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.
(AP)
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