Manhattan Beach Nixes Residential Picket Ordinance

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A proposed ordinance that would have prohibited targeted residential picketing was nixed at the Manhattan Beach City Council on Tuesday.

The ordinance would have made it illegal for protesters to picket 150 feet outside of a home and prohibited picketing between 4:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. in certain neighborhoods around Sepulveda Boulevard.

The council voted 3-2 to table to the ordinance. Councilwoman Amy Howorth and Councilman David Lesser were the two dissenting votes.

The issue first came to light when the CEO of Wedgewood Inc. in Redondo Beach complained to the city council about a group of picketers who were targeting his home in Manhattan Beach. He's since dropped the lawsuit against the picketers.

Some council members were worried that the city might be sued because of inconsistent enforcement and the confusing language that may lead police to incorrectly enforce the ordinance.

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