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.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[KriTiKiT]

nope... well unless they fund it with a "pot" tax

[Tyrone Jones]

WOW, the street cleaners came today and most tourist in my area--HOLLYWOOD BLVD--did not know not to park and got a $45 ticket, towed and the space was empty for the next person to miss the sign for the next 2 hours. OH Did I mention the city also raised the parking meter fees, AND you pay on Sundays too. Don't forget the deleted the 2 hour meter and put up a 1 hour so order to go.

TAXPAYERS can enjoy a moment without being asked for more. Do we have a POLL on this issue? NOPE

But that doesn't count for all those that enjoyed the last 8 years of TAX CUTS. Well those people don't park for memorials or tributes so why bother.

[BlueStateMensch]

Hey Tyrone.. where do you live in Hollywood... we're probably neighbors!

[forpeace]

BlueStateMensch
-------------
LOL!

[Tyrone Jones]

I recognize you taking pictures with tourist for tips...LOL

[forpeace]

Tyrone Jones
--------------
It's $70.

[Tyrone Jones]

OMG...that is expensive. I pay monthly at the City lot to keep from donating by getting mindless tickets.

[Cycadeoidea]

Let's see, Philip Frederick Anschutz is personally worth only $7.8 billion, the Jackson estate is barely $500 million, and the folks in Hollywood don't have any cash to spare, so yeah, LA should hit on the taxpayers for this.

[ShyShea]

When I die I want the works baby! A parade and moonwalks for the kiddies. Just send the bill to the City of Atlanta.

[steamboat]

Do us a favor, hurry up and bury him.........He's an entertainer, thats it ! ....and a disfunctional person.

[loveobamas]

Was that called for??

[BlueStateMensch]

No.. it was crude & childish.

[Cycadeoidea]

Doesn't know how to spell dysfunctional either (you should at least look up the big words).

[steamboat]

YES___ABSOLUTELY !

Give us people a break. This FREAK does NOT deserve this sainthood stature.

[TainoBoy]

Steamboat, give it up already.

[forpeace]

steamboat
-----------
Stay classy!
Please have some respect for the d.eath.

[TainoBoy]

Cosign.

[steamboat]

I don't wish death on anybody (unless there a serial killer). I'm NOT happy he's gone.

However, this was a very jaded person. The guy for the last 20 years wanted to be white. Why, I don't know. But you don't do countless numbers of facial surgeries and bleaching unless there something missing upstairs, as they say....And a normal man doesn't insemelate his so-called wife with white man's sperm so that the children are white. What was wrong with him? Sorry, that's being a FREAK !......For this, you don't give a guy sainthood status.

[Keima]

hope someone says the same thing when tour time is up

[MikeDu]

Hey, if I find myself $400 million in debt and die under suspicious circumstances do you think California will pay or my funeral too?

[duxguts]

They can't cremate him, they would just end up with a big blob of plastic. But look on the bright side, he can give the glove to Charlton Heston to put on his cold dead hand.

[JohnCochtosten]

I lost my job in April and can't find a new one. Uh, let me see...how about NO. I want our money to go to better things.

[Tyrone Jones]

Life my nieghborhood is booming. HOLLYWOOD BLVD....The restaurants I frequent are filled and the "help" are getting great tips. Thanks Michael for the extra money these businesses and workers can enjoy.

[Disuberence]

Try looking outside Burbank, Glendale and Calabasas. LA, California and the country is suffering. You can't look at things at such a tiny scale. That's like having lung cancer and saying "well at least my feet work..."

[BlueStateMensch]

Try Sylmar, Hawthorn, Torrence...

[openlids]

c'mon, it's summer in LA, business booms here every year around this time.

[forpeace]

openlids
--------
Not this year.

[DismayedRepub]

The thought of all those $7 sodas, $6 hotdogs and $45 T-shirts being sold make my dark little capitalist heart beat with lust. Just think, with 20,000 seats if everyone spent $50 that would work out to a million bucks. It’s a good thing AEG scammed the city council into covering the crowd control costs. Else, they’d never turn a profit.

For those that are going, Wachovia ATMs are located in the following locations: Outside at Star Plaza, Main Concourse across from aisle M12, Suite Level A across from Premier Section 16, and Upper Concourse across from aisle U19. Also, for guests' convenience, most STAPLES Center concession stands, bars, and merchandise kiosks accept all major credit cards, including American Express. Have fun!

