LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council has voted to waive more than $100,000 in fees associated with next month’s Grammy Awards despite a city budget gap of over $400 million.
The council on Tuesday agreed without discussion to excuse the $124,163 in fees for the Grammys to be held Feb. 8 at the Staples Center
Matt Szabo, spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the mayor supports the Grammys, but the “fee waiver policy is clearly broken.” The mayor doesn’t have jurisdiction over the waivers.
Councilwoman Jan Perry, who sponsored the waiver, says the event generates about $45 million in benefits for Los Angeles and the city will more than make its money back.
The city has waived about $750,000 in fees for award shows in the last two fiscal years.
