L.A. Lakers just won their 15th NBA title after beating Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals with the score of 99 – 86. It’s only appropriate to have a celebration after this victorious event. But the question is whether there will be a parade or not?
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said to the reporters during the West Hollywood in its annual Gay Pride Day parade, L.A. Lakers should have a victory parade.
“The idea that we wouldn’t have a parade is untenable, (and) should we be fortunate enough to win I expect that we’ll have a parade. I also expect that we’ll figure out how we fund it, working with the private sector, to help us do that.”
But how can the government, who faces a possible $200 million in forced budget cuts, spend $1 million or more for paying the police, paramedics, cleanup crews and crowd control for organizing a victory parade? That would be very very costly. Villaraigosa have no comment regarding that matter and it still remains unclear.
According to NBCLosAngeles.com, the team has met with Los Angeles police and other city officials to plan a parade that could be as early as midday Wednesday. The parade would start at Staples Center and go down 2-1/2 miles of Figueroa Street to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a city council member said Friday.
The firm that operates Staples on behalf of the team has rented the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a post-parade rally, police and Coliseum officials said Friday. Details of the event in the 94,000-seat facility are being held until they can be announced on Lakers broadcast-rights stations after a championship is clinched.
But some city officials are vocal against the said parade.
“We can’t afford to cover the costs. How could we make a decision about people’s jobs and then sponsor the parade?” said City Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times.
“City employees have been asked by their employers to take a massive pay cut. We do not believe it is appropriate in this economic climate for taxpayers to be funding a parade.” said Barbara Maynard, spokeswoman for the Coalition of L.A. City Unions, representing about 22,000 workers.
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