LA Officials Irked Over Jackson Costs

Michael Jackson's memorial might have brought closure and catharsis today to his thousands of fans in Los Angeles, but the real man looking in the mirror? L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The cost of producing the event was covered by production company AEG, but securing the Staples Center and the surrounding area fell in the lap of the LAPD. Even though only 11,000 tickets were granted, more than 250,000 people were anticipated in the area (grossly overshot, only about 1,000 ticketless people actually showed), which led city officials to expect the cost of securing the event to hit $4 million, all billed to the city's taxpayers. It has created quite a rift among city council members in L.A.—a city currently with more than a $520 million deficit. Not to mention the state's struggles; California faces a potential shutdown of public services this summer for being so low on cash. "There was never any doubt in the mayor's mind that this event needed to happen," says Matt Szabo, head spokesperson for Villaraigosa. Others thought differently. "Michael was a phenomenal entertainer, but why should the taxpayers of Los Angeles pick up this extremely high tab for security?" L.A. city councilman Dennis Zine, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, said to Reuters. Responding to concerns, Villaraigosa's office has asked for Jackson's fans to donate on the city's Web site to offset costs. So far, no donation totals have been released.