Case Name: NEW ORLEANS CAMPAIGN FOR A LIVING WAGE, Jean Matthews and Philomenia Johnson v. CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, Marc Morial, Mayor, The Council of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana; The Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs, The Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, v. The City of New Orleans
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2002-09-04
Citations: 825 So. 2d 1098
Docket Number: No. 2002-CA-0991
Parties: NEW ORLEANS CAMPAIGN FOR A LIVING WAGE, Jean Matthews and Philomenia Johnson v. CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, Marc Morial, Mayor, The Council of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. The Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs, The Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, v. The City of New Orleans.
Judges: CALOGERO, C.J., concurs in the decree but dissents from the majority’s reasons, and assigns reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 825
Pages: 1098–1125

Head Matter:
NEW ORLEANS CAMPAIGN FOR A LIVING WAGE, Jean Matthews and Philomenia Johnson v. CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, Marc Morial, Mayor, The Council of the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. The Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs, The Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, v. The City of New Orleans.
No. 2002-CA-0991.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Sept. 4, 2002.
Stefanie J. Allweiss, Edward F. Harold, New Orleans, Horace A. Thompson, III, for Applicant.
Richard P. Ieyoub, Attorney General, Angie R. LaPlace, Baton Rouge, William P. Quigley, New Orleans, Elaine R. Jones, Louis L. Robein, Jr., Metairie, Robert Stroup, Mavis S. Early, Evelyn F. Pugh, Charles M. Delbaum, Mark A. Moreau, Rowena T. Jones, New Orleans, for Respondent.
H. Mark Adams, New Orleans, Clyde H. Jacob, III, Joshua A. Ulman, Robin S. Conrad, Stephen A. Bokat, Tilden R. Reid, III, for Amicus Curiae United States Chamber of Commerce.
H. Mark Adams, New Orleans, Clyde H. Jacob, III, Tilden R. Reid, II, for Amicus Curiae New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Chamber of Greater Baton Rouge, Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.
Gerald J. Huffman, Jr., David M. Whitaker, New Orleans, for Amicus Curiae Sy-dran Food Services, II.
Margaret Diamond, Eliska M. Plunkett, New Orleans, Ernst F. Preis, Jr., for Ami-cus Curiae Greater New Orleans Hotel Motel Association.
Audrey N. Browne, Horace A. Thompson, III, Harry A. Rosenberg, Christopher K. Ralston, New Orleans, for Amicus Curiae Louisiana Association of Business.
David H. Williams, New Orleans, for Amicus Curiae Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

Opinion:
| KIMBALL, Justice.
These consolidated cases are before the court on direct appeal from a judgment of the district court declaring unconstitutional La. R.S. 23:642, which prohibits a local governmental subdivision from establishing a minimum wage which a private employer would be required to pay employees. At the same time, the district court upheld the validity of Ordinance No. 20376, an amendment to the home rule charter of the City of New Orleans that establishes a minimum wage for individuals employed and performing work in the City of New Orleans. For the reasons that follow, we find La. R.S. 23:642 is a legitimate exercise of the police power and therefore constitutional. We also find that Ordinance No. 20376 abridges the police L,power of the state and is unconstitutional. Consequently, we reverse the judgment of the district court.
Facts and Procedural History
Effective August 15, 1997, Act 317 of 1997 prohibits local governmental subdivisions from establishing a minimum wage rate which a private employer would be required to pay employees. In passing this Act, which became La. R.S. 23:642, the legislature found that in order for Louisiana businesses to remain competitive and to attract and retain the highest caliber of employees, and thereby to remain sound, a business must work in an environment of uniform minimum wage rates. The legislature further found that local variation in mandated minimum wages would lead to economic instability and decline and to a decrease in the standard of living for Louisiana's citizens.
In September 2001, the New Orleans City Council passed Ordinance No. 20376, an ordinance placing on the ballot for vote by the electorate of New Orleans a proposal to add a new Chapter 5 to Article IX of the home rule charter of the City of New Orleans (the "City"). The proposed Charter Amendment (the "minimum wage law") establishes a minimum wage to be paid to employees performing work in the City of New Orleans of $6.15 per hour, or $1.00 above the prevailing federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. The ordinance does not apply to employees who are currently exempted from coverage under certain enumerated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq., to city or state civil service employees whose wages are regulated by a civil service commission, or to persons employed on any public works contracts governed by the Louisiana Public Bid Law. Employers who fail to comply with the minimum wage law commit a misdemeanor "punishable by a fine of up to $200 for each day and each employee 13that wages are paid in violation thereof."
