The Beach cities of the South Bay have maintained a watch-dog culture over local government.
The schemes which engulfed the finances of South Gate, and Montebello would never happen here.
Some active citizens have even tabulated how much city managers receive in their respective cities based on the number of residents living in the area. Publicity is the surest way to keep leaders accountable, especially where readership is high and civic-minded consciousness is deep.
This kind of civilian-activism is needed at all levels of governance, but especially at the local level, where most of our tax-payer money is most immediately acquired and spent.
We hope that more "working-class" communities will take up the necessary mantle to keep an eye on their local civic leaders. Despite the long hours that residents in South Eastern Los Angeles County may have to clock in, it is their right, duty, and necessity to keep an eye on their leaders, hold them accountable, and call them out when they misstep take steps without public knowledge.
It is not enough to throw the bums out; every community electorate must ensure that the newly-installed local leaders do not become bums, too!