In the wake of recent decisions by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners (BoC), citizens and local journalists are raising alarm over a series of actions that bear a troubling resemblance to the infamous scandal in Bell, California. In 2010, Bell became a symbol of government corruption when a series of investigative reports by the Los Angeles Times revealed that city officials had awarded themselves exorbitant salaries and taken steps to suppress public dissent. Now, as public outcry mounts in Josephine County, some wonder if their own leaders are walking a similar path toward unchecked authority and public disengagement.
Bell, a small city in Los Angeles County, erupted in scandal over a decade ago when Los Angeles Times reporters Ruben Vives and Jeff Gottlieb exposed how several officials, including the city manager, were quietly collecting some of the highest public salaries in the nation. With oversight lacking, Bell’s leaders were able to silence local critics and press, paving the way for years of unchecked spending and self-serving policy decisions. This scheme to enrich themselves eventually came crashing down when public outrage and media attention brought about legal consequences and reform.
At yesterday’s Josephine County BoC meeting, citizens showed up ready to voice their concerns over the proposed sale of over 1,800 acres of county-owned forest land. However, they were met with unexpected resistance: the board abruptly shut down public comment, stifling citizens who had taken time off work specifically to address their concerns. With the sale advancing rapidly and on a sealed-bid basis, many fear the lack of transparency is shielding the board from public scrutiny and allowing private interests to prevail over the public good…