On Saturday, February 2, 2002, New Orleans voters approved the proposed Charter Amendment. The following day, Sunday, February 3, 2002, the New Orleans Campaign for a Living Wage, joined by two individuals, Jean Matthews and Philomenia Johnson (collectively the "Proponents"), instituted a declaratory judgment proceeding against the City, its mayor and City Council, and the State of Louisiana, seeking a declaration of the validity of the City's new minimum wage law. In addition, petitioners sought a declaration that La. R.S. 23:642, the state law that prohibits local governmental subdivisions from establishing a minimum wage, is unconstitutional as applied to the City of New Orleans, a pre 1974 home rule charter city.
This suit was subsequently consolidated with a suit filed the following day by the Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs, the Louisiana Restaurant Association, and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region (collectively the [/'Opponents"), against the City of New Orleans, seeking a declaratory judgment that the City's minimum wage law is invalid in light of La. Const. art. VI, § 9 and La. R.S. 23:642. The suit additionally sought injunctive relief prohibiting the City from enforcing the new law.
Following trial on the merits, the district court rendered judgment declaring La. R.S. 23:642 unconstitutional, upholding the validity of the City's minimum wage law, and denying the request for injunc-tive relief. In written reasons, the district court found that the City's minimum wage law does not violate Article VI § 9(A) of the Louisiana Constitution, which prohibits municipalities from enacting ordinances governing private or civil relationships, because it "is not consistent with or in conflict with any Louisiana statutory provisions pertaining to substantive rights, enforcement schemes, or remedies affecting civil or private relationships, particularly tort, contract and workers' compensation laws that govern employment relationships." As to La. Const. art. VI, § 9(B), which provides that the police power of the state shall never be abridged, and La. R.S. 23:642, which prohibits local governmental subdivisions from enacting minimum wage laws, the district court ruled that the Opponents of the minimum wage law failed to prove La. R.S. 23:642 was enacted pursuant to the police powers of the state because it was not necessary to protect the vital interest of the state as a whole. According to the district court, La. R.S. 23:642 is "too severe an interference with the City of New Orleans' constitutionally enumerated powers to be justified by the state's interest in remedying perceived and speculative economic concerns," and does not constitute a reasonable exercise of the state's police power under La. Const. Art. VI, § 9(B) "so as to qualify as an exception to the prohibition against state interference with home rule discretion." For these reasons, the district court declared La. R.S. 23:642 Runconstitutional.
Finally, the court considered whether the City's home rule charter, by its own terms, prohibits the enactment of a minimum wage law. Drawing upon the provisions of Section 2-101 of the charter, which gives the City "the right, power, privilege, and authority to adopt and enforce local police, sanitary and similar regulations and to do and perform all of the acts pertaining to its local affairs, property and government, which are necessary or proper in the legitimate exercise of its corporate powers and municipal functions," the district court concluded that the minimum wage ordinance is a valid exercise of the City's police power.
Following the rendition of the district court's judgment, the Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs, the Louisiana Restaurant Association, and the Business Council requested a suspensive appeal directly to this court pursuant to La. Const. art. V, § 5(D). The district court granted these parties a devolutive appeal on March 28, 2002. On April 12, 2002, this court stayed execution of the district court's judgment pending further orders of this court. New Orleans Campaign for a Living Wage v. City of New Orleans, 02-0995 (La.4/12/02), 814 So.2d 1273.
Law and Discussion
As explained above, the instant case is before this court on direct appeal because La. R.S. 23:642 was declared unconstitutional by .the district court. We must therefore begin with an analysis of this statute. Although the district court declared La. R.S. 23:642 wholly unconstitutional on its face, the Proponents argue only that the statute is unconstitutional as applied to the City, a pre 1974 home rule government. Specifically, the Proponents contend that the Opponents have not borne their burden of proving adequate constitutional grounds for the State to deny the City |fithe power to adopt this particular minimum wage ordinance. In response, the Opponents argue that the statute's regulation of minimum wages is a valid exercise of the state's police power as it was enacted for the purpose of protecting the general economic welfare of the state as a whole and, therefore, an inconsistent ordinance cannot stand.
