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Oyster Bay Will Fight For Right To Limit Day Laborer Gatherings

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island town is appealing after a federal court ruled its law restricting where day laborers may stand while seeking work is unconstitutional.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto said in a statement that the ordinance, enacted in 2009, "narrowly and properly" addresses safety concerns.

The law bars day laborers from using town streets and sidewalks to look for construction, landscaping and other work.

U.S. District Court Judge Denis Hurley ruled earlier this month that the law violates the First Amendment. He suggested the town's concerns about public safety could be addressed by enforcing existing state vehicle and traffic laws.

New York Civil Liberties Union lawyer Corey Stoughton said she's very confident of winning the appeal.

Because of the ongoing litigation, the town has never enforced the ordinance.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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