Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 36,664 in the 2000 census.[5] Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles. At 2.5 square miles, it is number thirteen in [6] the twenty-five smallest cities in area in the United States with population of at least 25,000.[5][7]
City residents voted to become a charter city in a special municipal election on November 29, 2005. Fewer than 400 voters turned out for that special election.[8]
Early history
Don Antonio Maria Lugo, a Spanish aristocrat and former soldier, settled on 30,000 acres of land that encompasses what is now the City of Bell. In 1838, the King of Spain formally granted the land to Lugo and the acreage became known as Rancho San Antonio. By 1865, the Lugo family fortune dwindled and most of the Rancho was sold for less than a dollar per acre. The Lugo family did manage to retain its home, and descendants of the family are still living in the original adobe house on Gage Avenue. [9]
Between 1870 and 1890 settlers arrived to the area and among those was the city’s founder. In 1876, the pioneer residents for whom the city is named, James George Bell and his wife Susan Abia Hollenbeck Bell, and their two children, Maude Elizabeth and Alphonzo Sr. moved from Los Angeles where they lived for a short period with Susan's brother, John Hollenbeck, into their Victorian style home — the Bell House, now a historic landmark located at 4401 East Gage Avenue.[10]
James George Bell House 1876
They acquired about 360 acres (1.5 km2) of land and in the next decade, helped in its development as a small farming and cattle raising community. The Bell Family lived at the Hollenbeck’s “Town House” on 4th and Breed Street until they moved in the “ranch” Bell House in 1876. The Bell House was an early Victorian style farm house. In 1898, the town’s name was changed from Rancho San Antonio, to Bell in honor its pioneer founders.[11]
At the turn of the twentieth century, the Bell area was a sparsely settled countryside with a scattering of houses, including the Bell family's home. Between 1900 and 1915, more people settled into the area. More homes, schools, churches and a library were built, and several small businesses were established by 1913. The citizens agreed to provide all facilities and services for the library, except for the books.
In the fifteen years following World War I, from 1920 to 1935, an explosive growth in population occurred in the Bell area. Old and new residents built new businesses, established schools, and founded community organizations such as the Bell Chamber of Commerce and the Woman's Club. An area-wide sanitation district was formed in 1923 to provide sewer facilities. In 1924, George O. Wheeler founded the Industrial Post, the local newspaper which now serves the communities of Bell, Cudahy, and Maywood. In 1925, the Alcazar Theater to show "talking pictures", was opened. It has since been demolished. [12] In 1926, Bell High School was opened.[13]
Cityhood
Bell was incorporated as a city in 1927 and has continued to grow and develop. Since its incorporation, the City of Bell has acquired land for public parks and the recreational program. The city also has constructed an adequate sewer system, widened all major streets, built a City Hall, and provided Fire Department buildings, with the cooperation of Los Angeles County, the City of Maywood and the County Of Los Angeles, the City of Bell constructed an indoor public swimming pool at Bell High School. A local government now supervises this growth and provides the services needed by the ever-increasing populace.
James George Bell House
The City's Chamber of Commerce is located at the historic James George Bell House, which serves as a meeting place and in addition, a museum showcasing artifacts from the City's founding family and period furniture. The House is open to the general public with free admission. On March 6, 2007, the City of Bell held its first contested election for City Council in almost a decade.[citation needed]
Oscar controversy
In March 2000, Bell gained worldwide publicity, as the media announced that a shipment of 55 Oscar statuettes were stolen from a trucking company loading dock in the City of Bell. In addition to the Los Angeles and Bell police departments, FBI art-theft experts were investigating. It was the second Oscar mishap, as earlier that month 4,000 ballots were misrouted. Coincidentally, the missing Oscar ballots were found by the Post Office in a Bell processing center. AMPAS Executive Director Bruce Davis was quoted as jokingly warning Billy Crystal (host of that year's Oscar Ceremony) not to go near Bell, because it "seems to be a Bermuda Triangle for Oscar things."[14]
Investigation of city officials' salaries
A series of investigative stories published by the Los Angeles Times starting in July 2010 revealed that several city officials were being paid salaries far higher than those in other cities, possibly more than others in similar positions in any American city.[15] Chief Administrative Office Robert Rizzo collects a salary of $787,637 a year, with yearly 12% increases scheduled every July. Assistant City Manager, Angela Spaccia collects $376,288 a year, with a similar 12% annual pay increase. Police Chief Randy Adams' $457,000 annual salary is 50% higher than that of his Los Angeles counterpart.[16] The part-time city council members collect almost $100,000 a year each.
