Tuesday, Feb. 5 2008
Rick Dees Exclusive: $25,000 to Get Britney to the Hospital - and You Paid for It
http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/rick-dees-exclusive-25000-britney-hospital-paid_466792_1.htmlLOS ANGELES, Feb 05, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Los Angeles Councilman Dennis P. Zine says enough is enough. He wants a law that controls the paparazzi. More specifically, he wants a law that says get them away from celebrities like Britney Spears or George Clooney.
Tuesday Rick Dees aired on his RICK DEES IN THE MORNING SHOW on L.A.'s Movin' 93.9 FM an exclusive report filed by Kevin Dees as he had talked with Dennis Zine about this ridiculous situation. Zine had crunched the numbers to verify exactly how much it cost taxpayers to transport Britney Spears from her house to the hospital.
Just what was the total tab to the city? "It was a $25,000 tab in addition to the ride in the ambulance," Zine confirmed. "But the police resource itself was estimated at $25,000 -- that's the helicopters, the motorcycle officers, the officers in cars. And I found it ridiculous that we had to go to that extent to escort an individual, whether it's Britney Spears or some other celebrity."
Zine continued: "We have celebrities in the city -- in this region of Southern California, thousands of celebrities who live here, and they choose to live here. And they have the right to live in peace and tranquility. And I respect the First Amendment, the Constitution, people's right to gather, freedom of the press. But we have to have a balance, though."