Laker Parade to Cost L.A. Taxpayers $450,000

My press room colleague, Berry Tillage, from the Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility called in yesterday with his concern over the city of Los Angeles spending two million dollars to host the Laker parade tomorrow.

Mr. Tillage said:

"With the city ready to layoff teachers, reduce public services, and furlough other public servants, how in the world can the Los Angeles City Council even consider spending such an exorbitant amount of much needed money in this fiscal crisis?"

I agree with Mr. Tillage and ask many of the same questions, should the City of Los Angeles take a look at priorities before doling out so much taxpayer money?

On the bright side, the Laker organization has agreed to foot fifty percent of the tab, reducing the burden to one million dollars for the taxpayers.

According to the Los Angeles Times: Full article

"Nearly half of the $900,000 the city needs to provide for police and traffic control has been donated by Casey and Laura Wasserman, Jerry and Margie Perenchio, and others, say sources close to the Lakers".

Appears the taxpayers of Los Angeles will only need to cover about $450,000 after the outcry yesterday, which is much better than the two million dollar costs associated with hosting the Laker parade.