Defiant Bell mayor defends city manager's high salary, hours after official resigns

 

A defiant Bell City Council defended the hefty compensation awarded to City Manager Robert Rizzo and two other officials just hours after the three agreed to resign amid a public outcry.

In the city's first formal statement on the salary issue, Bell released a letter from Mayor Oscar Hernandez in which he praised Rizzo's service to the city and said his nearly $800,000 annual salary was justified.

"Unlike the skewed view of the facts, the Los Angeles Times presented to advance the paper's own agenda, a look at the big picture of city compensation shows that salaries of the City Manager and other top city staff have been in line with similar positions over the period of their tenure," Hernandez said in the letter.

Hernandez did address the outrage generated after The Times revealed the salaries last week, adding: "We recognize that today's economic climate and the financial hardships so many families are suffering put our past compensation decisions in a new light.  To the residents of Bell, we apologize."

As part of the resignations, Rizzo, Police Chief Randy Adams and Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia will not receive severance packages. Rizzo will step down at the end of August and Spaccia will leave at the end of September. Adams also will leave at the end of August after completing an evaluation of the Police Department.

Rizzo earns nearly $800,000 a year, believed to make him the highest-paid city manager in California and possibly the nation. Adams makes $457,000 — 50% more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck — and Spaccia makes $376,288, more than the top administrator for Los Angeles County.

The decision was announced at midnight to a crowd of angry Bell residents that had been waiting anxiously since 4:30 p.m. when the City Council began its meeting. None of the administrators attended the session. 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 residents' questions were not answered, they shouted, "Recall!"

"Definitely letting go of these three top officials is the first step we need to fix the city," said Cristina Garcia, a member of BASTA, or the Bell Assn. to Stop the Abuse.

Throughout the evening, several residents complained that the council was taking too long, while others clapped in unison to urge the members to come out.

"This is outrageous," said Marcelino Ceja, who has lived in the city for 17 years. "They have to hurry up. I've got kids to feed."

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.

-- Ruben Vives at Bell City Hall

Photo: Bell Mayor Oscar Hernandez listens as the resignations of the police chief, city manager and assistant city manager are announced after the City Council met behind closed doors for nearly six hours. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[Jose]

It just enrages me seeing City officials come to City Council meetings wearing Hawaiian shirts, like they're on permanent vacation or something!!

[dan ehrlich]

there's an old saying, a former slave makes the worst taskmaster...this is rather common in immigrant communities, where locals elect their own as officials, only to be exploited by these officials. It's sad but true.

[Jose]

While we are at it, LA needs to look into the financial status of Antonio Villaraigosa since there REMAIN so many UNANSWERED questions with regards to his acceptance of tickets to sporting events and concerts. Arnold Schwarzenegger should to look into at least taxing Villaraigosa for the market value of his "courtside" tickets. Fair-is-fair, or are you going to throw in the "RACE" card?

We are still waiting Villaraigosa!

[G Man LA]

This is a text book mafia operation.

I think the public is naively focusing on the high salaries as the main motivation for what happened in Bell and Maywood.

If you were a crime boss how much would it be worth to you to have a whole city where you could launder money and deal drugs. If you had the right people in place, you might even be able to get the police department disbanded. I'm thinking somebody is going to jail.

[larryo]

The Justice Dept. has a duty to investigate.
There is no justification for a ccity manager to make $800,000, especially in a city of less than 50000 population .
They say its justified because they(city officials) did so many good deeds.
But thats what there job in the first place. If you by their logic, then pay them
$1000000 instead of $800000; $850,000 instead of $500000...so on so on.
Shame on the Police Chief.......shame, shame, shame, he of all the group should
be thrown in jail, along with other theifs and embezzlers.
larry..........that's one of the reasons this nation is going bankrupt!!

[Carlos Jobim]

There is no way Hernandez wrote that letter:
In a radio interview, he could barely speak English.

If you ever wanted a poster boy for the negative aspects of unfettered Mexican immigration, he fits the bill.

[Mel Bigson]

"revoke pensions for these theives and slash all existing govt pensions over 100K" I couldn't agree more.

What people need to understand is that it's not a left or right thing. It's a political thing. And all politicians, by nature, are crooks who are only looking out for themselves.

Accountability and harsh penalties should be in place so that these thieves (and future thieves)will think twice before ripping off the taxpayers!

[Amer Rican]

Bell "used to be a good city" until it became a sanctuary for illegals.

[Lakepapa]

Yep. They all keep their full pensions and "retire" as millionaires. Life is good at the six figure government trough as California sinks deeper into financial oblivion.

