First, the good news: the memorial service for Michael Jackson did not cost the City of Los Angeles the $4 million originally reported.
Now, the bad news: the service still cost the City more than $1 million. Initial reports put the cost of additional security and trash pick up for the private event at $1.4 million.
While the City is not unused to shelling out extra money for events, this one came with its own set of issues:
- Crowds had been expected to rival the 1984 Olympics – and that event took years of planning. This event was put together, basically, over a weekend.
- Unlike events such as concerts and ball games, tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial were free. Good for attendees, bad for the City. That means no sales tax on tickets.
- The City was still reeling from Lakers (bah, Humbug!) victory parade last month, although taxpayer financing for that event was kept to a minimum. The Lakers reportedly paid for the entire production cost of the parade (topping $1 million) and donations took care of most of the rest of the associated costs for police, etc.
- Los Angeles is more than half a billion in debt – and the state of California’s coffers are dry, too.
Taking all of this into consideration, the City is looking to AEG (which owns the Staples Center) and the Jackson family/estate to voluntarily fill some of the budget holes. So far, neither party has come forward to help. The City of Los Angeles is reportedly reviewing its legal options with respect to collections.
No matter how the money is collected, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich believes that taxpayers should not have to pay for the service. Noting that it was essentially a private event, Trutanich’s spokesman said that the city should not foot the bill “…especially in a cash-strapped city, where people have been furloughed or even lost jobs.”
A website has been set up to take donations to defray the cost of the event. So far the City has collected a mere $17,000.
I wholeheartedly agree 100% with the attorney for the City of Los Angeles.
There is mention that the City should not have to foot the bill because of the state of the economy and the fact that LA is “cash-strapped”. The economy has nothing to do with it. Even if the city was flush with money it should not have to incur this cost.
And, while it is especially ridiculous that the service was for possible child molester Michael Jackson, the city should not have to foot such a bill regardless of the “deceased”. If the service was for Michael Douglas it would be similarly inappropriate.
The City should present a bill to the Estate of Michael Jackson immediately!
TWTP
Maybe Rev Al Sharpton should donate some of his funds?
As much as I completely agree that LA shouldn’t foot the bill – is there any precedent to force an estate to pay the extra costs? Anyone have an intern and westlaw?
Yeah. The Lakers paid for their event. I don’t see why AEG shouldn’t do that as well.
On TV this morning they reported that the policemen providing security for the event were each furnished a pricey box lunch. The caterer was located 60 miles away – outside of LA county so they didn’t even collect sales tax on that portion of the expenditures.
I agree that the city attorney should find ways that the city should not pay for this service because AEG and the Jackson are very rich 1.5 millions is just a drop in the bucket for them Janet Jackson could pay for it or anyone of the Jacksons could pay. That amount of money is just pennies to them.
I believe it will be better down at city hall because we have I hope a person is there now will do the right things; that is the reason I did a few telephone calls for Mr. Trutanich.
Roger Jones
Roger,
So you think we should start taxing based on the fact that you think Janet Jackson has millions? Wow, I am going out on a limb here, but I think you may have voted for Obama’s change