LA council to decide on AEG assistance

LOS ANGELES, Colo., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- At least one critic says it is unlikely the Los Angeles City Council will ask Anschutz Entertainment Group to help pay for a Michael Jackson memorial.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday the council is set to make an official decision whether it will ask AEG to kick in for part of the security and clean-up costs from the July 7 memorial to the late singer, who died June 25.

Lisa Sarkin of the Studio City Neighborhood Council said since AEG previously donated money in support of a Los Angeles affordable-housing bond and telephone tax measure, she suspects the company will not aid the planned memorial.

"I don't believe they can separate themselves" from the campaign contributions, Sarkin said of the entertainment company.

The July 7 memorial took place at Los Angeles' Staples Center, which is operated by AEG, and resulted in 3,968 police officers being dispatched to provide security before, during and after the event.

City Councilman Dennis Zine proposed AEG help cover part of the city's memorial costs, citing the company's decision to sell the rights to a rehearsal video from a planned Jackson concert tour for $60 million, the Times said.