L.A. City Council balks at plan to stop subsidizing Oscars, Gramys other events

The L.A. Daily News reports:

Despite a warning that the city is "running up a bill we can no longer afford," the City Council delayed action Friday on a plan to stop subsidizing the cost of private events, ranging from farmers markets to the Academy Awards.

The council has been considering whether to limit or halt the practice of waiving special-event fees that are designed to cover the cost of traffic control and other services.

The city has earmarked $2.5 million to cover those kinds of costs but is considering requiring events organizers to pay them instead.

But some officials say the fee waivers support events that benefit the public while generating revenue for city coffers.