According to estimates, the Michael Jackson Memorial is costing the city of Los Angeles at least $3.5 million.

…And rising. For a city that is operating on a deep deficit.

“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.”

I’ll admit it’s a little steep, I don’t see what all the hoopla’s about. They had no problem shelling out $1 million for a f-ing Lakers Parade. And let me tell you something, Kobe Bryant is no King of Pop!

Source via Celebslam