Private donors will cover some of Los Angeles’ public costs for Lakers’ victory parade

Private donors help LA pay for Lakers parade

LOS ANGELES — A half-dozen private donors will pay at least some of the estimated $1 million in city costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory parade.

The city is strapped financially and there has been criticism of public money going to Wednesday’s NBA title celebration.

The company that owns Staples Center said Tuesday that six private donors have agreed to cover some costs for such items as police overtime. Spokesman Michael Roth of AEG won’t identify the donors or say how much they’re contributing until an afternoon news conference.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told KTLA-TV on Monday that several hundreds thousands dollars had been raised.