LA seeks ways to pass on cost for Jackson memorial
LOS ANGELES — As the final cost of Michael Jackson’s memorial service was being calculated, city officials cast about Wednesday to find ways to have others help pick up the multimillion-dollar bill.
City attorney Carmen Trutanich said his office was investigating how the financially troubled city can legally press third parties to pick up at least some of the tab, which could total as much as $4 million for police overtime and other services.
Trutanich aims to have a report ready for the City Council by Friday, said spokesman John Franklin.
The city has also set up a Web site urging fans to make tax-deductible donations through credit cards, PayPal or check to help defray costs.
The amount of the donations has not yet been tallied, but mayor’s spokesman Matt Szabo said the site received so many hits that the servers temporarily crashed.
Jackson’s public memorial service Tuesday at Staples Center was attended by a total of more than 17,000 fans at that arena and nearby Nokia Theatre. It was watched by tens of millions of people around the world.
Anticipating about 250,000 people would converge on downtown streets, the Police Department deployed 3,200 officers starting at 2 a.m. When only about 1,000 fans showed up, police brass let about 1,000 officers go early, slashing the estimated $2.5 million cost to $1 million.
AEG Live, the owner-operator of Staples Center, has not committed any money to the Jackson memorial, which it organized and promoted. Company spokesman Michael Roth did not return messages on Wednesday.
City Controller Wendy Greuel is calling on the City Council to create a policy declaring who should pay for city services associated with such events.
In a letter to the emergency management department, Greuel criticized the nearly $49,000 expense for police officers’ lunches, which were ordered from a restaurant located 80 miles from Los Angeles.
Greuel said her office called a local sandwich shop that could have provided box lunches for less than $17,500. The purchase would have had the added benefit of supporting a local business, she said.
The Jackson memorial was the second recent event that resulted in extraordinary costs at a time when the city is a half-billion dollars in debt and facing employee layoffs.
Last month’s victory parade for the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers cost an estimated $2 million.
AEG Live gave $1 million to the city for that event and other private donors stepped in.
Related News
LA city attorney seeks documents, conducts interviews in Jackson probeJuly 29th, 2009 LA city attorney seeks documents in Jackson probeLOS ANGELES — A spokesman says the Los Angeles city attorney has been requesting documents and conducting interviews as part of an investigation into the city's role in Michael Jackson's lavish memorial. Spokesman John Franklin said Wednesday there is no timetable to conclude the probe examining civil and criminal issues.
Items from Michael Jackson memorial at Motown Museum are buried at Detroit cemeteryJuly 17th, 2009 Mementos of MJ buried at storied Detroit cemeteryDETROIT — Stuffed animals, flowers, letters and other mementos placed outside Detroit's Motown Historical Museum in memory of Michael Jackson have been buried at a high-profile cemetery. Two hearses carried the items Friday morning from the museum to the Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit where they were buried.
Items from Michael Jackson memorial at Motown Museum to be buried at Detroit cemeteryJuly 17th, 2009 MJ's memorial at Motown to be buried in cemeteryDETROIT — Stuffed animals, flowers, letters and other items placed outside Detroit's Motown Historical Museum in memory of Michael Jackson will be taken to a cemetery for burial. Two hearses are scheduled to pick up the items Friday morning.
LA mayor criticizes staff for Web site seeking donations for Michael Jackson memorial billJuly 13th, 2009 LA mayor: City should cover Jackson memorial costsLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (vee-yah-ry-GOH'-sah) has criticized his staff for setting up a Web site seeking donations to cover the city's cost from the Michael Jackson memorial. Villaraigosa says the city is responsible for protecting public safety and should pick up the $1.4 million tab for police overtime and other services from the event last week at Staples Center.
Councilman: LA taxpayers 'getting ripped off' because AEG won't help pay for Jackson memorialJuly 10th, 2009 LA official: Promoter should pay Jackson memorialLOS ANGELES — A city council member has called on AEG Live to pay some of the estimated $1.4 million cost for policing Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center. Dennis Zine told Fox 11 on Thursday that the city's taxpayers "are getting ripped off" because the owner-operator of the Staples Center profited by charging media up to $50,000 to use risers outside the venue.
Dozens line up at ballpark ahead of Jackson's Ind. hometown memorial celebrationJuly 10th, 2009 Dozens wait for Jackson's Ind. hometown memorialGARY, Ind.
Dozens lined up at ballpark ahead of Jackson's Ind. hometown memorial celebrationJuly 10th, 2009 Dozens line up for Jackson Ind. hometown memorialGARY, Ind.
LA officials want reports on revenue, expenses stemming from Jackson memorial serviceJuly 10th, 2009 LA wants reports on Jackson memorial cost, revenueLOS ANGELES — The financial fallout from the Michael Jackson memorial service continues, with Los Angeles city officials calling for reviews on who should pick up the tab for municipal services related to the event. Councilman Dennis Zine said Friday he wants a report on how much the city spent on police overtime, sanitation and traffic control for the service, which was attended by some 17,000 fans at the Staples Center on Tuesday.
LA seeks donations to pay for Michael Jackson memorial, as costs, criticism growJuly 9th, 2009 LA seeks donations to pay for Jackson memorial tabLOS ANGELES — As the final cost of Michael Jackson's memorial service was being calculated, city officials cast about Wednesday to find ways to have others help pick up the multimillion-dollar bill. City attorney Carmen Trutanich said his office was investigating how the financially troubled city can legally press third parties to pick up at least some of the tab, which could total as much as $4 million for police overtime and other services.
Jackson memorial drew nearly 31 million viewers in United StatesJuly 8th, 2009 Nielsen: 30.9 million watched Jackson memorialNEW YORK — Just under 31 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television. Nielsen Media Research says that's a smaller audience than for Princess Diana's funeral or President Barack Obama's inauguration — but it's still impressive in today's TV world.
Michael Jackson's public memorial service under way in Los AngelesJuly 7th, 2009 Jackson memorial service under wayLOS ANGELES — A public memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun in downtown Los Angeles. Smokey Robinson opened the memorial Tuesday morning in the Staples Center arena by reading comments from Jackson friends.
Drive-through ticket process for Michael Jackson memorial goes smoothly in Los AngelesJuly 6th, 2009 Jackson memorial ticketing goes smoothlyLOS ANGELES — The ticket hand-off for Michael Jackson's public memorial service in Los Angeles has been going smoothly at Dodger Stadium. Winners of an Internet ticket lottery began exchanging vouchers for tickets in a drive-through process Monday in the stadium parking lot.
City official says city would love Jackson contribution for memorial costs, but hasn't heardJuly 6th, 2009 Los Angeles would 'love' contribution for memorialLOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe will attend the pop superstar's memorial service. Former Jackson business associate Marc Schaffel told ABC's "Good Morning America" that Rowe was confirmed for VIP seats.
LA City Hall official: Jackson family considering Los Angeles Coliseum for memorialJuly 2nd, 2009 AP source: Jackson kin considering LA ColiseumLOS ANGELES — One site under consideration for a public Michael Jackson memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly says representatives for the Jackson family have inquired about using the site.
Memorial tributes spring up nearly anywhere there's a Michael Jackson fanJuly 2nd, 2009 Tributes to Jackson spring up in unlikely localesPITTSBURGH — Michael Jackson permeated popular culture so thoroughly that people and towns nationwide with no connection to him are holding services in his honor. A funeral director in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood is holding a memorial service Thursday night and was flooded with reservations.
Loading ...