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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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Michael Jackson Memorial Causing Street Closures Downtown

Memorial_Service_Michael_Ja.jpg

Tomorrow morning's public memorial service for Michael Jackson has not only been an epic ticketing drama and financial burden, but will also impact how vehicle and public transit traffic moves--or, rather, doesn't move--through the streets of Downtown Los Angeles tomorrow.

The area around Staples Center will be shut down to traffic and controlled by about 1,400 LAPD officers assigned to manage the crowds. Although hundreds of thousands of people on top of the 17,500 ticket holders are expected to make their way Downtown tomorrow, City officials can't stress enough how important it will be for those interested in seeing the memorial to remain at home or at work and watch it via television or the internet. "Sections of Flower Street, Olympic Boulevard, Blaine Street and Pico Boulevard will be closed, and entry to the area will be limited to people with tickets to the event," explains the Daily News.

The City's Department of Transportation has released this map illustrating tomorrow's street closures. [.pdf]

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