Former Bell Mayor George Cole, a longtime politician tied to the Bell corruption scandal, didn't show up for a lavish gala held at Luminarias to award him for his community advocacy.
The minimum $350-a-plate dinner was hosted by the Montebello Housing Development Corporation on Thursday and featured appearances by state Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, and state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles.
Cole is credited with starting the Oldtimers Foundation, a non-profit that provides housing and food for seniors in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
His work with the charity, while praised by the Montebello group, is also under investigation by state Attorney General Jerry Brown, officials said.
"We're honoring his work with the foundation, not his work in politics," said Robert Monzon, president of the nonprofit Montebello Housing Development Corporation. "If I put on blue pants in the morning does it really matter if I do good work in the community?"
Regardless, Brown's office charges that the Oldtimers Foundation contracted with Bell while Cole was on the City Council there.
Cole was also on the City Council when it voted to change its charter to allow council members to rake in more than $100,000 in annual salaries, and to pay former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo close to $800,000 a year.
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