Meanwhile …

We told you last week about the Los Angeles Times story that revealed the exorbitant salaries of officials and council members in the Southern California town of Bell.

In Bell, located just a few miles southeast of Los Angeles, the city manager makes almost $800,000 a year and receives regular annual raises of 12 percent. The police chief brings down $457,000.

At the same time, council members earn $100,000, padding their salaries by holding one-minute meetings for virtually nonexistent boards.

Well, that was news to many of Bell's 36,000 residents.

On Monday, the Bell City Council met for the first time since the Times story appeared -- and was met by hundreds of protestors, many left banging on the chamber doors shouting "fuera," Spanish for "get out."

According to Bloomberg News, the council quickly adjourned into a private session, returning an hour later with a statement saying "the city would prepare a report on the salaries and seek public comment at the next council meeting, scheduled for Aug. 16." When that was met with more jeers, officials agreed to move the meeting up to next week.

We can't wait for that gathering. Perhaps the police chief and city manager can cater the affair. Heaven knows they can afford it.