Poorest town in LA County can’t fire overpaid officials without penalty

The sleazeballs in question include Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo, Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia, and Police Chief Randy Adams. 

Rizzo earns a salary of $787,637 a year — twice what the President of the United States earns — for administering Bell, one of the poorest towns in Los Angeles County, CA.

Spaccia earns $376,288 per year and the police chief, Adams takes home an annual salary of $457,000 - a salary 50% greater than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.

When residents of Bell learned about the incredible salaries their city officials are being paid they were rightfully outraged. In a town of fewer than 40,000 residents, 17% of the population lives below the poverty line (according to census figures from 2008).

Councilman Luis Artiga said the panel planned to request the resignations during a closed-door, afternoon meeting that was called to consider dismissing the officials. A public hearing is scheduled for next week.

This revelation, on its own merits, should be enough to get these greedy bastards fired. But, the real kick to the groin is that the contracts given to them by the city council conveniently protect ALL three officials from being fired without cause. 

• If Rizzo leaves, he still would be entitled to a state pension of more than $650,000 a year for life, according to calculations made by the Times. That would make Rizzo, 55, the highest-paid retiree in the state pension system
• Spaccia, 51, could be eligible for as much as $250,000 a year when she reaches 55
• Adams could get more than $411,000

The county district attorney's office is investigating the salaries of the city council, mayor, and everyone else on the city's payroll.  

Heads need to roll. There was very obviously a concerted effort by some high-placed public officials to profit from their positions at the expense of the city's residents.