Former L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine filed a lawsuit yesterday against the city of L.A. and Police Chief Charlie Beck, "alleging an illegal 'gift of public funds' for providing police security at Rams home games," according to Shane Newell of the L.A. TIMES. The lawsuit said that the city was not "reimbursed for using more than 200 police officers" at the Rams' two preseason games at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. It said that on-duty officers are "working security outside the stadium instead of tending to their normal duties." Zine said that the Rams "should follow the lead" of the Dodgers and "foot the bill for security outside the stadium." Zine estimates it will cost $2M to "fund outside security for the upcoming NFL regular season." Zine and co-plaintiff James Bibeau also are "seeking a court order to block the city and Beck from allegedly spending tax dollars on security for the Rams until the city is reimbursed." The Rams in a statement earlier this month said that they were "working with the LAPD to reach an agreement on security arrangements." The team added that it was "planning on meetings with the LAPD and USC, which operates Memorial Coliseum" (L.A. TIMES, 9/1). L.A. VP/Police Protective League Jerretta Sandoz said that "police costs are estimated" at $200,000 per game. Sandoz: "Buy some security guards. ... This is the LAPD. We have 4 million residents that we need to protect." Rams spokesperson Joanna Hunter declined to comment about the lawsuit against the city but did say that fan security is the team's "top priority." In L.A., Dakota Smith notes last month several members of the City Council sent a letter urging Rams Owner Stan Kroenke to "cover public safety costs at Coliseum games" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 9/1).
COME ON, RIDE THE TRAIN: In L.A., Dana Bartholomew cited preliminary estimates as showing that at least 10,000 fans "rolled into Exposition Park on a Metro Expo Line train" for each of the Rams' two home preseason games last month. That accounts for 11-15% of the entire stadium. L.A. County Metro Transportation Authority Public Information Officer Anna Chen said, "The feedback has been positive." Each Rams preseason game "added another 9,000 to 10,000 riders" to the typical Saturday rider count. The two preseason games "filled the Coliseum with a respective 90,000 and 60,000 fans" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/31).
