City of Vernon Escapes Disincorporation

A bill to forcibly disband the tiny city of Vernon, California and incorporate it into Los Angeles County failed to pass earlier this week on concerns that it would economically weaken the county.

1 minute read

August 31, 2011, 11:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

If you're just catching up on the Vernon story, the city has been the center of much controversy and suspicion over the government's almost autocratic control over its citizens. With only 112 residents, the city actually owns much of the city's housing stock and even manages it. Similar to the Bell scandal, Vernon city officials have made exorbitant salaries that they awarded themselves.

Assembly Speaker John Pérez had proposed the bill to disincorporate the city as a way to "permanently root out corruption there." The bill failed to pass on a 13-17 vote.

The L.A. Times quoted a statement by Speaker Pérez:

""Today's action by the Senate is a deep disappointment to the men and women of the Southeast Communities. I introduced AB 46 to finally end the toxic corruption that has poisoned the Southeast Communities by disincorporating Vernon."

"The fact is clear: Senators Calderon and De León, along with their colleagues, have given Vernon a free pass to continue doing business as usual, and those senators will own the responsibility for any misdeeds that may occur in the future."

FULL STORY: State Senate rejects controversial plan to disband city of Vernon [Updated]

Monday, August 29, 2011 in The Los Angeles Times

Government / Politics California Corruption Vernon

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