Will the Lakers have a victory parade? In ordinary times, the question would seem silly. The Lakers are a source of great civic pride, why wouldn't they honor the team after winning their fourth NBA title of the decade? But in times of economic crisis, it's a legitimate question, especially when the city is already scheduled to begin laying off dozens of city employees.
"We can't afford to cover the costs," city Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. "How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?"
Some will consider any public dollar spent celebrating the accomplishments of one of the most profitable professional sports teams in existence as frivolous, but if Sunday's celebration outside Staples Center is any indication, a significant portion of the community will be attending.
As if deciding who will pay for the parade wasn't controversial enough, people are also criticizing the scheduled route, a two-mile path leading from Staples Center to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. From blogdowntown:
In 2002, the celebration began with a ceremony at City Hall, then traveled south to 2nd street and through the tunnel before proceeding south on Figueroa to Staples Center.Wait a minute -- fast food? As in Jack in the Box? Maybe after all those "WE WANT TACOS!" chants, the team thought they were doing their fans a favor.
In both 2000 and 2001, the DWP building at 1st and Hope was the starting point, with the caravan jogged over to Figueroa before heading south to Staples.
In each case, the parade route passed the sights one expects from a city: skyscrapers, plazas and a sea of people.
While the stretch of Figueroa south of Staples might someday be a vibrant connection linking USC to Downtown, it is far from that today. It's a stretch lined by car dealerships, strip malls and fast food.
Lakers Fans Get Rowdy
Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles after their team defeated the Orlando Magic in the NBA final on June 14, 2009. The Lakers won the series 4-1 TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/ Philip Scott Andrews)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans break the windshield and try to flip a police car while celebrating their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/ Philip Scott Andrews)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans set fire to a statue outside the Staples Center while celebrating their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/ Philip Scott Andrews)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans pose by a burning newspaper stand while celebrating their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/ Philip Scott Andrews)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/ Philip Scott Andrews)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009 after the Lakers' won the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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A man jumps on a car as Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009 after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals ito win the NBA championship.(AP Photo/Jae Hong)
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Police detain a Los Angeles Lakers fan after they started throwing bottles and damaging passing cars outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, after their team defeated the Orlando Magic in the NBA final on June 14, 2009. The Lakers won the series 4-1. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers fans taunt police as they try to disperse them when they started throwing bottles and damaging passing cars outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on June 14, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the NBA final and won the series 4-1. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thank You, Los Angeles Lakers for making the Orlando Magic Disappear quickly. You came through on my prediction!!!!!!!!!! Love You Guys.
Laker Luv........
Great WIN by the Lakers!!! But a Million dollars can keep our teacher working, a paycheck coming in, rent paid and medication paid. Our tax dollars should only be used if we have a surplus.
Laker's organization and Million dollar players should flip the bill for the parade showing gradituted to the fans.
How can the Mayor find a Million dollars for a party and not for Teachers. I'm all for a party and parade but paying for teacher's and keeping their families fed comes first.
I just saw Councilwoman Jan Perry on the news and she said the Lakers should pay for the entire cost of the parade AND for after school programs.
Jan Perry should shut the fuck up until she's done more than the Lakers have to bring this city and region together.
The one and only thing people of all backgrounds out here can get together on is the LAKERS.
SHE RIGHT THE TEAM SHOULD PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING. YOU WELFARE FUCKERS COMPLAIN YOU DONT GET ENOGH AS IT IS BUT THEN YOU AGREE TO HAVE THE CITY FOOT THE BILL FOR A PARADE THAT THE LAKERS AS A TEAM OR EVEN JUST ONE PLAYER CAN EASILY AFFORD. WHATS ONE OR TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO THESE GUYS. THATS PUCKET CHANGE FOR THESE GUYS. YES I WAS ROOTING FOR ORLANDO BUT I'M ALSO A DYE HARD YANKEE FAN AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT THE CITY OF NY TO PAY FOR THE VICTORY PARADE THIS YEAR. GEORGE CAN AFFORD THAT EASILY. YOU FUCKERS FROM L.A. SHOULD GROW UP AND PUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST. NO WONDER THIS COUNTRY IS SO FUCKED UP ITS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WANT EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING. GROW THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!!!!!