Bell, California: Former City Manager Snoozes at Pay Scandal Court Hearing

abcnews.go.com ^ | 1 Mar 2011 | MIKE VON FREMD and JENNIFER METZ

[smokingfrog]

The man at the center of what may be the worst corruption scandal in California history was in court today, dozing off.

Robert Rizzo, the former city manager of Bell, Calif., shocked the nation when it was revealed that his salary in office was $800,000 a year.

Now, the Justice Department has uncovered a document that may help explain, in part, how city leaders financed their lavish salaries. The one-page memo was titled "Bell Police Department Baseball Game."

"All of this was just a means by Rizzo to nickel and dime the community to death to get more money out of them," Christina Garcia, a community activist, said.

The memo assigned "hits" to traffic violations and infractions. Officers could score a "single" by giving out parking tickets. Impounding a car was worth a "triple." Police in Bell charged up to $2,000 for drivers to get their vehicles back -- many times more than any other community in the Los Angeles area.

Bell took in $1 million by impounding cars in 2008.

More Video Watch: Citizens Protest Administrators' Salaries Video: Bell, California residents still upset over inflated city hall salaries. Watch: City Salaries Continue to Upset Locals VIDEO: Government officials allegedly used taxpayer-funded accounts for personal use. Watch: Calif. Officials Living Large on Taxpayer Dime?

[Vendome]

Well color me surprised.

[gaijin]

2006 total salary + overtime to the police chief of San Francisco General Hospital: over $500,000.

He walks around a hospital, ok?

Oh...did I mention this was the hospital where any city employee (or just their domestic partner) could have free sex change surgery?

I would say Bell, California is just the very tip of the iceberb.

[majormaturity]

Oh My, the biggest Porkie of the Bunch...Obviously NOT following Michele Ma Belle's caloric guidelines...How much of that fat was purchased at high-end restaurants with the public’s money??? On, Not To Worry...the permanent underclass will vote in more of this kind and the Fat Shall March On!!! Glory, Glory Hallelujah,, our pork keeps marching on!!!!!!!!!

[boop]

In some states, if you’re convicted of a felony you lose your pension. Wanna bet the CA unions have had this provision annulled? This dude will collect his $800K/Yr in prison.