Local News in Brief : Judge Rules Mall Can’t Ban Leaflets

A judge refused to allow the owners of a Pasadena mall to bar local Democrats from distributing campaign literature outside its stores in the week before the presidential election.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Philip Saeta on Wednesday refused to grant a temporary restraining order sought by H-CHH Associates, owners of the Plaza Pasadena, to prevent workers from the Democratic headquarters of the San Gabriel Valley from handing out partisan pamphlets at the mall.

“This is just outrageous,” said Gail Ivens, attorney for Willie Harris, one of the Democrats the plaza was attempting to bar from campaigning.

The plaza’s attorney, Tom Leanse, could not be reached for comment on the suit, filed against the San Gabriel Democrats and Campaign ‘88, a Los Angeles County Democratic organization working to elect Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

But Leanse contended in court documents that the distribution of campaign literature in the mall would “disturb the ambiance and normal business operation of the plaza.”