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

[StoicRep]

Why don't they get a loan from Arnold? He possibly does not believe in interest.

[Halfwit]

Anytime you have police escort for a funeral, the police are paid for it and are generally off-duty. Usually, billed through the funeral home. They set it up and charge you for it with the rest of the funeral bill.
The government does not "provide" an escort for funerals, whether you request it or not.

[Andy Harris]

Here's A Live News Report From Heaven With Michael Jackson!

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4632574182/live-from-heaven-michael-jackson

[Judyisacutie]

This is a false controversy because the public won't be paying for it. The family and fans will.

[minneapolismn]

Care to elaborate or do you just want to add to the "false controversy" by giving your random thought without reason as to why or how?

[Halfwit]

Because whoever rents the Staples Center is billed by the police department for the service.
So, AEG and the Jacksons will most likely cover the cost.
Just like any other funeral or non-government event.

[Frout]

Really? They are going to be paying for the law enforcement, parking enforcement, fire department? Great!

[ClownPosse]

Well, of course they should !

Consider it "Reparations" to the Jackson Family !

[jane gallagher]

For?

[AtomicSplash]

no

[cynthia3217]

How may school lunches and teachers salaries could be funded for the amount of this memorial? Michael Jackson was an entertainer, not a public figure. Why should CA taxpayers foot this bill? What kind of priority is being set here? AEG is going to make a lot of money from this unfortunate situation. They can pony up the cash for the municipal costs for the memorial.

[psychmaj323]

Not a public figure???

[Scent]

So 605 Billion dollars a year for military spending is ok, but a memorial to someone so many loved (NOT including me!) is wrong?

I can't believe how nearsighted some people are.

[tarheelfan7711]

Yes 605 Billion dollars a year is OK, because it's used to protect your a$$. It is wrong, no matter how many people loved him, taxpayers money is not meant to pay for anyone's Memorial service

[sleepdawg]

Yes, and how many lunches could have been bought with the money it cost to oversee that ridiculous Lakers parade?

[SecretSister]

Yes, I think that paying for this memorial is better than paying to bailout Wall Street.

Besides, the city is gaining revenue from all the visitors who simply want a safe place to mourn their hero.

[minneapolismn]

According to the quick research I've done, Los Angeles city/county sales tax is 9.75% (1.5% more than the base rate of sales tax in the state of California where only 1% is returned locally, of that 0.25% is flagged for county transportation funds and 0.75% is flagged for city and county operations).

Assuming the 0.75% set aside from the state sales tax is used entirely by the city and none given to the county or if they both work in coordination with this event and assuming the full extra 1% city/county sales tax (I have not read up on what that 1% is flagged for), there is 1.75% sales tax that the city/county has control over. If this event costs $2.5 million to the city as noted in the article, sales in the area would have to increase by more than $100 million for that brief moment in time, a few hours, in addition to what the normal sales revenue would be on an average day.

You might want to re-think your view of how much the "city" is going to generate from this "event."

[Chernynkaya]

Great work. I was tempted to do that but was too lazy.

[cobobs]

People coming into town for the funeral are not going to be there for 2 hours . Some have been there for a week already. The MJ industry is just beginning and will be creating a lot of jobs and revenue for the area. Besides, most of the cost would be borne by the organizers and not the city.

[Frout]

Interestin­g... I'm not sure how you connect paying for the memorial to bailing out Wall Street? I'm not sure how you think our city is gaining revenue from all the visitors? Business owners maybe, but nothing compared to what this is costing. In my opinion, this memorial is the absolute reflection of what was wrong in this mans life. A circus is being built around him for others financial and/or emotional gain. For gosh sakes, let this talented tortured soul, rest in peace.

[jalowe1957]

The Jackson estate should be footing the bill, not the taxpayers.

And if Sacramento issuing IOU's wasn't bad enough...

[Judyisacutie]

They are, and any time there is a funeral the state provides a police escort if asked. I suppose the state could stop funding any support for any funeral anywhere in the state from now on if that would make folks happy. Then the next time they can try following a motorcade to a cemetery behind a hot body in a hearst that's stuck in traffic.

[psychmaj323]

LMAO

[Halfwit]

No, you have to hire a police escort. They don't just do that.

