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Michael Jackson fans asked to pitch in to pay memorial costs
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The city of Los Angeles is asking for help paying for the 4,000 police officers who were assigned to the Michael Jackson memorial event this week. KPCC’s Steve Julian says the city is hitting up Jackson’s fans, among others.
Police officials thought a quarter million people would fill the streets of downtown Los Angeles Tuesday. But after fans with tickets went inside for the memorial service, and only about a thousand fans crowded against police barricades, a quarter of the officers went home. But all of the officers were paid overtime – a bill that totaled nearly a million-and-a-half dollars.
The city of L.A. faces a half-billion dollar deficit, so Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa approved a Web site where Michael Jackson fans could help pay for the officers through tax-deductible donations. But so far, only about $20,000 has come in. L.A.’s city attorney is now investigating whether he can force third parties, like the owner of Staples Center, to pay for the police services.
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