City Attorney Drops Investigation Of Staples Center After It Kicks In Cash For Michael Jackson's Memorial

• Trutanich came real close to getting the goods on AEG and Jan Perry, and was missing only one tool to crack open the secret arrangements that he believed were made between AEG and Perry. That missing tool was a Grand Jury with the power to subpoena testimony, documents and emails. Trutanich got a bill passed a first reading in Sacrament which would have given him a Grand Jury. Guess who put an end to Trutanich's Grand Jury plans? Yes, it was Jan Perry who used her weight to scare legislators into believing they would be giving the fox the keys to the chicken coup if Trutanich were given Grand Jury powers. After Trutanich lost, he caved in and did the best he could to hold his nose and 'make nice' with Perry and get something back from AEG. That way Perry, Trutanich and AEG all look like heros "doing the right thing." We already knew about Perry and AEG, but Trutanich rolling over? That's a new one, and shows he's getting with the program, learning how to make those backroom deals he said he would never make. He better hope this doesn't come back to bite him in 2013 - he's got his eyes on the DA's Office, and this kind of pay to play will be used against him. Guaranteed.

• My prior comment was incorrect. I've reviewed the "special event" provision of the Municipal Code. AEG did indeed get another break. My mistake.

• The biggest idiots in the city are those who continue to elect Jan Perry. Other than ban fast food for the poor constituents she is supposed to represent, she has done nothing for them. The rest of the city also has to suffer this fat fool.

• AEG has gotten all kinds of obscene subsidies and tax breaks. This, however, was not one of them. AEG had zero legal obligation to pay any kind of fees or taxes, above and beyond the fees and taxes they already pay, merely because many people attended this event. They did not close down a street. They did not use the sidewalk. Rather, they simply held an event in an auditorium built, with permits, for that purpose. This was, in short, a shake-down. It does not reflect well on City Hall. We do not have rule of law in this City. We have career politicians trying to advance their careers, robbing Peter to pay Paul and, now, threatening to prosecute Peter unless he pays Paul.

• No question this situation is f*cked up, but then confuscious always say: "Sometime a bad settlement is better than a good lawsuit."

• According to the company's spin, an additional $300,000 -- including $90,000 it already gave -- would go to the L.A. Police Foundation ($300 to Police Foundation

• So let me get this straight, you can buy your way out of trouble with the City ATtorney if you can afford it and have the money? Is he out of his mind? Trutanich is going to get hell raised out of this one. The people thought he was for them not the politicians but this story shows us differently.

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