A businessman who set up a joint venture with Michael Jackson to take ownership of Neverland Ranch has written an an open letter to Santa Barbara residents warning them that mourners are about to converge on their community, according to press reports. Thomas J. BarrackJr. told residents that they must "prepare to accommodate Michael's family's wishes asthey contemplate the location of his final resting place and their ownreturn to the tranquil grounds of the Michael Jackson family compound." A viewing of Jackson's body is set to occur Friday at the 2,500-acre ranch within the Santa Barbara County limits.
Reports also indicate that the California Highway Patrol is anticipating dire traffic conditions on the Southern California highways when the Jackson caravan begins its long sojourn from Los Angeles to the Santa Barbara area. Says Sgt. Mark Garrett, "It's just like when the president comes to town," Garrett said. "Wewant to ensure people are not putting themselves in danger."
I find it incredibly rude that hundreds of thousands of people are expected to put themselves out to “accommodate” this one family. I get it. Michael Jackson was a pop icon, never to be duplicated, blah, blah, blah. He wasn’t the second coming of Christ or even the president. Why should all of these people be inconvenienced for one man’s funeral. Say a pray for his family and let’s all move on people!
Erica, You are so mean.
I agree with Erika. This Family needs to show a little more dignity. Not host a freak show. Yes, MJ was/is an important part of many peoples lives but lets show a bit more respect. His Father makes me wonder. I think he’s more into the national attention then the fact that he lost his child. I’m sure dollar signs are forming.
Like it or not his funeral is going to be huge…people want to come “Erica” – wtf is your problem – I would go if I wasn’t in MN…Millions would – but we can’t…people want to be a part of it and he would want his fans to be part of it. Just because he is a celebrity shouldn’t mean he should get less of a funeral simply because it will possibly inconvenience the public for a day or two. If he was a civilian it wouldn’t be a bit deal to anyone if the people who wanted to come to his funeral did..he just happens to know a lot more people and a lot more people know him..you only get ONE funeral – people are devastated..it is really sad..have a heart – it’s a couple of days..and fyi -he has been around longer than the president…he is probably more liked and loved than any of the presidents – that is the great thing about his music – it brought and still brings all ages and types of people together.
I agree with Erika. He was a civilian and his family has no right to disrupt an entire city the size of Santa Barbara without their permission. They can hold the funeral *ANYWHERE.* It’s a big country.
I’m thinking about what happens if there is an emergency and someone is unable to make it to the hospital because the streets and freeways are jam packed. That is a lot more than mere inconvenience. It’s a public safety issue.
I agree with Erika. He was a civilian and his family has no right to disrupt an entire city the size of Santa Barbara without their permission. They can hold the funeral *ANYWHERE.* It’s a big country.
I’m thinking about what happens if there is an emergency and someone is unable to make it to the hospital because the streets and freeways are jam packed. That is a lot more than mere inconvenience. It’s a public safety issue.
The right resting place for Michael Jackson, would be Gary, Indiana. Today Michaels birth place is a poor city with many social problems. It would be great for the economy of that city, if a museum together with Michaels grave became a tourist atraction.
It is not the city of Santa Barbara, it is a small town in northern Santa Barbara County. Neverland is off of a country road with little traffic. No matter where the funeral takes place, it will be large and it will cause somewhat of a traffic inconvenience slash spectacle because of all of the people attending. It’s not simply because it is Michael Jackson that this will happen, but it is because of all the people who want to attend the viewing.
I just hope that whatever arrangements are made for him don’t end up as a circus. I don’t think there should be a public veiwing for him either because there will be people there just out of curiosity and I don’t want him to be made any more of a freak than he has already been made out to be. If Michaael was alive he would want to do something “over the top” for his fans but he is no longer alive and I would like to see him laid to rest with dignity and to see his fans do something for him in return. I would like to see him laid to rest there at his neverland ranch, maybe not buried but rather entombed, like maybe in a crypt or something. Turn neverland into a place like Gracland where people can come to remember him in a place he loved. I think admission should be charged to offset operating expenses with the rest of the money going to a charity that Michael would have donated to and not ONE penny going to a man named Joe Jackson.
To Old Hansen:
A tourist attraction?? Really? Jackson should be buried where he would have wanted to be buried, not in a city that needs the money for it. If Michael really loved Gary then he would have bought a house there, but no. He hated it. That’s why he escaped it. If your going to start naming cities that need the money, don’t start in Gary, Indiana. Michael would have rather be buried in Africa and have a memorial there where it would create revenue that should be put back into the people of Africa, not into the nations murder capital.
To access Neverland U can only go thru a very small road and people wanting to see MJ has already started taking over this road…What about the residents in the area? I think a public viewing is not really thinking about everybodys’ needs….from my point of view just another marketing tool from the people behind this. I feel sorry for MJ as a person, he showed a very private existance in his last years…now his death is a circus!
To all of those that are disputing where Michael Jackson should be laid -is none of your business. This is a time to mourn and respect the family wishes.