Thursday July 31, 2008
July 28, 2008
Buzzfoto.com
John Mayer is among the celebrities calling for the regulation of how paparazzi conduct themselves.
The singer made his argument at a hearing about the matter at L.A. City Hall Thursday.
"I don't sit before you today to ask that you ban the paparazzi," Mayer, 30, explained. "I'm asking you to regulate it. Officialize it. Tax it. Legitimize it.
"I don't want to beg the city of Los Angeles to give me 1987 back," he said. "I love being a famous musician in 2008... This is about safety."
Mayer proposed the requirement of photographer credentials, marked cars for photographers and a "law governing an acceptable filming distance from an unwilling subject [to keep] everybody safe and misbehavior accountable."
Watch John Mayer spoof his fame on the streets of NYC.
Mayer concluded: "Regulating the paparazzi won't bring an end to modern-day media coverage, just as the newly enforced hands-free law hasn't stopped people from talking on cell phones while they drive.
Mayer left a positive impact on L.A. City Council member Dennis Zine.
"John Mayer is very intelligent and I enjoyed what he had to say," Zine told Usmagazine.com. He gave a very personal testimony today. I was impressed with him."
See photos of John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston plus other older women with younger guys.
Actors Eric Roberts and Milo Ventimiglia were also scheduled to speak at the hearing.
LAPD Chief William J. Bratton called out celebrities for making a big deal of how paparazzi conduct themselves.
"If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank God; and, evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue," Bratton told KNBC-TV Thursday, according to the L.A. Times.
"So as far as all this grandstanding and foolishness, waste of city time on this issue – and the fact that I felt aggravated enough about it to interrupt my workout to come over and set the record straight, LAPD has no intention of participating in this farce," he added.
Zine was not impressed by Bratton's remarks.
"He disrespected elected officials and celebrities that were involved," Zine tells Us. "Celebrities should have the freedom to do as they wish and the paparazzi are infringing upon their right to live."
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Posted by Henry Seltzer at 5:48 pm ET