[legallyredhed]

I'm sorry, tell me why I should pay for a private citizen's memorial service? That's like asking for me to chip in on your mother's funeral. I don't think so. Michael Jackson was a great entertainer, I'm not saying he wasn't, but I don't need to pay for his public memorial. And any money that the city of LA would be making would be just that, money for the city. Not the state. So, no, the state shouldn't pay for anything. He wasn't a politician, public leader, none of that. He was a musician. That's it. If his family wants there to be a public memorial, that's more than fine, but they should either foot the bill themselves, or get it sponsored by someone. It's not the state's problem just because he lived and died here. Give me a break.

[psychmaj323]

Do you have this same concern when there are parades and championship celebrations?

Like someone else mentioned, the state provides police escorts to anyone who asks...So, when someone you know dies, don't get a police escort...

[Chernynkaya]

You keep repeating that the state provides police escorts, but not for free! The funeral home or the professional ball team PAYS THEM. When the Lakers had a parade, they PAID for police. You think they just pop up on the streets on their motorcycles whenever a hearse comes by? NO.

[Beaster]

Yes!!! The amount of revenue that will be generated in LA by people arriving and spending money there will dwarf the amount of money being spent for this momentous occasion! Why isn’t any one talking about this? Stop crying and get on with it!!!!

[minneapolismn]

So you're also in favor of public funding for new stadiums and arenas? That's the old excuse they've been using for a long time.

How much WILL the city make off this? I'm not asking how much revenue the vendors and local businesses will make, I'm asking for the number the city itself will make off this. I do not live in CA but I'm going to guess the local sales tax (if any) will not generate as much revenue as $1 million plus. Remember, most sales tax in states that have sales tax, the state receives the revenue and this even will cost the city and county of Los Angeles more than the state itself.

You might want to re-think your argument because it's the city that will be affected and if you live there, you might one day in the next year require their services but the funds have run dry for actual emergencies.

Also keep in mind, if you or I were to have an event that required police, fire and rescue...w­e would be billed for it. This is an "event," not an emergency.

[jane gallagher]

I live in LA and I don't care if we made a billion dollars off of his memorial. He is a private citizen and one private citizen should not be forced to pay for the memorial service of another. I do not WANT to make a cent off of his memorial as I would not want someone to profit from my death.

Have the memorial in your town and enjoy the droves in mass hysteria clogging your streets in the name of revenue.

[hollywood2008]

sigh we might as well considering our budget will be in the red for the next 50 years

[tcastillo]

I guess you did not read the rest of this blog.

[TXfemmom]

I am a liberal but I am sick to death of Michael Jackson coverage. He was a singer and entertainer, but he didnt' get killed for his country and he didn't find the cure for cancer, and he wasn't a government official. Going on and on and on about him and his family is ridiculous. We have serious problems in this nation.

MIchael Jackson had great talent, but his life and how he lived it was pathetic.

[tcastillo]

Wow. If you only lived in his shoes. You are pathetic.

[Falconjim]

And YOU lived in MJ shoes? If you are "in love" with someone you never met in person who was prosecuted for federal child molestation charges and thinks it is Okey-Dokey for children to sleep with adults that are not their parents, I would have to put you in the "pathetic" group. Just because people sing and dance does not excuse their whacky behavior and I don't care how rich they are.

He was a professional entertainer. Let all the fans who "love" him put their money where their mouth is. Not the taxpayers.

[minneapolismn]

I believe there is a fine line between saying the way someone lived their live was pathetic and calling someone commenting on this article as being pathetic.

Wow, if only you could be more hypocritical and...path­etic.

[jweider]

I thought the same thing about Reagan when he died.

[bjammin]

California should experience an even larger influx of tourists, fans etc for the funeral, with all the money that should bring.

Add to that the fact that Jackson would have indirectly provided the state of California with a lot of money oever the years, ie taxes, spending . . . I don't Cali can complain.

[politicaleconomy]

exactly! you are absoulutely correct!

[RofWH]

Give them an IOU just like everyone else is getting from dysfunctional Sacramento.

[tcastillo]

IOU. Perfect. Now close this this blog. I am sick of people slamming the 'Best''.