Today I am getting a unique peek at the attempts currently underway to save the city of Bell. In case you don’t remember, about a year ago the city was rocked by scandal when its City Manager Robert Rizzo was arrested for fraud. He (and seven others, all of which are awaiting their trials), were being paid exorbitant salaries for running this city of 35,000 people. Rizzo’s assistant alone was being paid roughly $800,000 annually.
So it’s a year later, and the city can’t find anyone to take Rizzo’s place. A group called California City Management Foundation (CCMF) steps in to help and they bring on this guy Ken Hampian. Ken was the City Manager of San Luis Obispo, but is recently retired. Well, he decides he can help, and he offers to take the job (temporarily) free of charge.
CCMF decided that this is a side of the Bell story that really should be told, and they called me in to write it. The really exciting part is the access that they’ve arranged. I’m going to spend a big chunk of today and this evening following Hampian around to see what his days look like. How is he trying to save this city? Is it working?
I’m fascinated by the idea that when most officials don’t want any association with Bell, there are some who are willing to charge into that burning building and try to save it.
Stay tuned.
Leave a Reply