The Los Angeles Times ran a fantastic piece over the weekend on how the leaders in the city of Vernon are essentially “untouchable.”

The story begins …

Carl Algee’s job as a $25-an-hour security guard at Vernon’s municipal power plant came with one big perk — a city-owned apartment at well below market rent.

There was also one catch.

“When I got the apartment, they said I had to register to vote … and they said, ‘You’ll know who to vote for,'” Algee recalled. “It was a vague statement, but I knew what they meant — the incumbents.”

I encourage you to read the full piece here.