Local governmental autonomy or home rule exists only to the extent that the state constitution endows a local governmental entity with two interactive powers: the power to initiate local legislation and the power of immunity from control by the state legislature. City of New Orleans v. Board of Comm'rs of Orleans Levee Dist., 93-0690, p. 4 (La.7/5/94), 640 So.2d 237, 242. The City is governed by a home rule charter that was enacted prior to the 1974 constitution. This preexisting home rule charter was continued, and essentially constitutionalized, by La. Const. art. VI, § 4. Morial v. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132, p. 16 (La.4/3/01), 785 So.2d 1, 14; City of New Orleans v. Board of Comm'rs of Orleans Levee Dist., 93-0690 at p. 8, 640 So.2d at 244.
Article VI, § 4 of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution grants the City both the power of initiation and the power of immunity. City of New Orleans v. Board of Comm'rss of Orleans Levee Dist., 93-0690 at p. 7-8, 640 So.2d at 243. That provision states:
Every home rule charter or plan of government existing or adopted when this constitution is adopted shall remain in effect and may be amended, modified, or repealed as provided therein. Except as inconsistent with this constitution, each local governmental subdivision which has adopted such a home rule charter or plan of government shall retain the powers, functions, and duties in effect when this constitution is adopted. If its charter permits, each of them also shall have the right to powers and functions granted to other local governmental 'subdivisions.
17A preexisting home rule charter's grant of the power of initiation is limited by Article VI, § 4 only by its provision that the local government may not exercise that power inconsistently with the constitution. City of New Orleans v. Board of Comm'rss of Orleans Levee Dist., 93-0690 at p. 9, 640 So.2d at 244. Thus, although "home rule" does not entail complete autonomy, Miller v. Oubre, 96-2022, p. 9 (La.10/15/96), 682 So.2d 231, 236, "in affairs of local concern, a home rule charter government possesses 'powers which within its jurisdiction are as broad as that of the state, except when limited by the constitution, laws permitted by the constitution, or its own home rule charter.'" Smith & Wesson Corp. 00-1132 at p. 16, 785 So.2d at 14 (quoting Francis v. Morial, 455 So.2d 1168, 1171 (La.1984)).
Article VI also serves to foster local self-government by allowing home rule entities to utilize their powers and functions on the local level without revocation, change, or affect by law unless it is necessary to prevent an abridgement of the reasonable exercise of the state's police power. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at 16, 785 So.2d at 14. Thus, Article VI protects home rule governments from unwarranted interference by the state in their internal affairs. Id. at p. 17, 785 So.2d at 14 (citing Francis, 455 So.2d at 1171).
Article VI, however, also contains a provision in Section 9(B) that ensures the powers granted to home rule governments will not be used to deprive the state government of its inherent powers. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 17, 785 So.2d at 14 (citing Francis, 455 So.2d at 1172). This section, entitled "Limitations of Local Government Subdivisions," provides:
Notwithstanding any provision of this Article, the police power of the state shall never be abridged.
This provision was adopted "as a principle of harmonizing the replete home rule powers granted local governments with a basic residuum of the state's power to ^initiate legislation and regulation necessary to protect and promote the vital interests of its people as a whole." City of New Orleans v. Board of Comm'rss of Orleans Levee Dist., 93-0690 at p. 19-20, 640 So.2d at 249.
The police power of the state is best defined on a case-by-ease basis; however, it has been generally described as the state's "inherent power to govern persons and things, within constitutional limits, for promotion of general health, safety, welfare, and morals." Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 17, 785 So.2d at p. 15 (quoting City of New Orleans v. Board of Dirs. of Louisiana State Museum, 98-1170, p. 11 (La.3/2/99), 739 So.2d 748, 757). See also Polk v. Edwards, 626 So.2d 1128, 1142; Francis, 455 So.2d at 1172. The police power extends only to measures that are reasonable. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 17-18, 785 So.2d at 15; Board of Dirs. of Louisiana State Museum, 98-1170 at p. 11, 739 So.2d at 757; Francis, 455 So.2d at 1172. A reasonable measure taken under the state's police power is one in which the action taken is, under all the circumstances, reasonably necessary and designed to accomplish a purpose properly falling within the scope of the police power. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 18, 785 So.2d at 15; Board of Dirs. of Louisiana State Museum, 98-1170 at p. 11, 739 So.2d at 757. To sustain an action under the state's police power, a court must be able to determine that its operation tends in some degree to prevent an offense or evil or otherwise to preserve public health, safety, welfare or morals. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 18, 785 So.2d at 15; Board of Dirs. of Louisiana State Museum, 98-1170 at p. 11, 739 So.2d at 757. Further, the state's exercise of its police power must not interfere with constitutional rights to an extent that is entirely out of proportion to any benefit redounding to the public. Smith & Wesson Corp., 00-1132 at p. 18, 785 So.2d at 15; City of Baton Rouge v. Williams, 95-0308, p. 6 (La.10/16/95), 661 So.2d 445, 449.