[tronn]

to Don Marshall, its alot of the greed, arrogance and politicians you mention.

this same situation, i bet you, is happening all over the place. heck, congress approves itself a pay raise every year for "cost of living adjustment". so it happens WAY up there too! as evidenced right here in Bell, these greedy politicians basically said "We can do that too!".

People, it's time to reign in your local City council's. Attend meetings, be informed, vocalize your concerns. These are your Cities/Communities. Pull out the weeds before they make of mess of your garden.

[David]

A non-profit that helps developmentally challenged adults tried to move into Bell. The City made it hard for them in many ways and refused to assist them financially even though they greatly improved some of the most run down commercial properties in the city (a bar and a fabrica on Florence). The city's pressure put this non-profit in financial hardship as well as the contractors on the project. They were never able to open their almost completed beautiful new center. Was the fact that they paid these employees so much the reason why the City refused to assist this very worthy non-profit? Is this what you call small town corruption?

[Michael Moore]

It's sad but to quote a line from a movie..

"..that's the way of the world..that's the way it's always 'gon be.."
-SMOKING ACES

California isn't the only state with corrupt city officials, Detroit, Trenton,NJ, Philadelphia, and the list goes on...

[Dave]

Defiance makes Hernandez seem even more corrupt but what does he have to lose? His political career is over. Now it's all about trying to take the money and run, and I hope he is very unsuccessful at it. Everyone taking these outrageous salaries should be recalled. You have to hand it to the citizens of Bell for taking action.

[Reader in Houst0n]

Now, THIS is democracy in action! Well done, citizens of Bell! And shame on the mayor for trying to clutch and hold on to his exorbitant salary! Couldn't he function on a more respectable $125K??

[shotgum49]

The tax rate in Bell is over 10%. That is the highest in California...in fact, that is the highest among all 50 states. They are taking advantage of all the immigrants and the poor that can not speak english or question the goverment.

[Maury]

So this so-called police chief receives $450K/yr just for overseeing 43 officers? While Charlie Beck who oversees more than 10,000 officers receives less than half that. I knew some cops were shady but aren't they the ones who are supposed to protect us from theft? Who are the real thieves here? Most of these hispanics that come here and get elected to these high posts are basically bringing with them their corrupt lifestyles from back home. And CA is full of them, Villalagroza, Molina, Nunez and the list goes on and on...

[troy]

This guy looks so smug. I swear, if I see him on the streets, he's getting his butt beaten.

[troy]

You all think you've won? Rizzo will get over $600,000 in pensions for the rest of his life. That means YOUR TAX DOLLARS WILL PAY FOR HIM TO RELAX AND TRAVEL THE WORLD.

Rizzo WANTED to resign. He can now collect more than $600,000 of tax payer money doing absolutely nothing.

Rizzo wins and California Tax Payers lose, and lose badly.

[trajan]

I am surprised how many people are so gullible when it comes to politics. Once the Bell Mayor started to justify the City Managers salary that should be the end of his job. He should have basically signed his resignation with that statement in the eyes of the people. Also no politician in the state worth their job should be quiet about this type of corruption in Bell. As leaders and public servants they should all be moving to make sure this cannot happen in the future. How can any great idea from a leader really have a chance when the cards are rigged like they are in Bell and most likely in government institutions all over this state?

Now for the people in the state of California. Those American citizens that know better should understand that an election with only 4% of the electorate voting is not an election. There is no way that you can pass a charter or anything in a city, state or nation with that small percentage of people participating. If only 4% turnout for an election or referendum then it should be canceled and a set for another time when enough voters that are interested can show up.
Our democracy system is obviously broken in this country. There are wayy too many loopholes that compromise the integrity of the process. I am sick and tired of people complaining until they start protesting for changes that will actually fix the problem. Just moving a few corrupt officials around does nothing.

[Al]

Taliban-style politics!!

[thumbing my nose at LA]

more bloated vermin feeding at the public trough, shielded by public apathy. 400 voters for an election in a city of 40,000 is pathetic. the residents got what they deserved, lets hope the city manager et.al. now get what they deserve

[Beci Rodriguez]

This is Mexican politics, watch it grow.

[scully]

I think it is the salary systems' problems. Government should reform it too. Why all the employees did not come into the ssn as others and stop their pension system ?If they are different, it could cause many problems. They are the person who made the rules , so they choice the best for themselves

[Evad the Slayer]

Good to know GREED is alive and well in this tiny city.

[Kev]

People, these officials did not steal the money, so why are you saying they should go to jail? Yes, it is very disgusting to see salaries like this and everyone else in town hurting or broke. It's even more disgusting at seeing how much their pensions are worth; however, it's just now that the residents of Bell are outraged. The officials are just getting away with what people have let them for who knows how long. The salaries have to be approved. The residents can take the blame just as much for not knowing what is going on right under their eyes.