Word of the salaries have caused widespread criticism and calls for resignations by city officials.[17][18] On July 19, 2010, Vice-Mayor Teresa Jacobo said she expects Rizzo to resign or be fired at that day's council meeting.[19]
Resigning would make City Manager Robert Rizzo, Police Chief Randy Adams and Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia eligible for lucrative pensions. But the three also have contracts that protect them from being fired without cause. As a result, unless they agree to resign, the city would face the prospect of buying out their contracts, which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional payments. [20]
California Attorney General Jerry Brown[21]. and L.A. prosecutors are investigating whether the current council salaries violate a state law that regulates how much council members are paid.[22] But the year the law passed, the Bell City Council held a special election with only one item on the ballot. It asked voters to approve a measure calling for Bell to convert to a “charter” city. The now highly paid members of the Bell City Council were able to exempt themselves from state salary limits through the little-noticed city ballot measure during a special election that attracted fewer than 400 voters.[23]
At a closed-door meeting Thursday night, July 22, as hundreds of residents protested outside, council members discussed reducing their own pay. Police Chief Randy Adams, attended the council meeting Monday. The part-time city council members collect almost $100,000 a year each. Chief Administrative Office Robert Rizzo, whose salary has caused the most vociferous outcry, did not attend the meeting, but was secluded in his home. Word of the salaries have caused widespread criticism and calls for resignations by city officials.[24][25]. At the meeting, though, the city council deferred any action, ordering a report on city salaries by city staff[26].
Robert Rizzo and 2 other members of the Bell city administration resigned late Thursday night.[27]
The former police chief Randy Adams, who resigned last week, was paid $457,000 a year [1], Thirty-three percent more than the $300,442 [2] salary the of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck[3] responsible for the large city of Los Angeles each of whose 21 divisions are larger than the entire City of Bell. [28] An officer from Pomona, CA, (who wished to remain anonymous) stated that "Bell is smaller than the area" he patrols by himself.
Robin Lowe, president of the League of California and Hemet city council member, said: "Like the residents of Bell, I was shocked to read the news accounts about the excessive salaries paid to certain officials in the city of Bell. While every public official and employee deserves to be paid fairly for their work, the salaries reportedly paid to senior administrators and the city council shock the conscience."
