MORE ON: Bell

Daily Report: Public Safety

Lawmakers move toward curbing checkpoint impounds

June 1, 2011, 12:05 AM
Over the past year, a half dozen California cities that impounded hundreds of cars driven by unlicensed drivers stopped at sobriety checkpoints have moved to end the lucrative practice. Law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles and Oakland police departments, began providing... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Like Bell and Maywood, Montebello reaps funds from car seizures

April 25, 2011, 12:05 AM
Montebello’s financial story, though just starting to publicly unfold, seems to be following a narrative similar to that of two other cities east of Los Angeles: Bell and Maywood. It’s short on cash and has pulled restricted redevelopment dollars into the general fund. Further,... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Bell auditors should have found problems, Chiang says

December 23, 2010, 12:05 AM
The accounting firm that for years signed off on the books in the scandal-plagued city of Bell could have caught much of the city's alleged corruption had it followed proper auditing procedures, according to a review of the firm by State Controller John Chiang's office. The 153-page... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Scandal-plagued Bell received accounting awards

December 20, 2010, 12:05 AM
The auditing firm of Mayer Hoffman McCann has taken its share of fire lately for being the bean counters who gave the now-infamous city of Bell a clean bill of health, despite its deep and apparently long-standing history of financial fraud and abuse. State Controller John Chiang is expected... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Attorneys: Brown played politics with Bell case

November 17, 2010, 12:05 AM
There has been no shortage of political profiteering in recent months over corruption and salary shenanigans down in the now-infamous city of Bell, but a judge's recent criticism of a civil suit filed by Attorney General Jerry Brown has given ammunition to defense lawyers who have long argued... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Small cities pay big money to some employees

November 8, 2010, 11:06 PM
Several hundred residents of Bell, Calif. gathered at a local middle school last night to listen to state auditors explain how their city leaders had managed to bilk them out of millions of dollars. The scandal has roiled the city of 39,000, with eight current and former Bell officials... + read more
Mugshot of Victor Bello
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Tipster in Bell scandal waited months for D.A., then was arrested

October 11, 2010, 12:05 AM
A former Bell City Council member arrested in September on felony charges of misappropriating public funds told investigators more than a year ago that the city was plagued with bribery, voter fraud and "unethical retirement arrangements," according to a letter obtained by California... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Salary scandal in Bell shines light on impound cash

September 10, 2010, 12:05 AM
Police are supposed to keep the streets safe. In Bell, it appears, the police department also expected officers to keep the city’s coffers filled. As part of a policy ostensibly to deter gang activity, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday that Bell patrol officers aggressively... + read more
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
© 2012 California Watch   /  development:  Happy Snowman Tech   /  design: