The mayor of Los Angeles, Anthony Villagrosa, was out of town for much of the Michael Jackson death ordeal, has publicly chastised his staff for asking the public to donate to the city’s expenses for the funeral. The city spent $1.4 million on police, traffic control, and other public services for the event – but admittedly doesn’t have a lot of money. When asked at a press conference the day before how they were going to pay for it, Councilwoman Jan Perry (who was acting mayor when Villaraigosa was on vacation) asked the public to please send in money. The incredibly unprofessional and tacky request struck the mayor as just that.
“This is a world-class city, and we provide fire and police protection. Period. The idea that we would charge the family for a funeral is nonsensical,” Villaraigosa said, adding that AEG also should not have to reimburse the city.
Villaraigosa, after announcing a summer jobs program, also criticized his staff for launching a website that asked the public for donations to help pay the city’s costs. The website, which raised $35,000, was taken down Friday. It’s unclear if the money will be returned to donors.
“I thought it was ridiculous, and that was the word I used when I called my staff from South Africa,” the mayor said.
The mayor’s comments were a sharp departure from a news release distributed by his office Thursday, when he was out of the country. In it, he encouraged Jackson fans worldwide to memorialize the pop star by donating to the city.
The release quoted Villaraigosa as saying: “Michael Jackson’s music touched millions of fans across the globe. Donations will help the City of Angels provide the extraordinary public safety resources required to give Michael the safe, orderly and respectful memorial he deserves.”
[From the Los Angeles Times]
During the press conference, a journalist asked how the city was going to pay for the memorial’s expenses. They replied that every year they build in some of the costs for “unexpected events,” into the budget. This includes four “extraordinary events” budgeted each year. Right after that they asked for donations.
City Councilman Bernard C. Parks said the city spent more than $100,000 for special events honoring comedian Bob Hope after his death in 2003. He said the city annually sets aside millions of dollars in police overtime specifically for unexpected events such as the Jackson memorial.
“I agree that the city of Los Angeles is responsible for responding to spontaneous events,” said Parks, a former police chief and chairman of the council’s budget and finance committee. “This was very spontaneous, because you don’t plan a death.”
Still, Parks said it was “inconsistent” for the mayor to say the city should pick up the tab for services provided at the Jackson memorial after he had encouraged AEG to help pay for the city’s costs in the recent parade for the Lakers.
[From the Los Angeles Times]
AEG has said they’re not making any money off anything Jackson related. They lost the $30 million they’d put into his upcoming tour. They say that once they get that back (on Jackson memorial concerts, etc), 90% of profits will go to his estate. They also donated the Staples Center and Nokia Theater for free, so they feel the responsibility is on the city. Luckily the mayor does as well.
OF COURSE AEG DONATED THE VENUE … THE OWN IT!!!
Yeah they own it, but they don’t give access to it for free. That’s why it’s a donation of space. They could just have easily said pay us for the space or have your little freakfest somewhere else.
AEG also charged each of the all the camera crews $50,000 to set up platforms to film the event. They paid nothing to the city to cover the costs of this circus they created. We in California are in dire straights with teachers, libraries, parks and all kinds of services imaginable being cut, the mayor should shut his mouth and take all the help we can get.
I agree the public shouldn’t be asked to pay – but only because I think the JACKSON FAMILY should be paying. You want a giant memorial for your creepy relative? You pay for it.
I agree with ya AlaskaJoey. They have millions upon millions. Our troops wouldnt get such a big ta~do would they? And who deserves it more? Some man that made magic with music and possibly played with little kids or our American troops, whom need no introduction?
I agree that the Jackson family should pay for it
A) He wasn’t a nobel price for peace or a great discoverer or even a role model
B)He and his family were not in need
How does usual people do for there funeral and the circus around it ? they just pay for it (and a huge amount)
The one who should be chastised is the Mayor. The side-show “memorial” should NOT be a burden to us taxpayers– the LA Lakers victory parade was paid entirely by privately-funded donations. We taxpayers are also funding the investigation into his cause of death: LAPD, DEA, and multiple other involved departments as well as the Calif Attorney General. LA and Calif are already bankrupt.
The Mayor is a fool. But, wait. We already knew that when he cheated on his wife with the TV reporter, “as reported.”
JayBird,
I’m not sure where you are from, but it is unfair for you to claim that the Mayor is right about the city having to pay for this, when those of us in California are feeling the dire consequences of politicians who have mismanaged our tax money. We are paying almost 10% (9.75) in sales tax. Some people have gotten IOUs from the state instead of a tax refund. I know people whose paychecks are getting cut 10% every month and who are mandated to work 5 days and only get paid for 4. Teachers are losing jobs and class sizes are now ridiculously big. A lot of schools don’t even offer summer school anymore. That is the reality of what is going on in this state. So please spare me the speech on how you believe Villaragosa (who played his part in contributing to this disaster) is right when he thinks the city should pay 1.4 million dollars for Michael Jackson’s memorial. While it is tacky for the city to ask for donations, Jackson’s estate is estimated to be worth 200 million. I thik they could spare a little money to show his fans that they are appreaciated.