City of Bell Scandal

With all the crap going on with the Parking Ramp, someone today in city government reminded me of this STORY. I had read it a few years ago, and it just shows when the stars align anything is possible;

The Bell scandal involved the misappropriation of public funds in Bell, California, United States, over a period of several years in the late 2000s. In July 2010, the Los Angeles Times published an investigative article on possible malfeasance in the neighboring city of Maywood, revealing that the city officials of Bell received salaries that were reported as the highest in the nation.^[1] Subsequent investigations found atypically high property tax rates, allegations of voter fraud in municipal elections and other irregularities which heightened the ensuing scandal.^[2] These and other reports led to widespread criticism and a demand for city officials to resign.^[3][4]

In the end, seven Bell city officials, including former mayor Oscar Hernandez, former city administrator Robert Rizzo, assistant city administrator Angela Spaccia, and four city council members were convicted on graft and corruption charges, and were given sentences ranging from probation to twelve years in prison.^[5]

This is a great example of why closed government, in any form is a NOT good thing.