State Close To Dissolving Cityhood Of Vernon

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The Los Angeles County city Vernon is one step closer to being dissolved after the state Assembly passed a bill to revoke incorporation from cities with fewer than 150 residents.

Democratic Assembly Speaker John Perez of Los Angeles says his bill, AB46, was necessary because the size of Vernon, a city in his district, has allowed rampant corruption. He says officials in the city of 94 residents essentially put themselves in office and paid themselves exorbitant salaries.

The bill passed Thursday on a bipartisan vote of 58-7 and now goes to the Senate.

Opponents say AB46 would hurt businesses that operate in Vernon. They say it does not address corruption in cities of other sizes and that residents should fix the problem themselves.

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