'Made In America' Festival Racks Up $170K In Taxpayer Expenses
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Los Angeles taxpayers may be on the hook for about $170,000 in expenses associated with Made in America, the two-day music festival held in Grand Park over the summer.
LiveNation, which staged the event, is required to pay a half-million dollars of the $670,000 tab, aides for Mayor Eric Garcetti told the Los Angeles Times. The city will pick up the rest.
The total includes expenses for services such as police patrols, street closures and trash removal, The Associated Press reported.
In a statement, Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb said: "The city always has an obligation to protect public safety and provide other services, especially when there is a large gathering. In this case, we struck a deal that secured $500,000 in cash and more importantly secured an event that pumped millions of dollars into our economy."
Last week, a report presented to the Los Angeles Police Commission showed the event also racked up more than $475,000 in police overtime.
On Monday, the mayor argued the event provided a benefit to the city that exceeded any unreimbursed expenses. Garcetti said it shows LA is capable of hosting a huge outdoor music event.
Tens of thousands attended the September concert, which featured performers like Kanye West, John Mayer and Weezer.
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