Today's Wall Street Journal has an article about the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision supporting day laborers right to congregate on the street while looking for work. There is no link since the article is behind the WSJ paywall, but it notes:
A federal appeals court Friday struck down a Southern California city's ban on day laborers soliciting work on street corners, saying it infringed on the worker's free speech.
The ban was an attempt to reduce obstructions to traffic and pedestrians, but "Judge Smith said the ordinance 'regulates significantly more speech than is necessary to achieve the city's purpose of improving traffic safety and traffic flow at two major Redondo Beach intersections.' "
From my perspective, San Mateo's day laborer work center at 400 E. 5th Ave. has worked very well for both the laborers and people hiring people. Let's hope this decision by the more overturned Court in the country doesn't mess that up.
Comments