Day-labor measure disputed in lawsuit against town

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0326daylabor-suit0326.html

Lawsuit challenges Cave Creek ordinance

Lindsey Collom and Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 26, 2008 12:00 AM

Day-labor supporters filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday in Phoenix challenging an anti-solicitation ordinance they say restricts the First Amendment rights of immigrants, both documented and otherwise.

The lawsuit challenges a law passed by Cave Creek in October that targets people who are seeking employment, whether they are standing on the street or walking up to cars.

Officials from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund allege the ordinance restricts the free speech of people who want to work as day laborers as well as the speech of potential employers.

"The town does not have the right to pick and choose who has free-speech rights," said Monica Ramirez, an ACLU attorney.

Supporters of the Cave Creek ordinance say day laborers pose public-safety risks by impeding traffic.

Cave Creek Mayor Vincent Francia said town officials, under the guidance of constitutional lawyers, took care in crafting the ordinance to avoid lawsuits.

FULL story at link.