City to pay Jackson memorial bill

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the city of Los Angeles will pick up an estimated 1.4 million US dollars (£861,000) in costs related to last week's Michael Jackson memorial service.

He also lambasted a city website set up to request donations.

"This is a world-class city, and we provide fire and police protection, period," Mr Villaraigosa said.

"The idea that we would charge the family for a funeral is nonsensical."

Mr Villaraigosa said he will not ask the Jackson family, AEG Live, owner of the Staples Centre where the event was held, or the public to help pick up the tab for police overtime, traffic control and sanitation crews.

He noted that such major events occur frequently in Los Angeles and other big cities. New York and Chicago do not ask others to cough up cash, he said.

The mayor called the city's donation website "ridiculous". As of last week, some 1,800 fans had donated 35,000 US dollars (£21,500) - so many fans responded that the site, which has since closed, crashed several times. It was unclear whether the money would be refunded.

Matt Szabo, the mayor's spokesman, said the website stopped operating around 1pm on Friday.

He said the idea of seeking donations came from Councillor Jan Perry, who served as acting mayor while Mr Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti were out of the country.

The issue took on political overtones last week when several council members asked who was going to foot the bill at a time when the city faces a 530 million US dollar budget shortfall and layoffs.