BELL, Calif. (AP) — The four members of the Bell City Council, who once hailed themselves as champions of their people, have become all but pariahs since the public learned they paid themselves and others huge salaries to run a modest, blue-collar town.
Meanwhile, the council members, who have been charged with misappropriating millions of dollars, have dropped from sight.
At the small grocery store Mayor Oscar Hernandez has operated for 30 years, a sign has gone up proclaiming the business is under new management.
At a mortuary that has been associated with Councilman George Mirabal for years and still bears his family’s name, no one will talk about the councilman. But they point to flyers posted on the doors that say the Mirabal family sold the funeral home to a chain years ago.
