Day laborer ordinance: Redondo Beach puts off decision on appeal

Four days after a federal appeals court struck down Redondo Beach’s controversial day laborer ordinance, the City Council late Tuesday delayed a vote on whether to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The city’s 1989 ordinance bars individuals from standing on street corners and soliciting work from motorists. Last week, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals called the ordinance an "unconstitutional restriction on speech" in a 9-2 decision.

Late Tuesday, after two closed sessions, City Atty. Mike Webb announced that the council had "no reportable action." He added that the item will be put on the council agenda for the Oct. 4 meeting.

The council has 90 days from Friday to file an appeal.

Dozens of California cities have ordinances similar to Redondo Beach, but the South Bay city’s ordinance drew renewed attention when it began to be strongly enforced in 2004.

Over the course of about a month, police arrested more than 60 day laborers in what city officials called the "Day Labor Enforcement Project."

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-- Matt Stevens in Redondo Beach

Photo: Day laborers and their supporters march on Redondo Beach City Hall in 2004 to protest the Police Department's enforcement of an ordinance prohibiting the soliciting of work from motorists.

Credit: Brian Van der Brug / Los Angeles Times