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Discussion on Michael Jackson Memorial Costs at Council Again
Today, a pair of Los Angeles city council committees will discuss the controversial costs of the Michael Jackson memorial, which ended up costing taxpayers a pretty penny. $3.2 million for police, street closures and other services was spent by the city on the Michael Jackson memorial that was produced by AEG, who, as the LA Times points out, ended the spectacle with "All Rights Reserved" on television screens around the world. The discussion will entail if the council should move forward with having AEG pay some or all of the money back. The city budget is currently facing a $400 million deficit.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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