(KTLA-TV)
LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has criticized his staff for setting up a Web site seeking donations to cover the city's cost from the Michael Jackson memorial.
Villaraigosa said Monday the city is responsible for protecting public safety and should pick up the $1.4 million tab for police overtime and other services from the event last week at Staples Center.
The mayor, who was on vacation in South Africa during the memorial, called the city's donation Web site "ridiculous."
He says he will not ask the public, the Jackson family or Staples Center owner AEG Live to pay.
It was not immediately clear how much money the site raised or if the money would be returned.
Despite Villaraigosa's comments, the city attorney's office is investigating how the city can force third parties to help pay.
The event, held Tuesday at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, was said to have cost the city upwards of $3.8 million.
Some 3,200 Los Angeles police officers were deployed for public safety efforts during the events of the day.
The police response was said to have been larger than that of the 1984 Olympics and the recent Lakers Championship celebration.
The debate over who should pay for Jackson's public memorial is causing a rift between City Councilmembers.
Los Angeles City councilman Dennis Zine says A.E.G., which owns Staples Center, should foot the bill.
"Condolences to the family and friends of Michael Jackson, but the taxpayers shouldn't be responsible," he said.
Councilmember Jan Perry, who is acting mayor at the moment, says Jackson's memorial was a city emergency, and that the city budgets for such events.
"I think that we are in a budget deficit and anybody who can be creative and flexible in reaching out and getting help, to help us to fray the costs, it would be greatly appreciated," Perry said.
Similar complaints followed the announcement that the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers would hold a victory parade and celebration at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last month, with an estimated $2 million price tag for the events.
The Lakers and AEGdonated $1million and private donors covered public costs.
AEG, which also was the promoter for Jackson's now-canceled London shows, has not committed any money to cover the city's bill for the Jackson memorial.
Villaraigosa said Monday the city is responsible for protecting public safety and should pick up the $1.4 million tab for police overtime and other services from the event last week at Staples Center.
The mayor, who was on vacation in South Africa during the memorial, called the city's donation Web site "ridiculous."
He says he will not ask the public, the Jackson family or Staples Center owner AEG Live to pay.
It was not immediately clear how much money the site raised or if the money would be returned.
Despite Villaraigosa's comments, the city attorney's office is investigating how the city can force third parties to help pay.
The event, held Tuesday at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, was said to have cost the city upwards of $3.8 million.
Some 3,200 Los Angeles police officers were deployed for public safety efforts during the events of the day.
The police response was said to have been larger than that of the 1984 Olympics and the recent Lakers Championship celebration.
The debate over who should pay for Jackson's public memorial is causing a rift between City Councilmembers.
Los Angeles City councilman Dennis Zine says A.E.G., which owns Staples Center, should foot the bill.
"Condolences to the family and friends of Michael Jackson, but the taxpayers shouldn't be responsible," he said.
Councilmember Jan Perry, who is acting mayor at the moment, says Jackson's memorial was a city emergency, and that the city budgets for such events.
"I think that we are in a budget deficit and anybody who can be creative and flexible in reaching out and getting help, to help us to fray the costs, it would be greatly appreciated," Perry said.
Similar complaints followed the announcement that the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers would hold a victory parade and celebration at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last month, with an estimated $2 million price tag for the events.
The Lakers and AEGdonated $1million and private donors covered public costs.
AEG, which also was the promoter for Jackson's now-canceled London shows, has not committed any money to cover the city's bill for the Jackson memorial.
