Michael Jackson's Memorial Cost LA $1.4 Million

LOS ANGELES — A city council member on Thursday called on AEG Live to pay some of the estimated $1.4 million cost for policing Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center.

Dennis Zine told Fox 11 that the city's taxpayers "are getting ripped off" because the owner-operator of the Staples Center profited by charging media up to $50,000 to use risers outside the venue.

AEG President Tim Leiweke had said Zine was out of line for asking AEG to pay for policing because it helped solicit donors for the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA victory parade last month.

Jackson's concert promoter, AEG Live, said that it paid for the memorial itself along with the Jackson estate, but did not mention the cost of crowd control.

The parade and memorial both resulted in extraordinary costs to Los Angeles at a time when it is in debt for half of a billion dollars and facing employee layoffs.

The cost of city services for the Lakers' parade was about $1 million. Donors covered about $850,000 of that sum. The Lakers and AEG spent another $1 million to produce the parade and rally at Memorial Coliseum.

Comments

[MyrtleJune]

This is just sick! How much does it cost the city of LA to provide cops when a concert or awards show or lakers game goes on? How much revenue has MJ brought ot LA in his past concerts there? Its the least this city can do for their gross overreaction to the "hundreds of thousands of people" the THOUGHT would be in the street outside. That didn't happen though, did it.

Also, in cities ACROSS this nation police are provided for funeral processions AT NO COST TO THE PERSON WHO DIED!!!!! Even in my small city they do this. So don't EVEN try this LA.

LA is trying to exploit the death of Michael Jackson whe in fact they provide similar services to others all the time. They fail to remember the INCOME LA has received in the past FROM Michael Jackson's concerts.

Stop this nonsense LA. You're looking pretty sleezy. You're supposed to be one of the great cities in the United States of America. Act like it!!!

[mollymac]

No one is exploiting anyone. It is the right of all people to feel as they do. Including you. So, stop ranting and think as you want.

[MyrtleJune]

Oh. Well you just contradict yourself there. But hey, I'm not tellyou to shut it. A pointless comment you make. Whatever. ;-)

[blaharumph]

they paid in IOUs right?

[Peaceisnecessary]

This should not be a problem. Look at all the millionaires that attended the service. If each one gives up $25,000, this amount should not be a problem. The City of LA did not make a big deal of who was going to pay for the protection of the stars during the Emmy, Oscars, etc. and should not be making a big deal out of the protection that was provided for the Michael Jackson service. Instead of begging, LA Administrators should be stating "Things will work out. This was a once in a lifetime occasion and it was the responsibility of the City to provide these services". I am willing to donate some money to prove that I thought it was worth it. MJ was a part of my childhood. The Jackson Five posters were all over my room as a child. In addition, his music is timeless. Children and adults can listen to MJ's songs without worrying that he is going to disparage a female or say some nasty four letter words. His songs were great to listen to when they came out and they are great to listen to now. R.I.P Michael Jackson.

[mollymac]

It was the responsibility of LA to provide these services? Are you taking your meds? If you are so adamant, cash in your 401K and go for it.

[JenniferWest]

It should be up to the city to pay for this event. I've never heard of a city asking any other persons to offset the cost of an event that takes place. It's a ridiculous notion. I'm sure the city made some money off this event. This is what we have a city infrastructure for!

[Calvincito]

A bargain.

[harriettubman]

Seems like part of the problem is ordering lunches from a company 80 miles from L.A. Who did that? Fans should kick in. If you wanted to be there so bad, make a donation. The city is broke.

[k6007]

So, how much revenue did the event bring IN? aswholes.

[harriettubman]

Revenue to hotels and restaurants will not help with the lay offs at the police dept.

[Dewtrell]

No police officers are being laid off in the city of L.A., only useless city workers.

[FloridaEvans]

$4 million, hospitality and LA tourism dollars - hotels, flowers, transport services, food service, etc. More than what the Lakers celebration made. And speaking of which, the LAKERS ORGANIZATION and AEG/Staples gave the city $1 million to defray the costs.

