Should California Taxpayers Pay For Michael Jackson's Memorial? (POLL)

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry said today that she was concerned about how much Michael Jackson's memorial on Tuesday will end up costing the city. EOnline has reported that the event could run the financially-strapped city $2.5 million. Perry has said that she would "love it" if the Jackson family would help cover some of the expenses.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Daily News reports, city councilman Dennis Zine said today that "concert promoter and Staples Center owner AEG should pay all the expenses for Michael Jackson's memorial tribute, and the cash-strapped city should be reimbursed for the cost of deploying police and fire crews to secure the streets around the event. "

"This is not an emergency. This is a memorial service for a celebrity who died a week ago," Zine said. "We are cognizant of AEG's need to honor the memory of Michael Jackson, but they should also be cognizant of the taxpayers' needs."

Zine added that AEG could have held a private memorial, but they chose to make it public even handed out free tickets.

More details about the potential costs from the Los Angeles Times.

Because the fiscal year started July 1, the fund for all police overtime -- which according to one source covers 1.6 million hours, or nearly $90 million -- is flush. But some city officials questioned the wisdom of spending possibly more than $1 million for overtime so early in the fiscal year, noting that the city could find itself cash-strapped later in the event of a fire, earthquake or other major disaster.

Do you think taxpayers should be responsible for paying the cost of Jackson's memorial? Vote below.

Quick Poll

Should California Taxpayers Pay For Michael Jackson's Memorial?

Yes, absolutely, 100%.

The Jacksons should pay for part of it.

AEG should pay for it.

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Comments

[oldsoccerguy]

I think it's ludicrous that the city absorb any expense in this situation. Although a "provision" exists within the city budget to cover this under mitigating circumstances; I feel this difinitely falls outside that interpretation!! we're not talking about a head of stat; we're talking about a "celebrity" who through royalties, sponsors are going to benefit from this event!!! Do lyou think employees who are losing their job, or being furloughed would accept this!!! Let AEG and the Jackson family: or celebrities who participated in this "event" pass the hat an pay for the cost. Ulitmately, they are the one's who will gain finanically from all of this!!

[singermagic1]

Acting mayor, JAN PERRY auth'd the money for the memorial, taking funds from the emergency fund, funds that are used for fires, earthquakes, she has a history of unwisely sponsoring events in LA, she helped sponsor a poorly run Film festival called Jules Verne Film festival, which was run by Frenchmen who then RAN back to France to escape the vendors they owed. She needs to be removed from office for authing city funds for a Private event

[listentome]

Last night when others and myself commented that revenue from visitors and mourners to the city would cover the cost of Michael's funeral, we were basically called clueless about economic. Funny, I just heard the mayor of Los Angeles say that the revenue should more than cover the extra costs with the influx of visitors in hotels, restaurants, etc... Hotels have gone from 50% to 100% full.

[truthmachine]

Hotel profits don't go into the city's coffers, clueless one.

[stephen323]

Yes if many hotels did actually get sold out. As it stands only a few did and all are in close proximity of staples center. Even with room tax the city, state, and county will be out major dollars. I have a feeling AEG is orchestrating the hype to increase revenue on video of Jackson's rehearsals and also moving forward with the concert series. Given all this and the city and state being so strapped for cash taxpayers should not foot the bill. As it stands the state will be shutting down large parks due to the shortage of cash..

[UnknownSoldier]

They are not paying for MJs funeral, this is about Traffic, Riot Police, and Public Safety. The city did not rent the Staples center, buy a casket, flower arrangements, or anything else. The Jackson estate is paying for all of that. The City wants protection money from the Jackson Estate, that is all. If you think that is fair, that is your opinion, personally I don't, but that is just my opinion.

[CitizenRob]

This isn't about anything. The huge crowed estimates were completely made up without any sort of backing evidence that there would be massive crowds.

[nana4g]

That is up to the people of California. Personally, I think AEI should cover it.

[IssuesInFocus]

I am sure the Jacksons would be pleased to pay a part of the bill. But with all that happens in California where police, etc. are used to a larger extent to provide protection --do we always hear the same cry from taxpayers? Just asking! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Z8x6C_uK4

[sleepdawg]

Maybe everyone should just show up at the cemetery and downtown, and there shouldn't be any police presence? Perhaps everyone should just let their feelings dictate where to go. Without any control of public assembly. That would be really great, I'm sure no one would get hurt at all.

Or perhaps, with all those people assembling, there shouldn't be any sales tax charged on hotel rooms or meals or water. It's not like California will be realizing any monies from that, right?

[CitizenRob]

Or what if the HUGE numbers never materialized and turned out be completely imagined by LAPD and city council members that wanted to justify overtime and budget increases.

Imagine.

Oh, wait, you don't have to. 50k not 600k showed up today.

[Katie5]

Yes!Yes and Yes

[oldsoccerguy]

You are TOTALLY CLUELESS. tHE STATE IS BROKE. BTW are you empl;oyed; or are you homeless?

[dutchman]

Good grief, no!!! Let the royalty payments from the non-stop playing of MJ's songs pay for it. I'm hearing "Thriller" yet again on the radio as I type this. I have no ill will towards MJ and appreciate his musical gifts, but if the state of CA has to issue IOUs (how could such a thing be possible in the richest state within the richest country?), then it has no money to lavish on a celebrity funeral.

[Scent]

First let me say that I am NOT a fan of MJ.

BUT ...

I think we have totally forgotten what democracy means.

In a real democracy (which is why we obviously don't have one) the government reflects the will of the people.

