Editorials

SAN DIEGO — A civil rights group is contesting San Diego County’s policy of stopping a nonprofit group from distributing informational pamphlets inside and near welfare offices, arguing that the policy is a violation of the First Amendment right. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial counties filed a claim Wednesday that also accuses county employees of harassment during a demonstration last summer and targeting a nonprofit group called SPIN while allowing other groups to leave pamphlets inside welfare offices. 

“County welfare offices may not select certain groups to express their ideas on government property while silencing another just because they may not like what that group has to say,” said Guylyn Cummins, a lawyer for the ACLU. 

“The Constitution protects everyone’s right to communicate with others in a lawful and non-disruptive manner,” Cummins said. 

County officials have not had a chance to review the claim and were unable to comment, Cathy Spearnak, spokeswoman for the county’s Health and Human Services Agency, said Thursday. 

The issue stems from several incidents last July when representatives of Supportive Parents Information Network tried to give fliers to people seeking welfare.  

The fliers explained their rights and offered help in filling out applications. 

According to the claim, SPIN members were ushered out of the welfare offices and were not required to remove their fliers from display racks inside the offices. 

In another incident, the executive director of SPIN, Joni Halpern, attempted to go with a woman seeking welfare-to-work assistance but was forced to leave the office after she began talking with other people in the lobby about SPIN’s application services.