This new media story about the cost of Michael Jackson’s funeral sounds so ridiculous to me. The city has estimated the cost of police presence, etc. to be about $4 million. Question, how much money has Michael Jackson paid to the state of California over his entire residency, tax dollars on Neverland, income taxes on his earnings and businesses, shopping, etc? How many people created businesses and earn revenue from imitating Mike, doing tour routes to his home, selling memorabilia in California etc? What was Mike’s tax bill to the state every single year? When conventions make choices about the city that will host their events, cities must compete. California didn’t have to compete because it was Michael Jackson’s home. The state owes Michael Jackson some respect, his fans some respect and safety as they say their final goodbyes. California just received a big boost in their economy, yes their in the whole already but nobodies reporting on how many people traveled into LA thereby boosting revenues. How many extra hotel rooms are sold out, how many restaurants are having a boost, how clothing stores, gas stations, street vendors etc. have picked up in sales. This is why cities court conventions to be hosted in their towns, for the revenue alone. This is a sad event but it’s no different. It is the police departments job to protect residents and visitors. The funeral of Michael Jackson is big and unexpected but that doesn’t change the police departments job description or the cost of handling it.

What if the Jackson’s didn’t have a public funeral? The family would be raked over the coals, degraded, called selfish….etc. Just imagine.

NOW THE CITY HAS SET UP A PAYPAL TO MAKE MONEY FROM HIS FANS???? HAVE THEY NO SHAME?  NAME ONE TIME IN HISTORY WHERE A CITY HAS ASKED FOR THE PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO PAY EXPENSES FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? THEIR TAKING ADVANTAGE. THE MAN HAS CHILDREN AND A FAMILY WHO HAS TO PAY FOR THESE ARRANGEMENTS AND THE CITY IS RAISING MONEY? Everybody still has their hand out, including California.