Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is now saying he thinks it's "ridiculous" that his staff set up a Web site looking for contributions to cover the city's cost from the Michael Jackson monument, reports AP. On vacation in South Africa during the memorial, Villaraigosa says the city is liable for protecting public safety and should pick up the $1.4 million tab for police eventually and other services from the event last week at Staples Center.
He says he will not ask the public or Staples Center owner AEG Live to pay. It was not instantly clear on Monday how much money the site raised or if the money would be returned.