Taxpayers Paying Millions For Michael Jackson’s Memorial

It is being reported that LA taxpayers will have to pay $3.5 million for Michael Jackson’s memorial service that is scheduled today at the Staples Center. 

 E!’s Answer Bitch reports:

“We have city employees getting pink slips because the city dollars are not there,” points out L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine. But even though city officials have asked AEG to pick up some of the public costs, the company has declined, Zine tells me. AEG did not respond to my requests for comment.
“You would think AEG would say, ‘We’re the ones who did this, we could have had a private ceremony and not a major public memorial.’ AEG is a big entertainment company. They’re going to get international coverage and tons of publicity from this.”
And just what kind of city effort are we talking here?
* At least 1,400 police officers to keep the peace
* Workers from the Department of Transportation to arrange and enforce street closures
* Still more workers from the Department of Public Works to keep the area clean and operating
* Fire and rescue specialists, just in case too many rabid fans moonwalk into one another out in the streets.

How do you feel about us paying for the late King of Pop’s memorial service?

I know the economy is in a crapper right now, so do you think us paying for it is justified?