State lawmakers are gearing up to target the cityhood of the allegedly corruption-plagued city of Vernon in the new session.
Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez plans to introduce legislation that would disincorporate any California city with fewer than 150 residents -- a specification that only applies to the 95-resident Los Angeles County city.
The battle over the move -- which some observers say is unprecedented -- has already heated up.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
"The issue here is about the complete lack of transparency and accountability in Vernon," Pérez said. "We cannot tolerate a situation where a handful of individuals are able to use an entire city as their own personal fiefdom." ....
Vernon officials are questioning whether the Legislature has the legal authority to act and arguing that Pérez and others are unfairly singling out their city.Vernon City Administrator Mark Whitworth issued a written statement Friday saying disincorporation would "cost thousands of people their jobs and the state hundreds of millions in tax revenues."
"We believe any such action proposed by Mr. Pérez violates the state Constitution and the rights granted charter cities," Whitworth wrote. "The city of Vernon intends to defend the rights of its residents, the 1,800 businesses and tens of thousands of people who earn a living in Vernon."
Read the full article, published Sunday in the Los Angeles Times, here.
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