* * ADD June 16: Laker parade to proceed - - with conditions (and updates) LAT
Approximately $450,000 has been donated by Casey and Laura Wasserman, Jerry and Margie Perenchio and others, and other major contributions were pledged on Monday. Casey Wasserman is the grandson of former Universal Pictures Chairman Lew Wasserman. Jerry Perenchio is the former chairman of Univision Communications.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office estimated the city’s costs could approach $900,000, but council members said those expenses could be much less because the parade route is shorter than in past years.
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AEG President Tim Leiweke has taken the most active role in raising private donations to ensure that no city tax dollars are needed to fund to parade, city officials said.
“I have to give a lot recognition to Tim’s efforts,’’ Perry said. “The Lakers and AEG have always been very responsive to community needs. ... I’m not at all surprised that they have stepped up to be good civic partners.’’
Blogdowntown has more on the Laker Victory parade. Take a look
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Not that there was a doubt a victory parade would be held The question is who will foot the bill:
KNX 1070 is reporting the bill for Wednesday's Lakers Victory Parade
will be covered by AEG, (owners and operators of the Staples Center),
and the Los Angeles Lakers, the tenant who just won the NBA Title.
The official announcement is expected sometime tomorrow morning.
Costs for a Lakers victory parade were estimated to be one million dollars. However, those are 2002 prices. Rental fee of the Los Angeles Coliseum, inflation, destruction, and general cost of living may have doubled that one million dollar estimate, giving the city more pressure on how to finance a victory parade.
KNX 1070 spoke with AEG's Michael Roth: "The Lakers and AEG are out raising this amount of money to defray those costs so we can pay for that amount as well."
9th District Councilwoman Jan Perry (in whose district Staples Center and AEG reside) stated to VFAL that it will take an effort between "great community partners." she says, adding it's an important need. "...especially in these hard times."
ADD: 10:50 pm
The Los Angeles Times lays out more details:
<snip>
It's unclear where the remaining money will come from, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon with Police Chief William J. Bratton and Laker guard Derek Fisher to discuss the financing.
Villaraigosa initially promised that the city would foot half of the parade's $2-million cost, which includes renting the Coliseum.
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