The City of Redondo Beach’s day laborer petition denied
Jorge Rodriguez, Jose Esculera and Juan Carlos wait for work at the 7-Eleven on Artesia and Felton on Wednesday morning. Photo Day laborers may now legally solicit work from passing vehicles in Redondo Beach after the U.S. Supreme Court this week denied a petition from the City of Redondo Beach to hear arguments for a day laborer ban. City Attorney Mike Webb said the court’s decision was not unexpected. “It’s disappointing but not surprising given the amount of petitions the Supreme Court gets,” Webb said. The city has been trying to ban day laborers from gathering on street corners while looking for work, citing a need to address neighborhood safety hazards. Day laborer supporters have attacked the city’s efforts as an attack on free speech. The legal battle has been underway for more than seven years after a U.S. District court declared the city’s ban unconstitutional. A three-judge panel from U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit in 2010 overturned the lower court, but the appellate court took the rare step of a 11-judge “en banc” hearing to reconsider the decision. In September, the panel sided overwhelmingly with the day laborers. The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced it would…
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