Possible 'criminal aspects' in Michael Jackson memorial security probe
Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich today told the City Council that his inquiry into the city's role in the Michael Jackson memorial may possibly have unearthed some "criminal aspects.''
"Our investigation has taken an unanticipated turn that raises both civil and criminal aspects,'' Trutanich told the council.
He said only that his office's investigators continue to review the matter and interview witnesses. He declined to elaborate on the details of the investigation.
Trutanich launched an inquiry into the chain of events that led to the city providing support for the July 7 memorial, including which city officials authorized the deployment of thousands of officers. The city spent an estimated $1.4 million for police protection, street services and other crowd-control measures for the event held at Staples Center in downtown L.A.
After Trutanich made his statement, the council went into closed session to discuss the city attorney office's civil inquiry into the event.
The council is expected to order a thorough audit of all city expenses for the memorial, and members specifically want to know why the city paid $48,826 for the 3,500 lunches handed out to police officers providing security.
Under a proposal from council members Dennis Zine and Jan Perry, the council also may consider establishing new policies that dictate how much the city will spend on such "extraordinary, non-emergency, multi-departmental, large-scale events.''
On the flip side is a motion from Councilwoman Janice Hahn calling for a complete accounting of the tourism benefits derived from the memorial. Hahn said the memorial promoted Los Angeles as a global destination for Jackson fans.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said last week the city will pick up the tab and will not bill either the Jackson family or the company that owns Staples Center, Anschutz Entertainment Group, known as AEG.
Los Angeles is a big city and home to big events, and it's the city's responsibility to ensure the public is protected, the mayor said.
But that was before The Times reported Monday that AEG, the concert promoter behind the superstar's planned 50-date performance in London, received a $50-million offer from Sony Pictures for the rights to about 1,200 hours of rehearsal footage. Fox, Paramount and Universal also have submitted bids.
Even before the memorial, Zine was calling on AEG to pick up the city's costs for the event. Meantime, Trutanich launched the inquiry into the chain of events that led the city to provide support for the services.
-- Phil Willon at City Hall
Again this is just another example of where the mayor is in the pockets of big business. Its just like the Regans, Money is no object as long is it is someone else's money. Business and celebrity will always get preferential treatment over the ordinary person. If you remember your tax dollars went to help build staples center and then AEG probably enjoys tax breaks as well. I voted for Villaraigosa the first time around and will never vote for him again. I all makes me sick.
Posted by: Tom | July 21, 2009 at 02:08 PM
The collusion between Villaraigosa and AEG is not healthy.
Posted by: michael | July 21, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I say let the 27,000 prisoners out at Staples Center and let Staples Center (AEG) pick up the tab to re-locate them!
That would be an even exchange for the tax payers!
Posted by: boo boo | July 21, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Are we asking these crooks to police themselves? Try explaining this expense to the father or mother who just got canned and cannot feed their families. We have way too many FAT COWS in our city government. Lets CLEAN house and charge them with the crimes.....trust me, what they have done is criminal.
Posted by: Sanjay | July 21, 2009 at 03:07 PM
37,000 theaters nationwide carried the LA based memorial for free. Millions watched commercial-free for hours at the festivities outside. Remember they were runing behind schedlule. It's what cities do from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine.They provide services. Except for those outrageous box lunches, the event was money well spent in a cash-strapped state like California
Posted by: Valerie from Oregon | July 21, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Why would the Mayor of any City agree to pay for that kind of Memorial for anyone. Jackson, no doubt was a great musical artist, but he had turned himself from a totally wonderful looking black man into a very weird looking white woman. No city should have gotten involved with a memorial much less paid for one for someone with a controversial history of alleged child abuses. The world watched & wondered at their ignorance.
Posted by: D.J. | July 21, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Are they just trying to get another Jackson story out of this? Really, enough blaming the City, the Jacksons, AEG. Michael Jackson, a world class entertainer and icon loved by millions, died. There was NO TIME TO PLAN. Give them a break. Mistakes were made. Move on. L.A. is dam lucky to be the place Michael Jackson chose to live. He could have chosen anywhere on the planet, but he chose fabulous Los Angeles. Let the tourism begin.
Posted by: Back off | July 21, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Villaraigosa would rather offend the taxpayers then the Hollywood Types. After all that's where he gets he's woman................
Posted by: myfailsafe | July 21, 2009 at 05:16 PM
MJ's family, the estate, nor AEG should have to pay for this service.
Jan Perry stepped up, as did LAPD and said "We'll do it." They blundered it beyond belief. Repeatedly they got on national news, that was broadcast around the world, telling people to stay away. Those visitors alone would have more than repaid the cost of the city for their "protection".
The city & LAPD overreacted and overstaffed. Reportedly, 1000 officers were sent home before the service even started. Even by scenes from our TVs (where we were told to watch), we could see there were LEOs standing around doing nothing. Yes, it went well. MJ fans were there to mourn... not riot (as many have implied would happen).
Having a LAFD helio at the cemetery was a waste of time/money.
Ordering $50k of lunches from San Bern is ridiculous (and likely was a result of someone's lining a friend's pocket).
Thank goodness someone is wiling to look at the amount that was donated (despite the blunders of the lo-tech website) by fans as well as the proceeds of the tourism that his death has brought since June 25th. You're in the "black" not the red over the cost of the service. You can't charge the taxpayers, AEG, his family or fans for lack of streamlined processes, greed, and stupidity. That you'll have to take on the chin.
Zine coming out stating he was going to file lawsuit if AEG/Family didn't pay should be against the law. Mayor V was right-- you can't make law RETROactive. You have just isolated and shown prejudice towards a black man, his family and fans-- where at no time in the past for celebrety funerals such as Farrah's, Sinatras, etc-- no one has ever uttered a syllable.(And for the record, I'm not a minority).
Finally Jackson received something for the high taxes he's paid to LA for the Encino home. Call it a wash. Sheesh!
Remember Los Angeles, you are Hollywood! Act with some CLASS that you have failed to show the world at this--should-have-been- shining moment. Instead it's a "black" mark on the City of Devils, I mean Angels.
Posted by: CaliMJFan | July 21, 2009 at 05:19 PM
I don't see how any mayoral collusion could be at all possible when he was away in Africa at the time. He somehow always manages to be out of town when anything of note happens here.
Posted by: E | July 21, 2009 at 06:28 PM
AEG and the Jacksons or MJ's estate should pay some reasonable fee for the city cost. The city should also pay for what is beyond reasonable fees because it is the city's duty to serve and protect the people in the city of Los Angeles.
Posted by: Warren | July 21, 2009 at 06:35 PM