And again, as others have posted - THE JACKSON FAMILY PAID FOR MICHAEL'S FUNERAL SERVICE, just like we normal folks do. Mayor Villaraigosa jumped at the chance of a public memorial, along with the concert-promoting arm of AEG, which I think was the right thing to do. Michael gave a lot to this city over the past 40 years - without him and the many superstar artists who imitate him, there would be no need for a Staples Center.

My grandmother said to never jump on top of a casket and pass a hat for money - it's tacky, no matter who's doing it.

[Dewtrell]

This is so ridiculous... as a taxpayer in the City of Los Angeles, our tax rate is 9.25%, and 8.25 % before that. In addition, I live in a state where I'm taxed repeatedly for the same services, the Jackson clan, as well as AEG, who revitalized Downtown Los Angeles, pay taxes as well. We have more than paid our fair share for the city, who's JOB is to protect the public, to pick up the tab. The MJ Memorial is no different than a concert or game at Staples where the city provides police protection and directs traffic. AEG's job is to protect the venue, it is the city's job to man the streets and offer a secured perimeter. End of story!

[CaJackson Phan]

I totally and completely agree with you Dewtrell. In addition to the tax money they got from hotel stays, gas, food/spirits, tourist attractions for those who made a mini-vaca out of it, they (LA) also encouraged the world NOT to attend (which would have been more revenue) then turned around and panhandled along with a threat of suit.

Los Angeles should be sooo ashamed of itself. I did donate and am wishing now I did not. The fans should push back in light of the $80k lunches and demand who made that ridiculous approval. I mean come on-- with a city that's broke, you're going to whine and then take advantage of the siutation in the same breath?

This CA resident is disgusted with LA.

[MyrtleJune]

Well said!!!

The City of Los Angeles better get about SERVING the community at NO extra charge. That's their job. They also overestimated the number of people who migh show up. Had AEG had outdoor screens then fine that might have been accurate BUT they didn't They acted responsibly.

This was a promanent citizen's FUNERAL. Are they now going to charge the family and friends of EVERY funeral procession they do?

This is ridiculous what they're doing. Do you JOB LA!!!!!

[Yurdelite]

Not one word about how much the businesses made just how much the city had to spend. I bet if it had been Farrah Fawcett not a word would have been said. Pathetic. And to all you haters we spent millions of our tax dollars to bury and old has been actor president who didn't do shite for anybody except the wealthy and corporate elite. But that is okay. Get a grip L.A. too bad the memorial had to be in your city because I am sure some other cities would have been thrilled to have it.

[mollymac]

comments nasty and uncalled for. You need to take a chill.

[Chicago48]

I ithink LA is making a mountain out of a molehill. $1.4 isn't a lot of money and more than likely at least 1/2 will be covered.

[yankees]

The promoters of this event will be making millions, they need to cough it up. The City and the Jackson estate shouldn't be paying anything. I guess the city handed out a lot of IOU's.

[MyrtleJune]

This is not a reason to be begging for money for services they provide throughout the year for sports and awards and premiers events and for other everyday people's funeral processions.

No. You don't charge someone based on how much money they have or will get. Stupid premise.

AEG acted responsibly here, and I'm no fan of them, but they did. LA needs to get some class!!!

[bethebest]

wow. never ceases to amaze the racists colored glasses of the media

[Yurdelite]

Not just the media it's the whole darn country. The haters are out in full force.

[mollymac]

The R word is getting tiresome. No one can have an alternate opinion unless you screech racism! Is it the only explanation you have?

[harriettubman]

Excuse me but where is the racism? I'm baffled by the constant use of that word. It is a known fact that CA is broke!!! Too many illegals in their schools and clinics plus bad choices by politicians. You can't expect taxpayers to foot the bill for this. That's like saying they need to foot every funeral detail for any celebrity who dies. NOT!

[Cockacola]

The racism is when some poster suggests that the Jacksons are making money off the event......................

[Marie62866]

California is broke, they need to repeal Prop 13 so people that have multi million dollar homes pay more than 2 thou a year for property taxes!