|3In the instant case, La. R.S. 23:642 itself purports to be an action taken under the state's police power. The statute provides:
A.(l) The Legislature of Louisiana finds that economic stability and growth are among the most important factors affecting the general welfare of the people of this state and are, therefore, among its own most important responsibilities. Economic stability and growth contribute to the standard of living enjoyed by citizens as employment and income are both dependent on the ability and willingness of businesses to operate in the state.
(2) The legislature further finds that wages comprise the most significant expense of operating a business. It also recognizes that neither potential employees nor business patrons are likely to restrict themselves to employment opportunities or goods and services providers in any particular parish or municipality. Consequently, local variation in legally required minimum wage rates would threaten many businesses with a loss of employees to areas which require a higher minimum wage rate and many other businesses with the loss of patrons to areas which allow for a lower wage rate. The net effect of this situation would be detrimental to the business environment of the state and to the citizens, businesses, and governments of the various local jurisdictions as well as the local labor market.
(3) The legislature concludes from these findings that, in order for a business to remain competitive and yet to attract and retain the highest possible caliber of employees, and thereby to remain sound, an enterprise must work in a uniform environment with respect to minimum wage rates. The net impact of local variation in mandated wages would be economic instability and decline and a decrease in the standard of living for the citizens of the state. Consequently, decisions regarding minimum wage policy must be made by the state so that consistency in the wage market is preserved.
B. Therefore, pursuant to the police powers ultimately reserved to the state by Article VI, Section 9 of the Constitution of Louisiana, no local governmental subdivision shall establish a minimum wage rate which a private employer would be required to pay employees.
If we determine that this statute was passed pursuant to a reasonable exercise of the police power of the state, and that the local minimum wage law conflicts with Imthis statute, then the minimum wage law must fall. The City argues that although the state has the power to regulate the minimum wage in localities whose home rule charter post-dates the 1974 constitution, the state, through the application of La. R.S. 23:642, has no power to preempt the minimum wage law of localities like the City whose charter pre-dates the 1974 constitution. The constitution, however, does not differentiate between pre-1974 and posN1974 home rule charters on the issue of abridgement of the state's police power. Article VI, § 9(B) speaks to all local governments when it states that the police power of the state shall never be abridged. Thus, if the standards discussed in the foregoing paragraphs for a reasonable exercise of the state's police power are met, any inconsistent local law cannot be enforced.
Section (A) of La. R.S. 23:642 indicates that the prohibition against local governmental subdivisions establishing minimum wage rates for private employers was passed to promote economic stability and growth for all the citizens of the state. The legislature found that the net effect óf local variation in minimum wage rates would be detrimental to the business environment of the state and to its citizens, businesses, local governments, and the local labor market. Consequently, the legislature found that statewide regulation of minimum wage rates is required to preserve the general welfare of the citizens of Louisiana.
These findings are supported by the legislative history of the statute. Dr. Tim Ryan, an economist and Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of New Orleans, testified before the house committee considering the bill that became La. R.S. 23:642 that the latest wage survey conducted in 1990-1991 showed that unemployment increased after an increase in the federal minimum wage. Dr. Ryan further explained that an increase in a local minimum wage creates a competitive situation between localities and leads to businesses locating in areas with hflower minimum wages. Minutes of the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, April 25, 1997, p. 15. Additionally, several individuals appeared before the committee, some in favor of the bill and others in opposition to it. Those in favor of the measure opined that higher minimum wage requirements would be detrimental to their businesses and to small business owners and would lead to layoffs. Persons appearing in opposition to the bill stated the economic data presented to the committee was "garbage" and people were moving out of New Orleans because they could not make enough money. Minutes of the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, April 25, 1997, pp. 15-18. After hearing this testimony, the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations voted in favor of the bill that became La. R.S. 23:642 and the bill was ultimately passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by the governor on June 18, 1997.