[johnnynyc]

...and exactly how much do you expect the 250,000-500,000 people who can't get anywhere near the building to spend?

Let's use your number $100.

That's $25-50 million pumped into LA's economy.

What's the tax on that?

And include tax on EVERYTHING sold at the memorial itself.

This is a windfall for LA and CA USING YOUR NUMBERS!!!

[BlueStateMensch]

Parking perhaps.. the sales tax is a STATE tax.... nevertheless... why should a city so STRAPPED for cash offset the expenses of BILLIONAIRES?

[DismayedRepub]

My number was $50 not $100. But you're probably closer seeing how the quests won't have to pay for tickets. All the more reason for AEG to pay up.

[HBD]

With an estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the family should pay. They can afford it and the city/state cannot at this time.

I don't think any city is gonna pay for a memorial service for any of us "nobodies" when we die.

[SpoxLogic]

Well, let's see. Estimates are the city will pay $1 Million. However, they also estimate that one million people may descend on downtown LA this Tuesday. If each spends $100, the City makes that back in taxes alone.

Did the nay-saying pols even think that far ahead?

[BlueStateMensch]

Justify your math.

[johnnynyc]

Can you multiply 1 million times the $100 figure being tossed around here?

I get $100 million.

Go figure the tax on that yourself.

[johnnynyc]

Oh really?

The Lakers VOLUNTARILY kicked in.

Otherwise there was talk of canceling the parade, correct?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tells Fox:

“We’re going to have a parade. People can complain about it, that’s fine. But we’re going to have a parade. By the same token, I also said that the part that the city’s going to provide for, which is police protection and the transportation services, we’re going to raise money from the private sector."

http://news.lalate.com/2009/06/14/lakers-parade-route-2009/

Sounds like a main source of income for CA nowadays is extortion!

[IAmDamoSuzuki]

Wrong.

"The cost for police services alone is expected to be at least $2.5 million, including security at the Jacksons' Encino compound and the rented home where Jackson lived before his death. “It could go higher. It won’t go lower,” said a source involved with the planning."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/lapd-faces-huge-logistical-challenges-during-michael-jackson-memorial.html

[gtalkspolitics]

Let's look at the money LA will make from the people assending in LA for this service. Come on MEDIA be fair.

[rubinoff]

California pays for parades.

[BlueStateMensch]

Nope.

The organizers are BILLED for the extra police participation.

Sorry.

[NewYorkStateofMind]

and given the current economic situation, I do not think they should pay for ANY more parades until they balance their budget

[Tyrone Jones]

I live Hollywood, a few blocks where Micheal's star, hand print and foot prints is photographed by millions of tourist. Since his death, I have to take a detour to and from home because all the traffic and tourist. TAXPAYERS are here because of Micheal. Any day of the week prior, I could walk my neighborhood but now it is PACK with TAXPAYERS giving tribute to Michael's Star on Hollywood Blvd. Get over what it cost because it will get paid no matter who comes up with the money. CELEBRATE his art not the cost.

[Disuberence]

Not worrying about costs and using estimated number of "TAXPAYERS" is what has lead California to become a sinking hole. We can't afford to use that mentality anymore.

[BlueStateMensch]

AEG can afford it more than the city can, my friend...

BTW.. I live in Hollywood as well...

Whereabouts are you?

[ndnndpendent]

He and the Jackson family combined, are good for business in LA and its environs.....they earned it.

[stanschurman]

Bull crap!

[steveo5150]

I live in northern California and last I checked LA was not the whole state.

[lovethesinner]

I can't believe California lawmakers fell for this. AEG should pay, they are the one's who will profit most from Jackson's tragic death.

[forpeace]

lovethesinner
-------------
You're absolutely right, yes AEG will profit most from MJ's tragic death, and I think eventually AEG will pay for this ....... I hope it does!!!!!

[johnnynyc]

The city of LA is looking at a windfall if crowd estimates are accurate.

They don't have to get greedy about it.

Its not AEG or the Jackson's fault California has some of the stupidest, most venal politicians extant.

The fiscal crisis was entirely avoidable.

[loveobamas]

Well said

[NewYorkStateofMind]

california lawmakers are not known for smarts

this is the state that brought us nancy pelosi, after all

[johnnynyc]

Ronald Reagan too, right?