Opinion No. (2006)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General DANIEL G. STONE Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE BONNIE GARCIA, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question: May a city prohibit a chamber of commerce from advertising its support of a ballot measure or a candidate for public office on a sign in front of the chamber's office if the office is located on land leased from the city and the city contracts with the chamber to act as the city's visitors bureau but the lease and the contract are silent with respect to political advertising on the sign? CONCLUSION A city may not prohibit a chamber of commerce from advertising its support of a ballot measure or a candidate for public office on a sign in front of the chamber's office where the sign is located on land leased from the city and the city contracts with the chamber to act as the city's visitors bureau but the lease and the contract are silent with respect to political advertising on the sign. ANALYSIS We are informed that a chamber of commerce has a contract with a city to act as the city's visitors bureau. It owns an office building with a sign in front that advertises its programs, events, and activities.…