In enacting La. R.S. 23:642, the legislature determined the policy of the State of Louisiana with respect to minimum wage requirements. It prescribed that minimum wage policy decisions should be made by the state to preserve consistency in the wage market. It is the role of the legislature to make such policy decisions for our state. In making this policy determination, the legislative history reveals that the legislature relied on the expert opinion of a local economist and the opinions of citizens and local businesses. These are precisely the types of opinions the legislature should consider in setting statewide policy and, based on the opinions presented, we find the legislature's policy choice is a reasonable one.
At the trial before the district court, the Proponents presented the testimony of two expert economists who voiced disagreement with the findings of the legislature regarding the need for statewide consistency in regulation of minimum wage rates in La. R.S. 23:642 and with the expert testimony presented by Dr. Ryan. We recognize | ^these expert opinions, but conclude they represent a disagreement among experts regarding the necessity of statewide regulation of minimum wage policy. Both sides of the issue appear to be backed by legitimate concerns and it is the legislature's function to fashion policy from these competing viewpoints. The legislature chose to require statewide regulation of minimum wage laws to maintain consistency in the wage market, and we find this policy choice to be reasonable in light of the evidence presented. The reasons for judgment assigned by the district judge indicate that the judge found the testimony of Dr. Ryan to be biased and the testimony of the Proponents' experts more compelling. In reaching this conclusion, the district court overstepped its role. The legislature has "broad scope to experiment with economic problems," and "courts do not substitute their social and economic beliefs for the judgment of legislative bodies, who are elected to pass laws." Ferguson v. Skrupa, 372 U.S. 726, 730, 83 S.Ct. 1028, 1031, 10 L.Ed.2d 93. See also Reynolds v. Louisiana Bd. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 248 La. 639, 181 So.2d 377 (1965) (finding a valid exercise of the state's police power and stating the court had no right to review the "policy of wisdom of legislation"). By choosing to give the evidence presented by one side more weight than that presented by the other, the district court improperly second-guessed the reasoned policy choice of the legislature. Instead, the court should have evaluated whether the legislature's policy choice was reasonable in light of the evidence presented.
While the legislature is the branch of government responsible for the enactment of laws designed to foster the policy of the state, the judicial branch must ensure that the legislature's actions comport with the dictates of the constitution as adopted by the people of this state. Thus, even when legislative statements indicate an action was taken pursuant to the police power, this mere assertion does not make it so. Rather, |iathe judicial branch must apply the analysis set forth above to determine whether an action is a reasonable exercise of the state's police power. Clearly, the legislature's determination regarding the exercise of police power must be given great weight and the judicial branch should not substitute its opinion for the choice made by the legislature. Rather, the judicial branch should analyze the legislature's choice to determine whether there is support for the legislative determination that a measure constitutes a reasonable exercise of the police power.
Additionally, the district court was apparently persuaded by the "empirical data" presented by the Proponents' expert, Dr. Pollin, who testified regarding a study he conducted in 1999 based on the economic impact of the proposed minimum wage ordinance. Based on this study, Dr. Pol-lin testified that a one dollar increase in the minimum wage in New Orleans would not significantly affect the average firm's overall operating cost. Dr. Pollin opined the business economy of the state would not be negatively impacted by a one dollar increase in the City's minimum wage. In light of this "empirical data," which the district court found was uncontroverted, the trial judge declared La. R.S. 23:642 unconstitutional. While it is clear from the procedural posture of this case why the district court focused on the provisions of the ordinance at issue, we nevertheless find the district court fell into analytical error by concentrating on the minimum wage ordinance and basing its decision on the projected effect of a one dollar increase in the City's minimum wage. The issue to be decided is whether the state can prohibit all local governments from regulating minimum wage rates pursuant to a reasonable exercise of the police power. The fact that a one dollar increase in one municipality's minimum wage rate may or may not | uhave an impact on the state's economy as a whole is irrelevant. The relevant inquiry is whether the legislature was reasonable in concluding that it would be detrimental to the state's interest if several municipalities increased their minimum wages and, if so, whether the statute they enacted to further this interest is reasonably necessary and designed to accomplish this purpose.