So many people liked MJ that the public paying for a monument is a way to reflect that. How can tha be wrong? And as I said: I have nothing coming out of this for me. - Except the idea that we can still have something for us out of our taxes instead of against others.

A nation paying a whopping 605 BILLION dollars a year into the military - more than the next fifteen biggest military spenders on the planet combined - should be able to aford a monument for someone so many loved.

If not, we have even mor problems than I thought.

[UnknownSoldier]

605 Billion is just the published number it is higher than that, trust me.

[thenorthshore]

MJ interview with Martin Bashir

bashir: is it appropeate for a 44 yo man to share a bed with children that are not related to him at all...

MJ: 'it's a beautiful thing'

a taste for buggery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw7hpWq2LZ0

[lydia]

Get over it.!
Bashir was a traitor. A leech who turned an unguarded interview with Michael into spin for his own glory.

The children's nanny ran into the same unconscionable paparazzi tactics and almost come unstuck
They had her pumping Michael's stomach, though one would need some medical expertise to perform this procedure.

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" was the guy who said this a pervert?
Let Michael Rest in Peace

[IssuesInFocus]

Bashir's interviews with Princess Dianna and Jackson-- gave him a ticket to ABC. Nice trip from London. Have a great respect for the fourth estate, but sometimes I have to think how many lives have been ruined because an interviewer..shaped questions to leave an impression that plays negatively, and really just to increase ratings? On Jackson I leave judgment to God. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Z8x6C_uK4

[Calvincito]

There must be a way to calculate how much money MJ and his siblings have brought to the California economy. It probably dwarfs what the memorial will cost. BTW what about future earnings?

[themainpoint]

"There must be a way to calculate how much money MJ and his siblings have brought to the California economy."

Great point!

[Chris]

So by your reasoning, every small business owner should have their funeral paid for. The US govenrment should pay for BIll Gates funeral when he passes.

[tarheelfan7711]

With this logic everyone that pays their taxes should have their funerals covered by the government, get a GRIP!!!!

[UnknownSoldier]

they are not paying for his funeral. they want money for public safety, traffic control, and stand by riot teams.

[littlewitch]

I think there are several different expenses here. First there is the cost of the memorial itself which includes the rental of the facility , the motorcade accompanying the body and the funeral procession. That is paid for by the relatives of the deceased.

the issue here is the fact that there are only tickets for 20,000 people. The city is anticipating that as many as 750,000 people may turn up. The additional cost for crowd control and security for these extra people are the question. I don't know about the 2.5 million dollar number. But it will definitely cost something.

. Most of the hotels and restaurants in downtown L.A. have been buzzing for the last week with just the press alone. If people travel for the memorial they will probably be in the city for more than a few hours.

Finally although it is not a decisive factor it is worth mentioning that Michael Jackson has donated millions of dollars to a children's ward in a local hospital and a burn unit in this city. He gave a lot. The family will pay all the costs required of them with respect to the memorial proper. Do we really need to nickle and dime the memory of Michael Jackson because of the city and states own fiscal irresponsibility?

[dollyfedup]

Curious to know if we would be worried about this if this were John Lennon, someone from the beatles or Elvis Presley? I don't think so because they were of the right race in which we don't pay attention to stuff like this. We just be respectful and mourn their death no matter what the cost.

[Frout]

I'm curious why you would bring race into a conversation about economics? The issue is our city is broke and the citizens of L.A. are the ones who are going to wind up paying for this and that is not fair or right. This is not about the Jackson family or their right to have a funeral or memorial for their son. Its about the fans who are camped out at Forest Lawn waiting for a glimps of the family going to their PRIVATE ceremony (I know Forest Lawn - you all won't be able to see anything!). Its about having to pay for police to stand by and make sure they are safe in an area they have no business being in. AEG (who OWNS Staples ) trying to make monies on this mans memorial. If you don't think they are in it to sell t-shirts and other trinkets along with making a DVD out of this to sell later, you haven't been paying attention. The family deserves to have a private service for their son along with a memorial for him, but ... the citizens of LA doesn't need to pay for it, even if we had the money. Instead of trying to make it about race, how about making it about behavior - It is not respectful to line up for days to see the family at the cemetery when THEY have asked that it be private.

[sleepdawg]

Who paid for the ridiculous Lakers parade back in June?

[Nishaboston]

of course not, they would have the funeral and the media wouldn't even bring up cost.

[tarheelfan7711]

It is people like you that keep racism alive in this Country, This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IwasThinkingTheSameThing]

IS THIS A JOKE!!!!! Why in the world should the city of Los Angeles pick up the tab for this funeral? His family just ordered a 14K gold plated casket, so somebody in the Jackson family has some money.

I'm a California resident and this state is in a financial crisis. State employees are required to take days off each month without pay, social programs are being cut everywhere you turn, the state school system when last ranked was #46 out of 50 states and it's projected to be #50 out of 50 states when next ranked, last week the state sent out IOU notes to those owed state money because the state's fiscal budget has yet to be approved, and once approved the state will still be BILLIONS of dollars in the the red...........................this state, and it's cities, is FLAT BROKE.

Now if you were asking if the state/city should spend that kind of money on U.S. servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives, well then, I'd be willing to make a charitable donation to help reimburse the city of Los Angeles.

[Seepaz]

The real question is: How much Taxes has Michael Jackson paid to California over the years and how much Taxes will his estate generate in the coming years?

Why is it we need the opinions of people who cannot, and probably will not contribute anything significant to California - or the USA?

The state is not broke because of Michael Jackson; it's broke because people believe they should not have to pay for the Roads, School, Social Services etc. George Bush won election by just promising people a tax cut.

You will eventually get what you - didn't - pay for!