For example: e-mails exchanged by workers on the town payroll explaining how contracts are crafted “carefully so we do not draw attention to our pay,” and that “We will all get fat together.”
These e-mails—and plenty more like ’em—have just been made public by Los Angeles County prosecutors accusing government officials in the scandal-ridden city of Bell of concealing their absurdly high salaries. Compensation for the city’s chief administrative officer, for example, would have totaled over $1.5 million last year, according to the LA Times.
Among the other e-mails, when the city’s newly hired police chief prepared for the job, he wrote to the city’s administrative assistant:
“I am looking forward to seeing you and taking all of Bell’s money?!”
To which the assistant administrator responded:
“Okay … just a share of it!! … LOL … well you can take your share of the pie … just like us!!!”
The head administrative official—the one whose compensation was north of $1.5 million—had a saying, the assistant administrator explained:
“Pigs get Fat … Hogs get slaughtered!!!! So as long as we’re not Hogs … All is well!”