Turning to the relevant issue, we note this court has previously found that "the power to set or prescribe a minimum wage is regarded as an exercise of the police power because a minimum wage is generally intended to insure employment at fair and reasonable wages and to stimulate the economy." Louisiana Associated Gen. Contractors v. Calcasieu Parish Sch. Bd., 586 So.2d 1354, 1366 (La.1991). In this case, we find, as the statute sets forth, that state regulation of minimum wage rates is of vital interest to the citizens of Louisiana, and that statewide regulation of minimum wage rates tends to preserve the public welfare. The legislature determined as a matter of policy that minimum wage policy decisions should be made by the state to preserve consistency in the wage market. We find La. R.S. 23:642 is reasonably necessary in light of this policy determination by the legislature and is designed to promote economic stability and growth of the state, and thereby to promote the welfare of Louisianans. Moreover, we find the provisions of La. R.S. 23:642 are necessary to protect the vital interest of the state as a whole and do not constitute such an interference with the City's constitutional rights that the statute must be held unenforceable against the City. Consequently, we conclude that La. R.S. 23:642 constitutes a reasonable exercise of the state's police power, is constitutional, and is applicable to the City.
Because we find La. R.S. 23:642, prohibiting local governmental subdivisions from establishing a minimum wage rate which a private employer would be required [ 1Rto pay employees, is a legitimate exercise of the state's police power, we conclude the City's minimum wage law, which sets a minimum wage rate private employers are required to pay their employees, abridges the police power of the state. Therefore, we find the minimum wage law invalid.
Due to this court's conclusion that the City's minimum wage law cannot be enforced as it abridges the police power of the state and therefore violates La. Const. art. VI, § 9(B), we need not address whether the minimum wage law is also invalid under § 9(A) of art. VI. It would only be necessary for this court to address this provision, which states that no local governmental subdivision shall, except as provided by law, enact an ordinance governing private or civil relationships, had we found that La. R.S. 23:642 was inapplicable to the City or had the legislature not enacted La. R.S. 23:642. We therefore pretermit discussion of the district court's ruling regarding La. Const, art. VI, § 9(A).
Decree
For the reasons expressed above, the judgment of the district court declaring La. R.S. 23:642 unconstitutional is reversed. The district court's judgment declaring valid Ordinance No. 203.76, the Increased Minimum Wage Charter Amendment, is reversed. The district court's judgment denying and dismissing with prejudice appellants' request for in-junctive relief is reversed. The City's minimum wage law, Chapter 5 of Article IX of the home rule charter, is hereby declared unconstitutional and appellants' request for permanent injunctive relief is granted.
REVERSED.
CALOGERO, C.J., concurs in the decree but dissents from the majority's reasons, and assigns reasons.
JOHNSON, J., dissents and assigns reasons.
WEIMER, J., concurs in the result and assigns reasons.
. According to the petition, the New Orleans Campaign for a Living Wage is '.'an association of organizations and citizens residing in the City of New Orleans, who have worked for years to try to raise wages for the working poor in New Orleans." The coalition is composed of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (''ACORN"), Local 100, Service Employees International Union, the Hospitality, Hotels, and Restaurants Organization Council ("HOTROC"), the Greater New Orleans AFL CIO, various other community, religious, and civic organizations, and New Orleans employees who work for less than $1 per hour over the federal minimum wage.
. According to its petition, the Small Business Coalition to Save Jobs is an association of various organizations, including the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Motel Association, the Louisiana Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensees, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Louisiana Chapter. The coalition was formed "to promote the economic opportunities of the City of New Orleans, member businesses, to support programs that allow the members to grow the number of jobs they provide and to prevent actions that would be detrimental to the economy of New Orleans and to the development of jobs in New Orleans."
. La. Const. art. V, § 5(D) provides that a case shall be appealable to this court if "a law or ordinance has been declared unconstitutional."
. We note this data was not presented to the legislature for its consideration in connection with Act 317 of 1997, which became La. R.S. 23:642, and, in fact, was not collected until after the effective date of the Act. In light of our findings herein, however, we need not address this issue.