Jackson’s Memorial Cost Debt Ridden L.A. $1.4 Million!
Jul. 9 2009, Published 12:49 p.m. ET
The official tab for putting on Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service for debt ridden Los Angeles City was $1.4 million, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Matt Szabo – a spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa revealed the exact amount via a Twitter post Thursday.
Previous reports predicted that the bill could be as high as $3.8 million according to City Councilman Dennis Zine who wanted promoters AEG and the Jackson family to foot the bill for ‘The King Of Pop’s’ memorial.
Zine - a former member of the LAPD – argued that the millions who watched the Jackson tribute on television had raised money for AEG who own The Staples Center.
He said: “If the Jackson family is going to spend $25,000 on a gold casket, I would think that AEG and the family could help defray the costs so it’s safe and secure environment for mourners.”
So far, Los Angeles City has collected $17,000 in private donations towards the service from fans of the star.