Officials in Los Angeles are urging Michael Jackson’s family to help cover the cost of security arrangements for the late star's memorial service in the city.
The Thriller hitmaker will be honored with a special ceremony at L.A.'s Staples Center stadium on Tuesday, with fans scrambling to register for 17,500 tickets which will be allocated in an online ballot.
Security chiefs fear the city will be thrown into chaos as nearly a million Jackson fans are expected to descend on the area to pay tribute to their hero.
Police bosses are urging devotees to stay at home and watch the service on the television as they fear they may not be able to cope with the sheer volume of people expected to jet in for the event.
Now L.A. city councillor Dennis Zine has called on the Jackson family and AEG Live, the company behind the star's scrapped comeback concerts, to help cover the costs of policing the memorial.
He says, "If the Jackson family is going to spend $25,000 on a gold casket, I would think that AEG and the Jackson family could help defray the costs so it's a safe and secure environment for mourners that want to come."
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
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