[29]
Rizzo is apparently in line to receive a pension of $880,000 annually, which is twice President Obama's salary [30]It will reach past $1 million shortly after his 63rd birthday. [31] "Bell residents are the big losers in this episode. But in the process of letting city hall run wild with tax money, they may have provided a stark example of what may lie ahead for the rest of us." says Conan Nolan of NBC news. [1]
A pension reform activist says that since Bell is pooled with 140 similar-size California towns and public entities, their taxes will help support the three high-priced officials who have resigned. The sad reality, dear Californian, is that depending on where you live, you may be personally contributing to the insultingly fat pension of ousted Bell city administrator Robert "Ratso" Rizzo.-Los Angeles Times - Jul 24 04:09pm [32]
The former police chief Randy Adams, who resigned last week, was paid $457,000 a year [1], Thirty-three percent more than the $300,442 [2] salary the of LAPD Chief Charlie Beck[3] responsible for the large city of Los Angeles each of whose 19 divisions are larger than the entire City of Bell. [citation needed] An officer from Pomona, CA, who wished to remain anonymous) stated that "Bell is smaller than the area" he patrols by himself. DocOfSoc (talk) 10:17, 26 July 2010 (UTC)
Government and infrastructure
The Bell Police Department provides law enforcement for the tiny City of Bell. Police Chief Randy Adams has resigned under pressure and has been replaced. Patrol is part of the Bell Police Department's Field Services Division and is responsible for manning the streets in marked police vehicles. The Bell Police Department has two motor units to enforce traffic laws throughout the city. Traffic Officers also handle the investigation of major traffic accidents and assist with traffic control. The Parking Enforcement Unit consists of two community service officers. They are responsible for enforcing all parking regulations and ordinances throughout the city. They also assist with traffic control and special events. THere are 47 members in Bell Police Department.[33]
Fire protection in Bell is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The LACFD operates Station #163 at 6320 Pine Avenue in Bell as a part of Battalion 3.[34]
The United States Postal Service operates the Bell Post Office at 6327 Otis Avenue and the Bandini Station Post Office at 5555 Bandini Boulevard.[37][38]
Every winter, The City of Bell hosts its annual "Bell Family Holiday Parade & Festival" which starts at Debs Park and ends at the Bell Community Center.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 km² (2.4 mi²). 5.3 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (6.44%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 36,664 people, 8,918 households, and 7,615 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,708.1/km² (14,802.5/mi²). There were 9,215 housing units at an average density of 1,434.6/km² (3,720.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.45% White, 1.28% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 43.09% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. 90.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,918 households out of which 57.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.3% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,946, and the median income for a family was $30,504. Males had a median income of $22,596 versus $17,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,905. About 21.2% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
J&F Design, the company that owns the Bobby Jack Brand clothing brand, is headquartered in Bell.[39][40]
All residents are zoned to Bell High School in Bell.[42][43] The high school population is 98% hispanic, .02% African-American, `and a small population of Asian and Pacific Islanders.[44]The Mission of Bell High School is to: educate all students to the highest degree of their abilities socially, academically, and technologically so that they become contributing members of society. They are the home of the "Might Eagles". [45]
Any student who lives in the Bell or Huntington Park zones may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006, does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities.[46]
South Region Middle School 2 will open in Bell in 2010.[47]
The City of Bell has several recreational facilities. The Bell Community Center hosts many events such as anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays, conferences, company parties, receptions, and seminars. Treder Park, located at the community center, has a gazebo, a pavilion with barbecues, and picnic tables.[49] Camp Little Bear Park and Lodge is a park designed for children 12 and under. The park includes a three-in-one area for junior players with basketball, handball, and four square courts. The park also has an outdoor amphitheatre for films, a miniature golf course, an indoor lodge with classrooms and computers, picnic pavilions, play equipment, rock climbing, and a small soccer (football) turf field.[50]
Ernest Debs Park, also referred to as the "casa de futbol" ("House of Soccer" in Spanish), has a soccer field with sport turf and a shaded outdoor fitness area with cardio, resistance, and strengthening equipment. The park also has one full and two half basketball courts, benches, pavilions, picnic tables, and table games.[51] Veterans Memorial Park has one junior (half) and two full-court basketball courts, batting cages, a baseball diamond with stadium seating and scoreboards, tree-shaded benches, a clubhouse with computer access, large picnic pavilions, tree-shaded picnic tables, a playground for ages 2 through 12, a rose garden in honor of U.S. soldiers, and a snack bar.[52] The Y.O.T.L.O.T. ("Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow") Teen Center is a facility for teenagers. The center has air hockey, computer access, foosball, game systems, a pool table, a snack bar, and a stage. The Bell SK8 ("Skate") Park is located adjacent to the teen center.[53]
^For 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Bell's land area 1245 out of 1257 cities, defined as incorporated areas, and two unincorporated areas, with population of at least 25,000 in year 2000. An additional 10 cities on the list of 1267 cities had no land area data, for example, Goleta, California.
