American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, Inc. v. City of Boise

998 F. Supp. 2d 908, 2014 WL 28821, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 291
CourtDistrict Court, D. Idaho
DecidedJanuary 2, 2014
DocketCase No. 1:13-CV-00478-EJL
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 998 F. Supp. 2d 908 (American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, Inc. v. City of Boise) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Idaho primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, Inc. v. City of Boise, 998 F. Supp. 2d 908, 2014 WL 28821, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 291 (D. Idaho 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER

EDWARD J. LODGE, District Judge.

Pending before the Court in the above-entitled matter is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. 4). The parties stipulated to an expedited briefing schedule since the ordinance at issue in this case becomes effective on January 2, 2014. Having fully reviewed the record, the Court finds that the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in the briefs and record. Accordingly, in the interest of avoiding further delay, and because the Court conclusively finds that the decisional process would not be significantly aided by oral argument, this matter shall be decided on the record before this Court without oral argument.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, Inc. (“ACLU”), Larry Shanks (“Shanks”), and Troy Minton (“Minton”) filed a Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction alleging Defendant City of Boise’s (“City”) Ordinance NO. ORD-34-13 (“ORD-34-13”) is in violation of the United States Constitution, 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 and the Idaho Constitution. Specifically, the First Amendment and the [913]*913Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, Plaintiffs argue the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague.

ORD34-13 was passed by the Boise City Council and approved by the Mayor on September 17, 2013 and becomes effective on January 2, 2014. The City maintains the ordinance does not violate the United States Constitution or the Idaho Constitution and is not vague or overbroad. The City argues the ordinance was passed to expand the City’s existing aggressive solicitation ordinance as well as to curb harassing or unsafe panhandling. The City’s press release indicates the ordinance came in response to requests from local business owners and residents who have reported an increase in panhandling activities in recent years.

ORD34-13 defines “aggressive manner” solicitation and prohibits the same. Plaintiffs do not challenge this portion of the ordinance. Rather, Plaintiffs challenge ordinance’s prohibition of non-aggressive solicitations for donations of money or property in other public areas. The Plaintiffs claim the ordinance unlawfully restricts their freedom of speech. The City argues the restriction of speech is a proper time, manner and location restriction in order to satisfy a legitimate governmental interests. Further, the City challenges the Plaintiffs’ standing to bring this action.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

To obtain a preliminary injunction, Plaintiffs must show: (1) a likelihood of success on the merits; (2) a likelihood of irreparable harm to them in the absence of preliminary relief; (3) that the balance of equities tips in their favor; and (4) that an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, 555 U.S. 7, 20-23, 129 S.Ct. 365, 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008). The Ninth Circuit has held that “ ‘serious questions going to the merits’ and a balance of hardships that tips sharply towards the plaintiff can support issuance of a preliminary injunction, so long as the plaintiff also shows that there is a likelihood of irreparable injury and that the injunction is in the public interest.” Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1135 (9th Cir.2011). Further, “under Winter, plaintiffs must establish that irreparable harm is likely, not just possible, in order to obtain a preliminary injunction.” Id. at 1131 (emphasis in original).

For First Amendment challenges where the plaintiff makes a colorable First Amendment claim, the burden shifts to the defendant to justify its speech restrictions. Thalheimer v. City of San Diego, 645 F.3d 1109, 1116 (9th Cir.2011).

The Court begins with the presumption that the ordinance at issue is Constitutional and will determine if the ordinance can be interpreted to be satisfy the Constitution. “It is a ‘well established principle that statutes will be interpreted to avoid constitutional difficulties.’ ” Berger v. City of Seattle, 569 F.3d 1029, 1046 (9th Cir.2009) (internal citations omitted). See also, Ctr. For Bio-Ethical Reform, Inc. v. L.A. County Sheriff Dep’t, 533 F.3d 780, 791-98 (9th Cir.2008) (construing an ambiguous statute narrowly to avoid First Amendment problems).

ANALYSIS

1. Standing

The burden to establish standing to bring an action lies with the party seeking federal jurisdiction. Bennett v. Spear, 520 U.S. 154, 167-68, 117 S.Ct. 1154, 137 L.Ed.2d 281 (1997). Each plaintiff must show “that (1) he or she personally has suffered some actual or threatened injury as a result of the challenged conduct; (2) the injury can be fairly traced to that [914]*914conduct; and (3) the injury likely will be redressed by a favorable decision from the court. See Valley Forge Christian Coll. v. Ams. United for Separation of Church and State, Inc., 454 U.S. 464, 472, 102 S.Ct. 752, 70 L.Ed.2d 700 (1982). To establish standing in this case, each plaintiff must show that they engage in a “course of conduct arguably affected with a constitutional interest and that there is a credible threat that the provision will be invoked against the plaintiff.” Valle del Sol v. Whiting, 732 F.3d 1006, 1015 (9th Cir. 2013).

First, the City challenges the ACLU’s standing to bring this action as the scenarios alleged which would make the ACLU’s agents in violation of the ordinance are not the type of actions the ordinance is meant to prohibit. The ACLU claims it raises funds for its activities from individuals and that such solicitation of monies may occur at sidewalk cafes or other restricted areas as outlined in ORD 34-13. While it is true City’s purpose in passing the ordinance appears to be focused on reducing “panhandling” versus fundraising by non-profit organizations, the wording of the ordinance could arguably be applied to consensual solicitation efforts by non-profit organizations on sidewalks and sidewalk cafes in downtown Boise. The ACLU has standing even if prosecution is only “remotely possible.” Canatella v. State of California, 304 F.3d 843, 855 (9th Cir.2002). The Court finds the ACLU has satisfied the requirements for standing in this case based on the affidavits of its agents regarding their solicitation activities in downtown Boise.

Second, the City challenges the standing of Shanks who avers in the Complaint he is a street musician and is learning to play for donations on the sidewalks of Boise. Shanks is concerned any oral request for donations he makes will cause him to violate ORD-34-13. The City responds the ordinance does not prohibit street performances, so Shanks has no standing.

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Bluebook (online)
998 F. Supp. 2d 908, 2014 WL 28821, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 291, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-civil-liberties-union-of-idaho-inc-v-city-of-boise-idd-2014.