Believe only Wall Street pays outrageous salaries?
Believe no one gets rich working for government?
Wrong and wrong.
Until forced to resign after public protests this week, the city manager, police chief and assistant city manager of small, blue-collar Bell, Calif. made $787,637, $457,000 and $376,288 annually.
But wait. They'll soon receive annual state pensions of $650,000, $411,000 and $250,000 respectively.
Even in retirement, manager Robert Rizzo will be paid more than President Barack Obama and chief Randy Adams will earn more than Los Angeles chief Charlie Beck.
Most of Bell's city council members work part time for almost $100,000 annually--not a bad gig in a mostly Hispanic community with 17 percent living in poverty.
And you thought only Third World governments were corrupt. (25 JULY 2010)
