Q: Who paid for the Michael Jackson memorial service? I heard they were looking for donations.
— Judy Wooten, Canton
A: The city of Los Angeles initially set up a Web site urging Jackson’s fans to make tax-deductible donations to help defray the $1.4 million cost of the memorial service at Staples Center. The Web site was disabled after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa this week criticized his staff for setting it up. According to the Associated Press, the mayor said the recession-strapped city is responsible for public safety and should pay for police overtime and other services. Villaraigosa, vacationing in South America during the memorial, called the Web site “ridiculous.” He said that he would not ask the public or Staples Center’s owner to pay. Fans initially donated $17,000 to the Web site, causing such heavy traffic that servers frequently crashed. The AP said that it’s unclear whether the donations will be returned. Meanwhile, the city attorney’s office continues to investigate how the city can force third parties to help pay. The tab included $1.1 million in overtime for 4,173 officers, the Police Department said. The remainder covered traffic control, cleanup and other costs of the July 7 service, attended by more than 17,000 fans and watched by millions around the world. The Jackson service followed a parade last month for the NBA champion Lakers that cost an estimated $2 million.
Louis Mayeux prepared this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail l.mayeux@comcast.net (include name and city).
