The project will be conducted by The Rand Corp., a SantaMonica-based research group. The nonprofit organization says the$70,000-study will be funded by a variety of public and privatedonors, including a grant from at least one unnamed propertyowner.

The press conference to announce the study was made at StaplesCenter, the two-year-old Downtown complex that has alreadyscheduled more than 300 sports and other entertainment events fornext year. Staples Center officials say they have spent more than$1.5 million to improve security at their complex, including theinstallation of 200 concrete barriers and 100 morecamera-surveillance systems.

Though Rand Corp. officials won't disclose the names of allcontributors to the study, LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo wasacknowledged for helping to raise funds for the report. Los AngelesPolice Chief Bernard Parks and Sheriff Lee Baca also participatedin the press conference.