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

[just saying]

He and his family have more money than god and they want taxpayers to foot the bill?! Did I read that right? And they wonder why California went backrupt!

[rubinoff]

get real....ca­lifornia did Not go bankrupt because of the Jacksons. :( ya better check out who is dipping in the till. :(

[BlueStateMensch]

California is NOT bankrupt.. that's #1.

#2... the reason that California has a $24 BILLION deficit because he rescinded the "car tax" that would have added, you guessed it, $24 BILLION to the coffers.

ONE TAX CUT... & this deficit would EXIST.

[sharonb01]

These people are hurting and they will gather to mourn their loss. If the city has so misspent it's funds as to be unable to provide police protection to a large crowd then they need to tear down every sports arena and gathering place, hang 'closed' signs at the borders and announce that tourism is no longer welcome, encouraged or allowed. Everyone in LA who does not have proof of an address within the city limits needs to leave, leave now, and not come back. And you might want to keep in mind that the city had no problem whatsoever spending millions in persecuting and attempting to prosecute Michael Jackson for a crime that they had no hope of winning because they had no proof of any sort, and no credible witnesses - facts that were well known far in advance of the circus-trial that cost them so much.

[steamboat]

The father was hurting so much the other night that he was trying to do PR work for his record label.

[listentome]

But, this is not about Joe Jackson.

[rubinoff]

well, it was a reporter who prompted a question, ...but, you didn't hear that, cuz you didn't want to hear it. :(

[cordyc]

It was not LA that had anything to do with the trail. It was Santa Barbara County that went after him. It's 150 miles from LA.

Any yes the trust and AEG should pay for this. When anyone else dies you have to pay for the cop for the procession and the minister. It should not be any different for MJ.

RIP gloved one.

[rkreyn]

Big bad California reduced to nickle and diming its d.ea.d. Why don't you all file bankruptcy and get it over with?

[BlueStateMensch]

You really ARE hellbent on becoming the most VAPID poster of the day, aren't you?

[rkreyn]

And you are just as bent to troll behind me.

[rkreyn]

And you are just as b.en.t to tr.o.ll behind me.

[Tyrone Jones]

Should the taxpayer give Golden Sachs another check? Or should we help the people in tent cities. Michael donated just as much as he paid in taxes. Can you say the same for the polititicians? How many of the haters posting vote in ALL election through out the year? Do you read the crap politicians have you vote for before you punch a hanging chad?

[forpeace]

Tyrone Jones
-------------
NOOOOOOOOOO ........ no more money for Golden Sachs or any other bank, period!

[ndnndpendent]

Yep....

[Lolly]

Looks like the city is looking into its options--they are asking AEG to pitch in:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/councilman-says-aeg-should-pay-for-michael-jackson-memorial-saying-city-should-weight-legal-options.html

It would certainly be the decent thing for them to do.

[Disuberence]

The Lakers did it. I'm sure these people can too.

[stianrasmussen]

the taxpayers shouldn't pay for any of it. take it out of the Jackson fund.

[Cycadeoidea]

Taxpayers should no more pay for a Jackson Memorial than they should pay for sports stadiums for obscenely wealthy teams.

[johnnynyc]

Why doesn't somebody do a cost/benefit analysis of this situation?

If the crowd is anywhere near the estimates, and I have no clue how accurate those estimates are and neither does anyone else, LA and California will make money.

[BlueStateMensch]

Why not allow the revenues to be ADDED instead of OFFSET?

[johnnynyc]

You want the government to make MORE money off this memorial service.

You really are a ghoul aren't you.

[TainoBoy]

Michael Jackson Ghost, I prefer Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k&feature=related

[forpeace]

TainoBoy
----------
Spirit it is.

[TainoBoy]

Indeed. Michael was an Indigo child so I'm not surprise.

[NewYorkStateofMind]

does the spirit visit little boys in their sleep?

[loveobamas]

No
But it visit cowards like you.

[forpeace]

NewYorkStateofMind
--------------
That was unnecessary!

[canongrl]

Where's the F**K NO! option in that poll?

[forpeace]

canongrl
---------
Not in the same exact words as your comment! ;)

[javaz]

lol

[MrthnGrl]

What is curious is that no one spoke out when then Santa Barbara DA Tom Sneddon created the spectacle that became "People v. Jackson", when Sneddon bullied the Grand Jury and made himself important as the new Sheriff in town, spending the money of taxpayers in a county I resided in at the time.
I am sure Michael Jackson paid plenty of state tax in the past, in fact I would argue that his tax would cover the expense many times over, and definitely more so than Sneddon paid to cover his little attempt to become famous and destroy somebody else's life in the process.

[weatherwaxx]

You are aware that California's finances are crumbling and they're terminating (hah) essential services for public health and safety?

I don't care WHO the celebrity was -- this is a private show, they're charging for tickets, they should pay the cost. There are probably millions of California taxpayers who never even bought Jackson's albums. Why should they pay for this show?

[Lolly]

They aren't charging for tickets. Some who won them in the lottery are trying to scalp them, but the tickets were distributed for free.

[sandy77477]

See that is your ignorance speaking. They are not charging tickets they gave them away. Number two the security is for the protecttion of the public and Cal citizens and their property. Lastly...h­as this questions every come up before. I am sure they have this option avaiable for other cels who die and the city funds the security albeit they may not has a big a fan base but why punich hime becuase he was so popular.

Lastly, he paid sales, tax, property tax, federal tax, luxuary tax, death tax and not an estate tax. He is not collecting SS, never collected unemployment or welfare, gvae millions, to charities at the very least the state of California can provide security so that his fans can be present at his memorial service.

[Tyrone Jones]

I agree....B­lame the politicians for the decisions made to waste money to get us here. Don't blame us that paying tribute to Michael.

[stanschurman]

By your reasoning, everyone that pays California taxes should have their tombstone paid for by the state. Michael Jackson is a person that lived way beyond his means and then they expect the State of California to subsidize one more excess?

[Sandmanj]

Is this 23% the same 23% that favored Bush and the neocon policies during the dismal last 4 years of that administration?

[ptarantino]

Grow up California.

[forpeace]

ptarantino
-----------
By any chance ......... do you live in California?

[tb92]

I'm in California and I guarantee that most of us have no interest in paying for this spectacle. Sell tickets and leave the taxpayers out of it.

[Cockacola]

You all need to take a deep breath and THINK.

T_H_I_N_K

WHAT is the greatest TOURISM PRODUCTION for this year?

MICHEAL JACKSON'S MEMORIAL

Hundreds and thousands of people from all over the world will be attending AND SPENDING MONEY....b­ully for all the restaurants, the hotels, the car valets, the waiters, etc etc.

As usual, the "we don't want to spend money on anyone but ourselves" shortsighted pundits are begining to scream.

YOU will regain much more than you spend over the next year or so when hordes of tourists visit to view his final resting place.

BE HAPPY

[forpeace]

Cockacola
------------
And meanwhile who's going to pay for those IOU's?!

[rkreyn]

The people who generated them.

[forpeace]

I loved MJ's music and songs and I think he was a great person.

He sure will be missed.

Since California is completely broke ..........­... this question needs to be answered ONLY by those who actually are living in California and no one else .........

[Disuberence]

I live in California. We can't afford to keep public transportation running. We don't have the money for this. Period.

[sandy77477]

GET A BETTER GOVERNMENT. Its call planning

[javaz]

It's a free country and HP is open to anyone from anywhere that wishes to respond to an article.

[Disuberence]

The internet is not a country. The internet is not bound by the rules of any one country.