Firing Non-Elected Public Officials

In San Diego, these redevelopment agencies wield huge amounts of power, and are essentially beholden to no one but themselves and stocked with non-elected officials.  Voice of San Diego shed some light recently, and now they're dropping like flies.  Do other cities put their hands in control of people and agencies that voters have no control over?  Or are we the only stupid one?

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/07/25/news/01graham072508.txt