The bill for Michael Jackson's Staples Center sendoff: $1.4 million for the cash strapped City of LA. According to a report from the AP, "The amount included $1.1 million in overtime pay for the 4,173 officers who worked to secure Staples Center, Forest Lawn cemetery and other areas." There's also the matter of the box lunches for said police officers, reported cost of about $50,000.
Mayor Villiariagosa has been Tweeting about the event nonstop, and the donation effort to underwrite it has netted about $17,000. According to the Mayor's office report, "the City's Information Technology Agency could not handle the high volume of traffic or adequately respond to frequent and prolonged server crashes. Consequently, the City was unable to receive contributions for several hours Tuesday afternoon."
Sigh. Money left on the table.
I thank the M. J's estate should foot the bill. Or the fans that caused the problem.
So all you fans out there of M. J. please send $5.00 to the L A Police dept.
Tax payers should not have to foot the bill alone.
Thank You
Posted by: Banjo Manley | July 09, 2009 at 07:54 AM