Latest on MJJC

Why would AEG think criminal charges would be filed against them?

Ejacobs29

Ejacobs29

Proud Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2011
Messages
230
Points
0
Location
Yorba Linda, CA
Panel calls for update on Jackson memorial investigation
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Updated: 12/08/2009 12:10:21 AM PST

A Los Angeles city panel asked City Attorney Carmen Trutanich on Monday to brief them privately this week on the status of a criminal investigation into the Michael Jackson memorial service held in July at Staples Center.

City Council members said Staples owner AEG might be willing to reimburse the city for some of its $3.5 million cost to provide security at the event, but not until the company receives assurances the city will not file criminal charges against it.

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_13946802

"I call it the `put up or shut up' option," said Councilwoman Jan Perry at a meeting of the council's Public Safety Committee as it reviewed a report on the costs of the July 7 service.

Trutanich, who in the weeks after the memorial service said his office was investigating unspecified criminal charges related to the event, is reviewing the request, aides said.

"At this point, we're in discussions on the matter," said Chief Deputy Bill Carter. "We are discussing it internally."

Carter said the department will have no comment on the investigation or any plans by Anschutz Entertainment Group to make a donation to the city to cover the costs.

Councilman Dennis Zine asked that Trutanich or an aide privately brief the council Friday on the probe's status.

"We can't move forward on this until this is resolved," Zine said. "I had some talks with (AEG President) Tim Leiweke about reimbursing the city for some of the costs and he seemed agreeable.

"But
Advertisement
he is not going to do anything until this cloud is lifted over his business. AEG has been a good partner of the city, and we should resolve this and move on."

Councilman Bernard Parks said the council was owed an explanation of the direction of Trutanich's investigation.

"I think they could at least tell us what they are investigating," Parks said.

Leiweke was in Singapore on Monday for the opening of a new stadium, and could not be reached for comment.

However, in an interview last month, Leiweke told the Daily News he was tired of Trutanich's hints that his company had engaged in criminal wrongdoing.

Leiweke said he and other AEG officials worked with the Los Angeles Police Department in planning for the service, which officials estimated could draw as many as 250,000 people. Ultimately, only a fraction of that number gathered at Staples.

A report compiled for the City Council estimated that taxpayers spent $3.5 million for the service, including $2 million in police overtime.

Perry, who was serving as acting mayor when the service occurred, won approval from the committee for her and members of the Mayor's Office to resume negotiations with Leiweke about reimbursement once all the issues are resolved.

"In the midst of all of this, there has been a lot of drama that is unnecessary," Perry said. "My belief is that as long there continues to be the threat of criminal prosecutions, I am sure there be no donation or reimbursement from AEG."

Trutanich vowed early on the city would be reimbursed for its costs. He has met privately with Leiweke and other AEG officials and acted in a way Leiweke termed as a "bully."

Later, Trutanich tried to block AEG from erecting a billboard at its Regal Theatre on the L.A. Live site, which includes Staples Center. The City Council, at Perry's urging, overruled Trutanich and issued the permit for the sign.
 
This appears to be regarding the actual memorial at the Staples center. I will have to dig into this issue to see if there is more to it.
 
But why would they say that in the first place ? Someone or a company with a clear conscience would never say something like that IMO. If they, the LAPD and DA, hadn't started digging for dirt this statement should make them look for it, because AEG apparently expects the dirt to be dug up!
 
This has NOTHING to do with Michaels death.

It appears City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is the one who started this mess because of the cost of the venue and now people want this solved. Here is an article below. I don't blame them for not coughing up any money for the security.

http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_13985776

More heat on Jackson memorial
Los Angeles officials are still squabbling over whether the company that owns the Staples Center, which hosted the July Jackson Memorial and subsequently profited from the release of "This Is It."
From Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 12/12/2009 09:37:39 PM PST

It has been nearly half a year since pop star Michael Jackson died and thousands of people streamed into downtown Los Angeles to memorialize his life and career.

Almost six months, and yet Los Angeles officials are still squabbling over whether the company that owns the Staples Center, which hosted the July Jackson Memorial and subsequently profited from the release of the Jackson movie, "This Is It," ought to pay some portion of $3.5 million in municipal security costs related to the event.

Last week an L.A. City Council panel considered the issue — again — and tabled it so that City Attorney Carmen Trutanich can produce some hard evidence that the Anschutz Entertainment Group, commonly known as AEG, has some culpability. Trutanich hinted last summer that there was a criminal aspect to the city's security costs for the Jackson memorial and is investigating it but has yet to reveal a smoking gun.

That's unlikely to happen, and the City Council knows it. They just want this sticky issue to go away. They don't want to be forced to stand up to Tim Leiweke, the CEO of AEG

In a very real sense, council members owe their jobs to Leiweke. Were it not for the $137,000 that AEG donated to the campaign, Measure R would not have had the money to dupe voters into passing the stinky term-limit expansion measure in 2006. And were it not for Measure R passing, the members of the Los Angeles City Council would not have had an option
Advertisement
to run for a third term in office.

And were it not for that third term, a third of the council would have already been termed out and tossed out of City Hall and their city-owned car during the worst economy in modern history. Another four would be facing a job search in just a year and a half.

But instead, all received the gift of another four-year term of office. At $178,798 a year, that's a $715,000 favor (plus perks!) a person's not likely to forget.

Which brings us back to the current "debate" over what and whether AEG should pay up. We agree that Trutanich needs to either put up or shut up.

It might appeal to fed up Angelenos that he's talking back to Leiweke (he's pressured the AEG head to hand over $6 million to pay the city — or else). But unless there's a criminal aspect to this, whether to charge AEG for LAPD officers and other security measures used during the downtown memorial is a matter that's up to the council and mayor to work out. But it's a good bet they won't bite this hand that's fed them time and time again in the form of political contributions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top