-city-officials.html

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Love the org name: Bell Assn. to Stop the Abuse = BASTA = enough

And enough is enough. What a bunch of greedy f's.

[aquart]

2. Was Rizzo at least kicking back to the councilmembers who made him so rich?

[aquart]

3. Why does my mouse keep doubling things on me?

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?