Members of the City Council of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent

Section 28.04 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code prohibits the posting of signs on public property.1 The question pre*792sented is whether that prohibition abridges appellees’ freedom of speech within the meaning of the First Amendment.2

In March 1979, Roland Vincent was a candidate for election to the Los Angeles City Council. A group of his supporters known as Taxpayers for Vincent (Taxpayers) entered into a contract with a political sign service company known as Candidates’ Outdoor Graphics Service (COGS) to fabricate and post signs with Vincent’s name on them. COGS produced 15- by 44-inch…