Your marathon wants free money, no mames.
Okay so check it— Frank McCourt, yeah, *that* Frank McCourt, the guy who used to own the Dodgers and then sold them for like, a gazillion dollars after a whole lot of drama? His LA Marathon organization is literally asking the city to just... forget about half a million dollars they owe in royalty payments. No mames, right? They want their contract restructured so they don't have to pay up for past races. It's like, you run a huge event through our city, impacting traffic from Dodger Stadium all the way down to Santa Monica, and then you're like, "Can we skip the bill?" It's wild, especially when you think about all the small businesses in places like Boyle Heights and Little Tokyo that literally pay everything they owe, no questions asked.
### Why This is Such an LA Story
This isn't just about money, it's about what this city values. We've got major issues, you know? The homelessness crisis is literally visible from the 101, and our public transit needs all the help it can get. For a major organization like the LA Marathon, which gets a ton of visibility and brings in serious cash, to ask for a handout from the city? It just hits different when you know how many Angelenos are struggling. This money could do so much good, like:
* Helping fund the Dodger Stadium Express bus, which is a lifesaver, no lie. * Supporting local youth sports programs, especially in underserved communities. * Investing in the LA River bike path, making it safer and more accessible for everyone.
It's a really interesting look at who gets to ask for what in this city. Like, if my tía tried to get a pass on her property taxes, they'd laugh her out of the room, ya sabes? It just feels like a very Westside thing to ask for, like they think the rules don't apply to them. That's the real LA, fam — east of the 110.
Marisol Vega-Cisneros, MiTL Sports Desk.
Oye, Keith and the crew are gonna have some thoughts on this, you gotta tune in live at mornings.live.