The city of Bell’s former city manager, mayor and city council members attended court last Wednesday, and have been under arrest since last Tuesday, due to involvement in a corruption scandal that has left residents feeling cheated out of thousands of dollars.

“My family and I have known the mayor for about 14 to15 years. Along with my parents, I feel betrayed by him because he took advantage of many people and he would say he did so much for the community when he really didn’t,” said music major Jose Gutierrez.

Robert Rizzo, the former city manager, who’s salary was overseen by former mayor Oscar Hernandez, became an indicator of the abuse when the media released information regarding his annual salary to the general public in July.

Rizzo received $457,000 more than what he would typically receive from the city of Glendale, his former employer, as stated by Reuters online.

Other Bell residents, such as computer science major Luis Meza, feel students, specifically, were robbed of funding crucial to maintaining extracurricular activities.

“When I was in high school, many programs were cut short due to the budget. Students had to pay to be involved in activities, such as music, art, sports and any social clubs, they wanted to be in.

“The school couldn’t fund the budget and the city couldn’t provide enough money. We’re supposed to be able to trust these elected officials,” Meza states.

Details of pacts between the accused officials have also been made public.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rizzo hired Former Police Chief Randy Adams to Bell in July 2009, after Adams filed for disability earlier that year while working for the city of Glendale.

Adams then filed for non-retirement disability the same day he was hired to work for Bell, an arrangement that could pay him millions in tax-free pension money.

“I never heard of someone going to work for a city and having that [disability] determination made going on. I don’t know how you hire someone who is disabled and not fit for the job,” Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird stated.

Bell residents also observe that the city has been robbed of funds that could have been used to make improvements.

“[Bell officials] are running a city of about 35,000 plus residents. There are schools that need to be built and streets that need to be fixed,” Kevin Mendoza, psychology major, said.

Rizzo’s bail deal was rejected on Sept. 24, in which he is being held on $2-million bond, the Los Angeles Times states.

Gutierrez is satisfied with the Los Angeles Superior Court judge’s decision.

“[The accused] should be sentenced. Everything is proven and all the evidence is against them. They’re getting everything they deserve,” he mentioned.

Others feel like more need to be done for the residents.

Radio host major, Carlos Osorio, states, “It’s not enough to place them in jail. They should find a way to give back all the money that was taken away.”

The Bell community and supporters came together at Treder Park at the Bell Community Center on Sunday to celebrate their accomplishments so far.

Those in attendance volunteered jumpers, sold food, held raffles and donated all acquired funds to the city.

Councilman Lorenzo Verez attended the event to speak to some of the residents and to notify them of the city’s progress.

“Our entire city family has been affected and was left in a very sad financial situation,” Verez mentioned,” but we are in the process of recreating our city.”

Verez addressed families of high school and college-age students, especially those experiencing difficulties in getting loans and making payments.

“We have a good amount of high school students that went to East Los Angeles College, Cerritos College and other places like four-year universities.

“The fact is that the city is going to be in such a hurting, it won’t be able to help students out like before,” Verez said.