Private donors will cover city's costs for Lakers parade [Updated]

Officials announced this morning that private donors will pay the city's entire share for the Lakers championship victory parade, capping days of debate that roiled City Hall.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti said this morning that it appeared enough private donations have been raised to pay for Wednesday’s parade to celebrate the Lakers’ NBA championship.

[Updated at 11:40 a.m.: Several City Council members had voiced opposition to using any tax dollars to pay for the parade because of the city’s financial crisis, which is expected to lead to widespread city layoffs and worker furloughs starting in July.

Over the weekend, city officials urged the owners of the Lakers and Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns Staples Center, to pick up the tab for the celebration. The two already pledged to pay more than $1 million in parade production costs.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Staples Center and travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Sources told The Times two media executives and several other people stepped forward to help the city pay for its share of the parade celebrating the Lakers’ 15th championship.

Approximately $450,000 has been donated by Casey and Laura Wasserman, Jerry and Margie Perenchio and others, and other major contributions were pledged Monday. Casey Wasserman is the grandson of former Universal Pictures Chairman Lew Wasserman. Jerry Perenchio is the former chairman of Univision Communications.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office estimated the city’s costs could approach $900,000, but council members said those expenses could be much less because the parade route is shorter than in past years.

“I think they are very close. My last report was about an hour ago,’’ said Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes the Staples Center.

AEG President Tim Leiweke has taken the most active role in raising private donations to ensure that no city tax dollars are needed to fund the parade, city officials said.

 “I have to give a lot recognition to Tim’s efforts," Perry said. “The Lakers and AEG have always been very responsive to community needs. ... I’m not at all surprised that they have stepped up to be good civic partners."]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa initially promised that the city would foot half of the parade's $2-million cost, which includes renting the Coliseum. He then said AEG would pay half the costs.

However, that idea was greeted with a Bronx cheer Monday.

Local radio talk shows were flooded with callers saying that a recession was no time to use city money for the parade. The Los Angeles Police Protective League urged the Lakers to pick up the entire cost.

Given imminent city layoffs and budget cuts, police union President Paul M. Weber said in a statement posted on the group's website, "it is foolish for elected officials to favor spending $1 million tax dollars on a three-hour parade."

Villaraigosa, along with Laker Derek Fisher and LAPD Chief William J. Bratton, will hold a news conference this afternoon to announce the financing for the parade. 

-- Phil Willon

Comments

[Jason]

All of you who are freaking out about this parade need to think a minute, why are you not freaking out about the government, but when the Lakers want a parade your freak out about that little thing. Why dont you protest city government and flood newspapers and talk shows about that. thats a bigger thing than the Lakers and a parade. Stop freaking out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Susan]

How about the Lakers pick up the tab for the damage done to downtown LA, including the looting of Holy Grail shoes?

[Carlos]

As a City employee who is about to suffer a 10% cut on my paycheck because of the dire economic situation of our city, state and country, I am appalled at the Mayor's generous gifts of $1 M in order for those already-high paid players to have fun and party.

I have news to the Mayor: I too am planning to hold a block party for my neighborhood to celebrate the 4th of July, our independence day, but I will not ask my local officials to shoulder my extravagance.

[cs]

Is it any surprise our system is failing? Our 'leaders" complain about the here and now of a $2 million parade, throwing caution to the wind of upsetting a sports franchise that brings countless more millions into public and private coffers.

If I weren't such a diehard Lakers fan, I would have loved to see Jerry Buss say, "Oh, we're not partners in this anymore? I'll just move this franchise to San Diego."

Penny-wise, pound-foolish. Economics is not just about satisfying immediate wants or needs, but taking into consideration the ramifications of such decisions.

[AJ]

Why not have some of the players pay for the costs? They earn hundreds of thousands of dollar for every game that they play so I do not think, it will break their bank. This is how I think they should show their appreciation to all the Lakers' fan.

[Sandy Maroney]

It has occurred to me that the players themselves might well have made a contribution. No question that they can afford it, right?

[R. M. Scott]

It is good that private donors will be picking up the tab. Kudos those who stepped up. I think, though, that the NBA should celebrate the fans and foot the bill of a parade in whatever city the winning team is from. To me, that would be giving back to the fans for supporting the various teams.

[John King]

I would assume the city takes in way more in tax revenue for sales of goods/services/transportation/lodging related to, either directly or indirectly, the fact that the Lakers exist then the expense of a parade. This should be considered and embarrassment to everyone in LA. The city government has become so complacent about having a winning team that they take them for granted. Greatness comes and goes, my friend, and you will be wishing for the good ol' days, someday. Just ask SF about their 49ers. Take care of your great team while you still have one, LA. As for those of you in city hall--You need to learn how to say "thank you."

[MERLO M. MANAOIS]

I FAVOR THE IDEA OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PICKING UP THE ENTIRE EXPENSES FOR THE PARADE. THE LAKERS AND AEG AND OTHER PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS SHOULD PAY FOR IT ALL.

