Free Republic

IRWINDALE>> Sriracha maker David Tran was succinct when it came to his requirements for any place where he might expand his popular hot sauce business. “(We) must have chilies,” Tran said at a news conference where he announced he was considering an expansion to the Lone Star State. Last week, a delegation of Texas politicians, who have actively courted Tran via social media and open letters, toured the Azusa Canyon Road factory. Texas is known as a pepper-growing region, however, Craig Underwood, who grows all of the jalapeños that are crushed into the iconic roster sauce, said it would take...

California campaign watchdog investigates Bell police union & Leo Briones. The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating whether the Bell police union used campaign materials that showed officers in uniform, which would violate state law. The state Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating whether the Bell police union violated state law in the March election, when voters in the scandal-battered town swept the last remaining City Council members out of office. The state panel is examining whether the Bell Police Officers Assn. distributed campaign literature showing officers in uniform, a violation of state law. The commission could fine the...

We couldn’t resist the corny headline, but imagine living in a small town where police scoured the landscape for cars to confiscate on the slimmest excuse to help pay for the fat, make that grotesquely fat, salaries pulled down by the, ahem, civic leaders. If we lived in Bell, we’d ring a bell today too. “Incoming City Council members in Bell pledged to renew efforts to sweep out City Hall. . .

Wastebusters Take On Government Spending FOX 11 News video report. Murietta - In the November election, Murrieta residents ignited a fire between its government and those who want to stop government waste. The "wastebusters" say their community represents what the nation is feeling, but city officials tell us it's a deathknell for Murrieta. Script: A cowbell calls the meeting to order. Ernie White: "We made a statement and that statement was very simple, we are going to take this country back like it or not!.... We won on November 2." At Richie's Real American Diner, it's a celebration. Big wins...

"The cry of "Receivership" is heard over and over to thunderous applause at the last City Council Meeting held on 10-4-10. Can there be any doubt this is what the citizens really want. Noone appears to trust Pedro Carrillo and James Casso." [These residents are pissed off, and I can see why."

Two unions formed the group BASTA, the Bell Association To Stop Abuse, but it looks like BASTA wants to abuse the rest of the nation. BASTA, the group formed by the Bell Police Officer’s Association Union and the Union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) want you to fork over your $$$$ for another Federal BAILOUT!!!! "BASTA leadership is calling on Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard to craft emergency federal legislation to create a Federal Relief Fund for the City of Bell. The Relief Fund will seek to forgive and modify Bell’s current bond obligations [$71 million] and provide...

BASTA not only rudely muscled their way into the City of Bell Ceremony, but also State Senator Kevin De Leon tried to get Nestor Valencia removed as a speaker from the ceremony. Kevin De Leon has strong association with George Cole and its Old Timers Association.

In this short clip from the last City of Bell Councilman meeting (cancelled due to lack of attendance by city councilman), City Attorney James Casso tells Councilman Velez to be careful what he says due to Brown Act regulations. It is also revealed that James Casso is rubber stamping public records as "Attorney Client Privilege" so as to withhold from residents even the actual spending by the city. Such actions by Casso inhibit citizens from tracing potentially illegal spending by the City of Bell.

The City Charter for the City of Bell requires the City Administrator to submit a budget at the start of each years. Pedro Carillo failed to do this for the 2011 fiscal year that began July 2010. This video was shot on October 4th, over 3 months into the fiscal year.

Ron Vera, attorney for the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition can be heard off camera answering questions about the credibility of a board made up of officials whose cities have suffered from their mismanagement. Maywood is a failed city financially, the City of Bell is a failed city financially, Vernon is under massive investigations, and the others have had similar diasters with their finances. If the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition is to exist and function it must have a credible board of directors. George Cole, the recently indicted City of Bell City Councilman helped found this organization. Some wonder if the...

It is reported that the City of Bell raised around $100,000 from multi-year Breast Cancer Awareness fundraisers in the City of Bell. Teresa Jacobo helped head that effort and the citizens of Bell have been trying to find out where those charitable funds went and if they were ever applied to Breast Cancer Awareness organizations. Here Jacobo is confronted for the first time since her release from jail. Jacobo states the funds were turned over to the Steelworkers Oldtimers Association which until his arrest last month was headed for many decades by George Cole, former City of Bell Councilman. George...

In this short clip from the last City of Bell Councilman meeting (cancelled due to lack of attendance by city councilman), City Attorney James Casso tells Councilman Velez to be careful what he says due to Brown Act regulations. It is also revealed that James Casso is rubber stamping public records as "Attorney Client Privilege" so as to withhold from residents even the actual spending by the city. Such actions by Casso inhibit citizens from tracing potentially illegal spending by the City of Bell.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reiterates his endorsement of Huntington Park Mayor John (Juan) Noguez despite Noguez's extensive shady dealings with George Cole and his Oldtimers Foundation. George Cole was a city councilman in The City of Bell for many many years and was arrested for crimes in September 2010.

Councilman Lorenzo Velez of the City of Bell states on 9-13-10 that he has been denied city financial records that he has requested. He states that fiscal year 2009 finances have not been closed out even at this late date. The city of Bell city clerk website also states that fiscal 2008 city finances have not been closed and balanced even though this is over 2 years ago!!!

State Controller John Chiang declared Friday that Bell – the Southern California city enmeshed in a scandal over high salaries paid to city officials – has been illegally assessing ultra-high property taxes.

BELL, Calif. – Three administrators whose huge salaries sparked outrage in this small blue-collar suburb of Los Angeles have agreed to resign, the City Council said Friday. Council members emerged from an hours-long closed session at midnight Friday and announced that they'd accepted the resignations of Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo, Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia and Police Chief Randy Adams. Rizzo was the highest paid at $787,637 a year — nearly twice the pay of President Barack Obama — for overseeing one of the poorest towns in Los Angeles County. Spaccia makes $376,288 a year and Adams earns $457,000,...