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April 09, 2012

Link

Whitney Houston’s funeral cost her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, $187,000 in police overtime, and some residents aren’t happy about footing the bill.

Local authorities staffed nearly 200 police officers at the New Baptist Church, where the funeral took place, as well as at the funeral home and a private gathering for friends and family.

The nearly $200-thousand bill represents about 5 percent of the department's $4 million annual budget, CBS New York reports.

Newark councilwoman Mildred Crump said the police protection and barricades were necessary to hold back the thousands of people who swarmed the area surrounding the funeral.

“If they had not been there someone may have been trampled, seriously hurt,” Crump said.

However, some residents of Newark said the barrier between the public and the funeral was part of their frustration. Those residents are asking why taxpayers foot the bill for the police protection if they were not given access to the funeral.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous when you have people who are unemployed and homeless, people walking up and down the streets,” said Quincy Ruffin, a Newark resident.

Ruffin thought the Houston family should have paid for its own security.

The funeral for the late singer was covered live by several cable networks, and featured tributes from Houston’s The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner, producer Clive Davis and Tyler Perry. Last week, new details emerged about the cause of Houston’s death, which was ruled an accidental drowning.

Narcotics found in Houston’s system are believed to have played a role in her drowning.

Maybe one of her celebrity friends will take care of this. idk.

Terrib3Towel said:

Cry me a fucking river. As much taxes as Whitney paid to that shitty ass state. I'll never understand why she remained there after she got famous. My ass would be straight in Beverly Hills.

Really?

Besides insulting our home state, what is your point?

Have you ever even been here?

Why should the people have to pay for a wealthy person's funeral?

And if she had moved to CA, should the people of that state have to foot the bill?

[Edited 4/9/12 8:31am]

Terrib3Towel said:

Cry me a fucking river. As much taxes as Whitney paid to that shitty ass state. I'll never understand why she remained there after she got famous. My ass would be straight in Beverly Hills.

I thought she did move to Atlanta, GA? Alpharetta to be exact... No shade on Jersey though. Just stating facts. What up Brick City!

But she DID move. Her family moved to East Orange when she was four, sure she had relatives there she visited there and sang at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church but she wasn't really Newark bound like that. She moved to Mendham, New Jersey after she found fame and then bought homes in California and Atlanta.

Anyways, this is a mess.

The taxpayers shouldn't be left footing the bill. It shouldn't be too problematic for Sony or her mentor Clive Davis to cover the expenditures. Didn't they express the deepest love for her?

Identity said:

The taxpayers shouldn't be left footing the bill. It shouldn't be too problematic for Sony or her mentor Clive Davis to cover the expenditures. Didn't they express the deepest love for her?

Exactly

Identity said:

The taxpayers shouldn't be left footing the bill. It shouldn't be too problematic for Sony or her mentor Clive Davis to cover the expenditures. Didn't they express the deepest love for her?

I kept reading Clive said he wasn't paying shit. So much for "the deepest love".

Say what? What a stingy bastard.

Identity said:

Say what? What a stingy bastard.

Yeah that was discussed on a Whitney funeral thread at two other boards I was lurking. The Houston family may have to foot the bill and rumor is they're broke.

the family should foot the bill 4 security, they shouldn't be taking from the community pot!

Well, since she lived in Georgia I think her family or some rich friend like Tyler should foot the bill. It should not be the people of NJ.

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah that was discussed on a Whitney funeral thread at two other boards I was lurking. The Houston family may have to foot the bill and rumor is they're broke.

Yeah his is a mess and he family or her celeb friends need to cough it up somehow, taxpayers in that state shouldnt foot the bill, just like us NY people shouldn't be paying triple time to cops for the occupy wall st BS at this point

I don't know why people make shit more difficult than it already is.

Timmy84 said:

Identity said:

The taxpayers shouldn't be left footing the bill. It shouldn't be too problematic for Sony or her mentor Clive Davis to cover the expenditures. Didn't they express the deepest love for her?

I kept reading Clive said he wasn't paying shit. So much for "the deepest love".

And to think some people were suggesting (not here of course) that Bobbi should sign with Clive so he could guide her career. PLEASE! To him, Whitney was nothing more than a lucrative client.

chocolate1 said:

Terrib3Towel said:

Cry me a fucking river. As much taxes as Whitney paid to that shitty ass state. I'll never understand why she remained there after she got famous. My ass would be straight in Beverly Hills.

Really?

Besides insulting our home state, what is your point?

Have you ever even been here?

Why should the people have to pay for a wealthy person's funeral?

And if she had moved to CA, should the people of that state have to foot the bill?

[Edited 4/9/12 8:31am]

easy baby

banks said:

chocolate1 said:

Really?

Besides insulting our home state, what is your point?

Have you ever even been here?

Why should the people have to pay for a wealthy person's funeral?

And if she had moved to CA, should the people of that state have to foot the bill?

[Edited 4/9/12 8:31am]

easy baby

You know I don't stand for people trashing Jersey...

chocolate1 said:

banks said:

easy baby

You know I don't stand for people trashing Jersey...

Do I ever... I believe thats how we started talking because you felt like my comments about your beloved city was a diss.. but we met up in Jersey at the Prince Concert and look at us now

Being that worldwide media coverage was present it was a pretty public event even though it was supposed to be private. Fans, media, celebrities in attendance, etc. were gonna show up regardless and the city would still have had to accomodate them. Witney was a superstar and it's possible that she and her family did a lot for their home city over the years through paying taxes, charitable work and donations.

I don't know of any city that charges the family of deceased notable citizens for their services....not even the Kennedys.

Many famous people do a lot for their hometowns.

banks said:

chocolate1 said:

You know I don't stand for people trashing Jersey...

Do I ever... I believe thats how we started talking because you felt like my comments about your beloved city was a diss.. but we met up in Jersey at the Prince Concert and look at us now

They should be angry.

They may not be happy about the bill, but if the police were not there, it would have gotten ugly.

In a time when cities are financially strapped and can't pay for essential public services like police and fire depatments, I'd be pissed, too.

Musicslave said:

Maybe one of her celebrity friends will take care of this. idk.

That would be the ideal outcome, but friends tend to vanish like vapor when you face money issues.

Identity said:

Musicslave said:

Maybe one of her celebrity friends will take care of this. idk.

That would be the ideal outcome, but friends tend to vanish like vapor when you face money issues.

Ain't that the truth

Identity said:

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April 09, 2012

Link

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous when you have people who are unemployed and homeless, people walking up and down the streets,” said Quincy Ruffin, a Newark resident.

Musicslave said:

Identity said:

That would be the ideal outcome, but friends tend to vanish like vapor when you face money issues.

Ain't that the truth

Friends or no friends.......$200k is not pocket change.

Hell no, the residents shouldn't have to pay the costs especially since security was there to keep them out. Oh, hell naw!

If the family wanted that big ass "show" of a funeral, they should have to pay the costs that go along with it like anyone else would have to. And if the media wanted to be there, then let the media pay for the costs of security. That funeral didn't have to be televised.

.

.

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[Edited 4/10/12 10:39am]