>>BREAKING<< BELL GARDENS, CA – In a shocking turn of events, a Los Angeles Superior Court ruled earlier this week that Jennifer Rodriguez, a Bell Gardens Councilmember, will be removed from office on charges that she willingly vacated her seat (click here to view full court document). First reported here on SELA News back in September, the Councilwoman was absent without excuse to 10 of 20 council meetings starting back in 2016. According to State law, a seat becomes vacant if a member of the council misses all scheduled council meetings within a consecutive 60-day period. Taking this law into account, it’s pretty clear that Rodriguez’s seat was vacated back in Sept. 24, 2016.  The court found that Rodriguez violated her oath of office by failing to attend multiple city council meetings and costing the taxpayers over $50,000.00 that she continued to collect in the form of salary and medical benefits while being absent.

With Rodriguez relieved of her duties, the Bell Gardens City Council is left with only a few options. The remaining 4-Member Council can either appoint a new member, call for a special election, or wait for a new member to be elected by voters in the next scheduled municipal election happening in November 2020.