Opinion ID: 789142
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hobbs's First Application, Denied Based on County General Ordinance Number 2

Text: 5 In a letter dated May 22, 2000, Hobbs wrote to defendant Joseph Montalto, Director of Playland, to apply for whatever `permit' would be required, if any, for Hobbs to sit on a bench (or [his] own chair) along a popularly traveled promenade at Playland, and perform [his] act and create balloon sculptures in the free exercise of ... free speech. (Letter from Hobbs to Montalto dated May 22, 2000 (Hobbs Letter), at 1.) The Hobbs Letter stated that Hobbs was 6 an artist who performs a comical act and creates sculptures with Balloons. Members of the public hear my message and often support my artistic expression. Often when they do I give them my balloon sculptures. At other times, persons who value my sculptures offer me money for them, which I accept. These are activities that the courts have said are legal and do not constitute a commercial transaction that may be regulated by the government. 7 ( Id. ) 8 By letter dated May 26, 2000, Montalto denied Hobbs's request, viewing the Hobbs Letter as an application for a permit to allow soliciting. Montalto stated that Playland is not a public forum but an amusement facility operated by the County in its proprietary capacity; in that capacity, the County had authority to adopt restrictive regulations on speech which are reasonable and not calculated to suppress expression because of disagreement with the speaker's view. (Letter from Montalto to Hobbs dated May 26, 2000 (First County Letter), at 1.) The letter stated that the County's 9 General Ordinance Number 2, governing the use of County property provides in entirely neutral terms that: No person shall solicit alms, subscriptions or contributions for any purpose. Laws of Westchester County, Section 712.51. 10 (First County Letter at 1.) This letter also stated that Playland had retained strolling performers and puppeteers (who do not solicit contributions) to entertain its patrons, and that [n]o other such performances are authorized at Playland. ( Id. ) The letter indicated that the Ordinance would be vigorously enforced against Hobbs. ( Id. )