Exclusive Michael Jackson Memorial Coverage
Mourning Crowd 'Under Control', Cost LA $1.4 million
Jul 14, 2009
The Los Angeles Police Department received its wish for the Michael Jackson memorial service at Staples Center - many mourning fans stayed home.
LAPD encouraged non-ticket holders to watch the historic event in the comforts of their own home or with friends versus standing outside in the hot L.A. sun.
Those attending were overjoyed but hesitant about the anticipated sea of fans. Massive crowds flocked to the UCLA Medical Center to show their love and support for the "Thriller" hit maker once he was pronounced dead on Thursday, June 25, 2009. The memorial event would draw even more people.
Thankfully, the city of Los Angeles was "worried" for nothing.
Yes, small clusters of fans trimmed the streets leading to Staples but as one neared the arena, the police presence outnumbered MJ admirers 50 to 1. (Okay, not 50 but there were A LOT of police on site.) However, the police presence didn't seem to phase the somber fans.
Overall, the energy level of the morning was very peaceful and slightly eerie. It's as if the surreal news of Michael Jackson's untimely death finally connected with fans- not something expected from MJ enthusiasts, but it was afte rall a memorial service for whom Berry Gordy called "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."
In fact, the event's producer, Ken Urlich pulled off exactly what he anticipated - 'a tasteful, somber affair'.
"It will be a celebration of Michael's life [but] we're not approaching it as a TV show," Ehrlich told the Daily News of New York. "In the future, there may be a tribute to Michael Jackson," he said. "This is really a memorial service. It's not going to have all the bells and whistles. We want to keep it low-key," said Urlich of the service.
Michael Jackson Memorial Event had Hefty Price Tag
City of Los Angeles officials report Michael Jackson's memorial service at Staples Center cost $1.4 million, according to the Associated Press.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department revealed $1.1 million will go to 4,173 police officers responsible for securing the Staples Center, Forest Lawn cemetery and various areas that attracted media and fans surrounding the memorial. The remaining balance includes traffic control and clean up costs.
Although the number is large -considering LA's $530 million deficit, a spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the final cost was "far less" than the initial estimate of $4 million.
In an attempt to help defray the costs, the City of Los Angeles has set up a Web page for tax-deductible donations from Michael Jackson admirers.
So far, fans have donated $17,000 through the site. The mayor's office is encouraging donors to be patient when using the site since the servers have crashed numerous times due to heavy volumes of traffic.
 |