[MyrtleJune]

It smacks of racism that they want to profit off an event that was responsibly handled and for services they provide all the time to other huge events and for other people's funeral processions. Why do they just want to do this for Michael Jackson's? Why IS that? Hmmmmmmm.

Look LA is SUPPOSED to be one of our country's great cities. They need to ACT LIKE IT.

There is a case to be made for racism here in this attempt to cash in and FURTHER pillage the already strapped citizenry. Deal with it LA. Your sleezy side is showing a little too much.

[smile13]

Hi! I have a great suggestion. Offer a package of the Memorial DVD/Program to the public. They would sell millions!! Pay back LA and give some to charity. Just a thought. Much love and respect from Wimberley, Texas. RIP Michael. Thanks for being in my heart for 40 years. xo :)

[Yurdelite]

My thought was that they should sell the program as a souvenir and help defray the cost of the memorial and the rest go to charity or for the kids upbringing. I guess we are on the same page. They can say what they want about Michael but he will always be special to me even more so now after what Marlon brought to our attention in his remarks. Michael could not go anywhere from the time he was 10 years old without drawing a crowd. So he was eccentric what do they expect. I am glad we have your videos Michael to remind us of your special genius.

[moda31]

something tells me that michael jackson paid far more than that sum in taxes in all the years he lived in california, let's call it even. not to mention all the money that tourists attending the event brought to the surrounding area, i'd be shocked if they didn't at the very least break even.

[Temsi]

To the State of CA yes, not to the city of Los Angeles.
Doesn't matter anyway, his taxes are irrelevant.
I pay taxes to Los Angeles but I don't think they're going to spend one dime on anything related to me when I die.

Sales tax just went up because the state and the city don't have any money.
The city said said it was out of money. Even said it was too broke to afford the Lakers celebration.
Now suddenly it has $1.4 Million to spend on a memorial service "brought to you by AEG" that AEG will profit from?

When interviewed about this yesterday, acting mayor Jan Perry talked and talked but didn't answer any of the questions posed to her. The most important ones being "who should pay for what? and why should the city pay for any of this?"

I still haven't heard an answer as to why the city should pay for any of this.
If I'm shooting a movie that disrupts traffic in Los Angeles, I have to pay for the police officers who are required to be there. Why shouldn't AEG pay for the police officers who were required to be there for this shindig?

[Dewtrell]

The city pays for security and traffic flow for every event in Los Angeles. Have you ever gone by the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend and see the police barricads and them directing traffic? Who do you think pays for that? It is not the promoter, it is the city!!!

[Cockacola]

I guess all the families of the policemen who were able to earn overtime pay WITHOUT risking their lives, are very thankful for this addition to the paycheck.

Some of these officers are the sole breadwinners of the family - some need this small addition very much.

By begrudging this money to them, you show what you really think about these 'nonentities"

And if your upset is because it was for MJ's funeral, would you have minded if it were a Lakers game?

[Logistics]

MJ's assets are said to top $500 million dollars... couldn't THAT have paid for this instead of expecting people to give money? His records have peaked lately as well, so more money is gonna come from those royalties... Wow, how unnecessary to leech off of people.

[Chicago48]

You're misinformed and you're dreaming. All his "assets" are in DEBT. His debt has to be paid first. $1.4Mil is not a lot of money. LA is whining.

[Logistics]

No, his debt is at $400 million, and his assents (music royalties, etc.) are valued at over half a billion. The net worth they say is about $100 million.

[harriettubman]

$1.4 million is a LOT of money, especially when the city is laying off employees.

[Archivist1000]

Chicago: this is BASIC accounting! What he 'owned' is worth more than what he 'owed' ....

Assets-liabilities=net worth

MJ's net worth is almost incalculable ... in the next few years, it will go way up!
He owned 'assets' that will keep producing income (such as a large share of the Beatles catalog) and yes, Neverland .. not to mention his own music.

[MsIrisMG]

They have to go through probate first which could take months.