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES SHOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY EXCEPT FOR THE POLICE PRESENCE NEEDED TO KEEO THE CROWD IN CHECK.

[Jenn]

It is incredible that the Mayor is all about the "fiesta" when he is leading our City down the tubes. Yeah - let's all vote for him to be Govenor too!

[Bambi]

Was anyone in the city of Los Angeles upset when the city had to pay 1.1 million to citizens after city officials were found guilty of employment racial discrimination? If the people of Los Angeles watched how city officials spend their money more often, this Laker debate would not have been an issue. Los Angeles politics is a MESS. L.A. is fortunate to have the Lakers. Lakers are awesome!!

[USC Marshall Alum]

I like the previous Laker Parade route. The Coliseum can only accomodate 95,000 Laker Fans; while the Staples Center parking lots can hold well over 500,000 or more fans. I sure hope there are plenty of jumbo-trons outside the stadium because if 500,000 fans show up for the 95,000 seats there may be chaos and anger.

[Me]

I still think it's lame to fundraise for this celebration..What is there to celebrate when people are being layed-off, California is billions of dollars in debt, and gas prices are on the rise? What does that say to the rest of the world about California's priorities? If the Lakers and those so-called private donors took that 2 million and helped the city--that would be worthy of a celebration. I hope all the parade goers feel inadequate for attending, when their state is in the predicament that it's in.

[rocky1pa]

Give me a break! BS in all caps. So the Lakers are possibly going to renegotiate Kobe's contract for $135M?? If the guy - no matter how talented - can afford to drop a cool $4M on a 'gee I'm sorry Honey' diamond ring a few years back - let him throw in the $2M - would be pocket change and his accountants could find a way to deduct it. Let the Laker organization pay for the parade - we pay the salaries, buy the drinks and pay the players. What the hell - it's the Lakers house - when was the last time you had to pay to attend something you were invited to? Kiss my grits.

[Doing my job]

Can I get a parade for doing my job?

[chris]

Why does the city have to pay itself to rent the coliseum? the city owns the coliseum! Why does the city have to pay city workers who are already on city time to man the parade? they were already getting their salary anyways? This parade should cost the city almost nothing/

[David Greenfield]

Congrats to the Lakers. I wonder why the mayor and donors are having so much trouble finding the funding for all of the teachers that have been let go and school programs (including summer school) that have been shut down.

[joe s]

WOW THE LAKERS ARE THE CHAMPS IN 09,
now for the sad part the city administrators/ politians have wasted and mismanaged the citys moneys t a degree that know one know how, let me see , i think i know some of the culprits!
GREED!
CORUPTION!
LAZY!
PEOPLE THAT ARENT THAT SMART!
PEPOLE THAT REALLY DONT CARE ABOUT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES!
POLITIANS THAT ONLY CARE ABOUT GETTING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR CAMPAING MONEY!
ithis to novel of a idea, you pepole, PRIORITY, PRIORITIZE, DO WHAT YOU CAN WITHIN THE BUDGET, AND WHAT YOU DONT GET DONE DO IT NEXT YEAR, BUT PLEASE GET YOUR ACT RIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE CHOICES/ DISSSIONS THAT YOU MAKE!
i love los angeles but you people are runnig this great city in to the ground. the lakers can and have given more than you,the right way to win, team work, hard work, unselfishness!
GO LAKERS GO LAKERS GO LAKERS, again in 2010
the politians and administrators i bet will have thier thumbs stuck up thier, u no!

[terrance stukey]

WORST MAYOR, EVER. Hey Tony, how about YOU pay for the parade? How about you also pay for the damages from the other night's idiotic vandalism? Of course not. You're too busy getting chummy with Obama, whining about how Los Angeles needs money from Washington(to fund low cost housing and social services for illegals) and far too busy philandering and scoping out your next photo opps. I'd like to hear from all of the city employess recently laid off because of budget cuts, all of the police and first responders getting raked over the coals, and all of those so-called "parents" who protested so loudly over school cuts just a month ago. Villaraigosa is a despicable scumbag. Keep flushing Tony, we haven't quite gone down the toilet, but we're almost there. No governorship for you, loser.

[Publius]

Where were all of you whinners the past 20 to 30 years or more? You should have been paying more attention to your city's and country's political machinery. Blame yourselves for turning on the TV to watch sports games and grilling food or watching trash talk shows all the time ignoring important stories about the food you are grilling and buying into the dummied news provided by mainstream media.
I Love LA and Lakers are part of this city's culture and history and they bring money to the city. Let's let the LAPD/LACSD do their tough/dangerous job and capture those culprits from this past Sunday's mayhem.
Vote, write letters, contact the elected officials, take your lattes to a political/community event and cheer or jeer the person at the podium. Read books too.

[dave]

Dear City of LA,
Next time you host a big party at my expense, schedule it on a weekend when someone other than the UNEMPLOYED, HOMELESS, AND PAROLLED ARSONISTS can attend. Some of us have to work today to pay for the celebration.
Dave Meyer
Employed taxpayer

PS - my hat's off to the private sponsors that helped foot the bill...