30 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 12 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H4'ed 6/15/09

Destruction In Los Angeles As Rioting "Fans" Taint Lakers Win

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   1 comment
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Linda Milazzo
Become a Fan
  (22 fans)
As Los Angeles teeters on financial ruin, with the possibility of municipal workers being laid off or forced to take unpaid leave, unruly crowds turn a night of celebration for the city into a night of destruction following the Los Angeles Lakers' 99 to 86 NBA Finals victory over the Orlando Magic. Witness for yourselves (in the video below) the remnants of an MTA bus completely destroyed by out of control revelers:

Add to this, the graffiti-ing of buildings, overtaking a convenience store and emptying its contents, starting fires on the street, jumping en masse on moving vehicles and rocking them and their passengers in attempts to overturn them, shooting firecrackers in the air which fell into the crowds, and more.

One woman trying to get to her home, vented her frustration to reporters:

As of now, financially strapped Los Angeles is tentatively scheduled to give the Lakers a victory parade on Wednesday. Sadly, the damage caused by this evening's unruly behavior will already eat into the the city's limited budget.

Earlier in the week, 8th District City Councilmember Bernard Parks, head of the city's Budget and Finance Committee, announced his support to fund the parade, citing visitors and the international attention given the city as sufficient reason to pay the million or so dollars needed to host it. But after this evening's wanton destruction and unruly crowds which may re-emerge for the massive parade, will that attention bring the positive effect Councilmember Parks is presuming?

On July 13 as reported by FOXSports.com, Parks told the Los Angeles Times:
"There's going to be a major celebration in the city, and the likelihood is the city is going to absorb the bulk of those costs."


However, Parks' 9th District City Council colleague, Jan Perry, doesn't share his enthusiasm for the city financing the parade, also telling the Los Angeles Times:
"City employees have been asked by their employers to take a massive pay cut. And we do not believe it is appropriate in this economic climate for taxpayers to be funding a parade."


What's sad about the mobs who ravaged Los Angeles this evening is the selfishness they've shown their fellow Angelenos, and the way they tainted their favorite team's win. What's even more sad is that this is their method for expressing their joy -- by inflicting pain and destruction.

And now they're getting a parade!
Well Said 2  
Rate It | View Ratings

Linda Milazzo Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Linda Milazzo was a Managing Editor of Opednews until Fall 2014, and a Los Angeles based writer, educator and activist. Since 1974, she has divided her time between the entertainment industry, government organizations, community development (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Election Night, DO NOT CONCEDE: Open Letter Signed By Gore Vidal & Others To Senator Obama & The Democratic Leadership

President-Elect Obama,You Must NOT Be Silent!

Text Of Barack Obama's Speech To Children For Sept. 8, 2009

What I Learned At The Sarah Palin Rally Before They Threw Me Out!

Waxman Attacks Winograd On Israel; Ignites A Political Firestorm

Pelosi Gets "Booked" & Confronts Her Own Past

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend