Lead Opinion
Defendants-Appellants (collectively, “the City”) appeal from the July 13, 2011 memorandum and order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (William H. Pauley III, J.) granting Plaintiffs-Appellees’ (“Plaintiffs’ ”) motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining Local Law No. 17 of the City of New York (“Local Law 17”). Local Law 17, inter alia, requires pregnancy services centers, a term defined in the statute, to make certain disclosures regarding the services that the centers provide. See Evergreen Ass’n, Inc. v. City of New York,
BACKGROUND
This case asks us to decide whether the New York City Council and Mayor of New York City can impose requirements on pregnancy services centers aimed at informing potential clients about the centers and the services that they provide, or do not provide, without running afoul of the First Amendment.
I. Local Law 17
In March 2011, the New York City Council passed and Mayor Michael Bloom-berg signed into law Local Law 17, which was scheduled to go into effect on July 14, 2011, and intended to be codified in the New York City Administrative Code (“Administrative Code”).
(1) whether or not they “have a licensed medical provider on staff who provides or directly supervises the provision of all of the services at such pregnancy service center” (the “Status Disclosure”);
(2) “that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed provider” (the “Government Message”); and
(3) whether or not they “provide or provide referrals for abortion,” “emergency contraception,” or “prenatal care” (the “Services Disclosure”).
Administrative Code § 20-816(a)-(e). They must provide the required disclosures at their entrances and waiting rooms, on advertisements, and during telephone conversations.
Local Law 17 defines a “pregnancy services center” as a “facility, ... the primary purpose of which is to provide services to women who are or may be pregnant, that either (1) offers obstetric ultrasounds, obstetric sonograms or prenatal care; or (2) has the appearance of a licensed medical facility.” Id. § 20 — 815(g). The law provides a nonexclusive list of factors for consideration in determining whether a facility “has the appearance of licensed medical facility.”
II. New York City Council Proceedings
On October 13, 2010 New York City Council Member Jessica S. Lappin introduced the bill that would become Local Law 17, Council Int. No. 371-2010 (“Int. No. 371”), in order to regulate the practices of “crisis pregnancy centers” (“CPCs”), organizations that provide non-medical pregnancy services and are opposed to abortion. The Council’s Committee on Women’s Issues held a hearing on the bill on November 16, 2010. At the beginning of the hearing, Council Member
Julissa Ferreras, as chair of the Committee, testified that the proposed disclosures were required because “[i]f such disclosures are not made, women seeking reproductive health care may be confused and/or misle[ ]d by unclear advertising or may unnecessarily delay prenatal care or abortion.” Council Member Lappin stated that Int. No. 371 was “about truth in advertising and women’s health.” The Committee then considered testimony and written submissions both in favor of and against the bill.
The Committee considered a wide array of testimony in favor of Int. No. 371’s proposed disclosure requirements. Several people testified as to misleading practices by CPCs. Joan Malin, President аnd CEO of Planned Parenthood, testified that CPCs are often intentionally located in proximity to Planned Parenthood facilities and that they often use misleading names and signage. Mariana Banzil, the Executive Director at Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center, testified about a particular CPC that would park a bus in front of her clinic, from which the CPC’s counselors, often wearing scrubs, would offer ultrasounds, harass Center patients, tell patients that the Center was closed, or identify themselves as Center workers.
Dr. Susan Blank, an Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, testified that delay in prenatal care decreases “the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy, delivery, healthy newborn and mother. That’s why starting prenatal care in the first trimester
Other witnesses testified to patient experiences with both misleading CPC practices and delays in access to services. Balm Anderson, a social worker at Planned Parenthood, described several of her patients who mistook a CPC for a Planned Parenthood site; one patient was intercepted by a CPC member who posed as a Planned Parenthood staff member. Reverend Matthew Westfox, an ordained minister at the United Church of Christ, described the experience of several parishioners. One woman scheduled an appointment for an abortion at an organization that, as she learned upon arrival, was a CPC. Another
works at a grocery store and had to negotiate with both her boss and one of her co-workers to get the day off so she could go to the clinic and have the abortion that she and her husband had together decided was best.
When she realized she had gone to a place that wasn’t going to provide the service she needed, that she had wasted her day off, lost the income she could have had that day working, and that it would be without purpose, and that it might be three weeks before she could get another day off to try this again, she was outraged.
Dr. Anne R. Davis described how one of her patients, Susan, went to a CPC during her second trimester in order to get an abortion. Despite there being no medical need, the CPC told the patient that she would need repeated ultrasounds before the procedure could be done:
The staff told Susan that she needed an ultrasound before the procedure. Then another ultrasound. They attributed the multiple tests to uncertainty about how advanced her pregnancy was. Because of these delays, Susan’s pregnancy progressed into the third trimester. Susan was 32 weeks pregnant and still seeking an abortion when she consulted me at our hospital-based clinic. I had to tell her it was no longer possible: she was beyond the legal limit for abortion in New York____ [W]hen I examined Susan, I found her case straightforward — one simple abdominal ultrasound would have dated her pregnancy easily. The CPC had no medical reasons for keeping her waiting.
Jennifer Carnig, Director of Communications for the New York Civil Liberties Union, discussed her personal experience mistakenly entering a CPC: she filled out mеdical history paperwork, gave contact information, and received a pregnancy test and sonogram from a woman wearing medical scrubs. Kristan Toth, an abortion counselor, offered written testimony that “some [of her clients] are set up for procedures with appointments, only to have these appointments canceled and rescheduled time and time again, in an attempt to prolong the process past a point when a woman can have access to a real and safe abortion....” Reverend Dr. Earl Kooper-kamp offered written testimony that he had counseled women who had sought advice from CPCs that were unable to discuss with them the full range of pregnancy options. Kellin Conlin, President of NAR-AL Pro-Choice New York, testified and offered into the record a copy of a NARAL Report. The report, entitled “She Said Abortion Causes Breast Cancer: A Report on the Lies, Manipulations and Privacy Violations at Crisis Pregnancy Centers,” summarizes the findings of NARAL’s investigation into CPCs through website analysis, phone survey, in-person visits, and review of literature distributed by CPCs. The report describes how many
Finally, the Committee also heard testimony as to how many CPCs solicited confidential medical history information from clients.
Testimony was also offered against Int. No. 317. Chris Slattery, the founder of Expectant Mother Care (“EMC”), an antiabortion pregnancy clinic, testified to the work done by EMC in counseling and providing care to women. He conceded that, at times, women confused EMC with a Planned Parenthood site located in the same building, but noted that EMC did not mislead prospective clients about the fact that EMC was a different organization. Kathleen Dooley-Polcha, director of the Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureaus Maternity Services Program, testified that her organization informed prospective clients that they did not provide medical care or access to abortion, but believed that centers should not be required to post disclosure signs. Persons affiliated with other CPCs testified about the work they did counseling and helping women; several noted that their organizations clearly informed women that they do not provide abortion or medical care. Dr. Anne Mielnik, a physician, testified that CPCs play a vital role in helping women. She noted that she consulted with several centers to answer medical questions and provide urgent medical care. Others testified to First Amendment concerns. Finally, many people testified in favor of the services provided by many CPCs, offered concerns about the potential health risks of abortion, and were worried that the bill would promote a pro-abortion agenda.
On March 1, 2011, the Committee on Women’s Issues approved Int. No. 371, and on March 2, 2011, the full New York City Council passed the bill. On March 16, 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the bill into law.
Local Law 17 includes a statement of “[ljegislative findings and intent.” Local Law 17 § 1. The New York City Council found that some pregnancy services centers engaged in deceptive practices about their services; that these deceptive practices could impede or delay consumer access to reproductive health services and wrongly lead consumers to believe they had received care from a licensed medical provider; and that existing laws did not adequately protect consumers from these deceptive practices. Id. It further found that “[d]elay in accessing abortion or emergency contraception creates increased health risks and financial burdens, and may eliminate a women’s [sic] ability to obtain [reproductive health services], severely limiting her reproductive health options.” Id. The Council stated that it enacted the law to ensure that “consumers in New York City have access to comprehensive information about and timely access to all types of reproductive health services including, but not limited to, accurate pregnancy diagnosis, prenatal care, emergency contraception and abortion.” Id.
III. The Plaintiffs
Plaintiffs The Evergreen Association, Inc. (“Evergreen”), Life Center of New York (“Life Center”), Pregnancy Care Center of New York (“PCCNY”), Boro Pregnancy Counseling Center (“Boro”), and Good Counsel, Inc. (“Good Counsel”) are pregnancy services centers under Lo
Plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction to prevent Local Law 17 from taking effect. They argued that the law infringed on their free speech rights under the First Amendment. In a June 13, 2011 memorandum and order, the district court granted the motion. Evergreen Ass’n, Inc.,
DISCUSSION
Local Law 17 requires pregnancy services centers to disclose (1) whether or not they have a licensed medical provider on staff (the “Status Disclosure”); (2) that “the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed provider” (the “Government Message”); and (3) whether or not they provide or provide referrals for abortion, emergency contraception, or prenatal care (the “Services Disclosure”). Administrative Code § 20-816(а)-(e). The district court found that these disclosure requirements violated Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights, granted Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, and enjoined the law in its entirety.
“We review the grant of a preliminary injunction for abuse of discretion.” Alliance,
Our review of the district court’s decision requires us to consider the appropriate level of scrutiny to apply to the law, whether Plaintiffs have met their burden for a preliminary injunction, and whether we must enjoin the statute in its entirety due to vagueness. As discussed below, we find that Local Law 17 is not impermissi-bly vague, and thus sever the enjoined provisions from the rest of the law. We also find that Plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits with respect to one of the challenged disclosurеs.
I. Severance and Vagueness
Local Law 17 imposes confidentiality requirements that Plaintiffs have not challenged, along with several disclosure requirements and definitional provisions that Plaintiffs have challenged but that might be severable in the event they are unconstitutional. We must, therefore, decide whether to sever any offending provisions or enjoin the law in its entirety. We hold that any offending provisions of the statute that infringe on Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights should be severed from the rest of the statute.
[i]f any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion of this local law is, for any reason, declared unconstitutional or invalid, in whole or in part, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed sever-able, and such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this local law, which remaining portions shall continue in full force and effect.
Local Law 17 § 3. “Although the presence of a severability clause is not dispositive, the preference for severance is particularly strong when the law contains a severability clause.” Gary D. Peake,
This does not end our analysis because Plaintiffs argue, and the district court held, that Local Law 17’s definition of the term “pregnancy services centers” is impermissibly vague and that, for this reason, the entire statute should be enjoined. “A stаtute can be impermissibly vague for either of two independent reasons. First, if it fails to provide people of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to understand what conduct it prohibits. Second, if it authorizes or even encourages arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” Hill v. Colorado,
Local Law 17 has two definitions for “pregnancy services centers.” The first definition includes facilities that, like Plaintiffs Evergreen and Life Center, provide ultrasounds, sonograms, or prenatal care. Administrative Code § 20-815(g).
[ajmong the factors that shall be considered in determining whether a facility has the appearance of a licensed medical facility are the following: the pregnancy services center (a) offers pregnancy testing and/or pregnancy diagnosis; (b) has staff or volunteers who wear medical attire or uniforms; (c) contains one or more examination tables; (d) contains a*244 private or semi-private room or area containing medical supplies and/or medical instruments; (e) has staff or volunteers who collect health insurance information from clients; and (f) is located on the same premises as a licensed medical facility or provider or shares facility space with a licensed medical provider.
Id. (emphasis added). The law adds that it is “prima facie evidence that a facility has the appearance of a licensed medical facility if it has two or more of the factors.” Id. Plaintiffs argue that, because this list of factors is nonexclusive, Local Law 17 both fails to give fair notice to regulated facilities and authorizes discriminatory enforcement. The district court, accepting this second argument, found the statute to be vague and enjoined it in its entirety.
We disagree. It is significant that the determination of Local Law 17’s applicability is not solely by reference to the aforementioned factors. Instead, the determination is bound by the requirement of an “appearance” of a “licensed medical facility.” The listed factors, while nonexclusive, are “objective criteria” that cabin the definition of “appearance.” See United States v. Schneiderman,
The use of nonexclusive factors is admittedly imprecise, but the “prohibition against excessive vagueness does not invalidate every statute which a reviеwing court believes could have been drafted with greater precision.” Rose v. Locke,
Because the New York City Council “would have wished the statute to be enforced with the invalid part exscinded,” Gary D. Peake,
II. Appropriate Level of Scrutiny
The parties disagree about the appropriate level of scrutiny to apply to Local Law 17. Both agree that the law compels speech. Plaintiffs urge us to apply strict scrutiny. “Mandating speech that a speaker would not otherwise make necessarily alters the content of the speech.” Riley v. Nat’l Fed. of the Blind of N.C., Inc.,
There are exceptions to this general rule, and the City and its amici put forth a number of arguments as to why we should subject Local Law 17’s compelled disclosures to a lesser level of scrutiny. First, they point out that a lesser degree of scrutiny applies to compelled disclosures in the context of campaign finance regulation, Citizens United v. FEC,
The district court considered and rejected all of these arguments. We find, however, that we need not decide the issue, because our conclusions are the same under either intermediate scrutiny (which looks to whether a law is no more extensive than necessary to serve a substantial governmental interest) or strict scrutiny (which looks to whether a law is narrowly drawn to serve a compelling governmental interest).
III. Preliminary Injunction
A party seeking “to stay government action taken in the public interest pursuant to a statutory or regulatory scheme ... must establish (1) a likelihood of success on the merits, and (2) irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction.” Alliance,
Turning to the case at hand, we hold that the district court correctly determined that Plaintiffs have established irreparable harm. “Where a plaintiff alleges injury from a rule or regulation that directly limits speech, the irreparable nature of the harm may be presumed.” Bronx Household of Faith v. Bd. of Educ. of City of N.Y.,
With respect to the merits, we hold that the City’s interest in passing Local Law 17 is compelling. The City has stated that it enacted the statute to inform consumers about the services they will receive from pregnancy services centers in order to prevent delays in access to reproductive health services. See Local Law 17 § 1. The City considered a wide variety of testimony related to these interests, including testimony and reports from medical professionals, social workers, clergy, and reproductive health workers about misleading practices, patient experiences, and the dangers of delay in access to reproductive care. “[T]he State has a strong interest in protecting a woman’s freedom to seek lawful medical or counseling services in connection with her pregnancy.” Madsen v. Women’s Health Ctr., Inc.,
At issue in this case is whether the required disclosures are sufficiently tailored to the City’s interests. We evaluate the required disclosures individually, beginning with the Status Disclosure.
A. Status Disclosure
The Status Disclosure requires pregnancy services centers to disclose whether or not they “have a licensed medical provider on staff who provides or directly supervises the provision of all of the services at such pregnancy services center.” Administrative Code § 20-816(b). We disagree with the district court and hold that the Status Disclosure survives review under strict scrutiny.
Under strict scrutiny, the challenged regulation “must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling Government interest.” Playboy Entm’t,
The Status Disclosure is the least restrictive means to ensure that a woman is aware of whether or not a particular pregnancy services center has a licensed medical provider at the time that she first interacts with it. Such a law is required to ensure that women have prompt access to the type of care they seek. Plaintiffs have suggested, and the district court held, that alternative means exist: the City could sponsor advertisements or post signs outside of pregnancy services centers; it could prosecute fraud, false advertising, and the unauthorized practice of medicine under current law; and it could impose licensing requirements on ultrasound professionals.
Similarly, Local Law 17 is not overly broad. “In order to narrowly tailоr a law to address a problem, the government must curtail speech only to the degree necessary to meet the particular problem at hand, and the government must avoid infringing on speech that does not pose the danger that has prompted regulation.” Green Party of Conn. v. Garfield,
We conclude that the requirement that pregnancy services centers disclose wheth
Finally, we note that the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit recently reached a similar conclusion in Centro Tepeyac v. Montgomery County,
the record is at least colorable at this stage to suggest that the disclaimer is narrowly tailored to meet the interest: only requiring those [pregnancy clinics] to post a notice that a licensed medical professional is not on staff. It does not require any other specific message and in neutral language states the truth.
Id. at 471. After rehearing the appeal en banc, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court.
[I]n exercising its broad police power to regulate for the health and safety of its*249 citizens, the state must also enjoy some leeway to require the disclosure of the modicum of accurate information that individuals need in order to make especially important medicаl ... deci-sions____[The Status Disclosure] relies on the common-sense notion that pregnant women should at least be aware of the qualifications of those who wish to counsel them regarding what is, among other things, a medical condition.
Id. at 193. We similarly conclude that the neutral message required by the Status Disclosure survives strict scrutiny.
B. Services Disclosure
The Services Disclosure requires pregnancy services centers to disclose whether or not they provide or provide referrals for abortion, emergency contraception, or prenatal care. Administrative Code § 20 — 816(c)—(e). We hold that the Services Disclosure is not sufficiently tailored to the City’s interests under either strict scrutiny or intermediate scrutiny.
Evaluating under strict scrutiny, we apply the same tailoring analysis to the Services Disclosure as we did with respect to the Status Disclosure. As we explained above, requirements that the City sponsor advertisements or post signs, prosecute fraud and false advertising, or impose ultrasound licensing requirements are insufficient to ensure that women are readily aware of whether or not a particular pregnancy services center provides the services sought. However, on this record, the Status Disclosure, by itself, might narrowly satisfy the City’s interest, as it alerts consumers to a small bit of accurate information about the type of services each center provides — medical or non-medical — even though it does not discuss specific services. Cf. Centro Tepeyac,
Regardless of whether less restrictive means exist, the Services Disclosure overly burdens Plaintiffs’ speech. When evaluating compelled speech, we consider the context in which the speech is made. Riley,
Riley is again instructive. In that case, the Supreme Court struck down a state law that required solicitors to disclose to potential donors the percentage of charitable contributions that were turned over to charity. Id. In striking down the mandatory disclosure, the Court noted that “if the potential donor is unhappy with the disclosed percentage, the fundraiser will not likely be given a chance to explain the figure; the disclosure will be the last words spoken as the donor closes the door or hangs up the phone.” Id. at 800,
Finally, we consider whether a different answer would obtain under intermediate scrutiny, which looks to whether the regulation at issue is not more extensive than necessary to serve a substantial governmental interest. While it is a closer question, we conclude that it would not, considering both the political nature of the speech and the fact that the Status Disclosure provides a more limited alternative regulation.
C. The Government Message
Finally, the Government Message requires pregnancy services centers to disclose that “the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed provider.” Administrative Code § 20-816(a). We also hold that it is insufficiently tailored.
First, less restrictive alternatives exist. As the district court in Centro Tepeyac noted, the government interest in ensuring that women do not forego medical treatment “might be satisfied once women were aware that [pregnancy services centers] do not staff a medical professional.”
We are also concerned that this disclosure requires pregnancy services centers to advertise on behalf of the City. It may be the case that most, if not all, pregnancy services centers would agree that pregnant women should see a doctor. That decision, however, as this litigation demonstrates, is a public issue subject to dispute. The Government Message, “mandating that Plaintiffs affirmatively espouse the government’s position on a contested public issue,” deprives Plaintiffs of their right to communicate freely on matters of public concern. Alliance,
Based on the above, we hold that the Government Message is insufficiently tailored to withstand scrutiny.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the memorandum and order of the district court is AFFIRMED in part and VACATED in part. We REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Notes
. We pause to note that Fourth Circuit has recently resolved appeals on a similar issue. See Centro Tepeyac v. Montgomery Cnty., 722 F.3d 184 (4th Cir.2013) (after rehearing en banc, affirming the district court decision preliminarily enjoining оnly one of the two challenged disclosures); Greater Balt. Ctr. for Pregnancy Concerns, Inc. v. Mayor & City Council of Balt., 721 F.3d 264 (4th Cir.2013) (after rehearing en Banc, vacating the district court's grant of plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on their First Amendment challenge).
. Citations to the Administrative Code are to Local Law 17's additions to Chapter 5 of Title 20 of the Code, listed in Local Law 17 § 2.
. Specifically, the statute provides that pregnancy services centers must provide the disclosures
(1) in writing, in English and Spanish in a size and style as determined in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner on (i) at least one sign conspicuously posted in the entrance of the pregnancy services center; (ii) at least one additional sign posted in any area where clients wait to receive services; and (iii) in any advertisement promoting the services of such pregnancy services center in clear and prominent letter type and in a size and style to be determined in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner; and
(2) orally, whether by in person or telephone communication, upon a client or prospective client request for any of the following services:
(i) abortion; (ii) emergency contraception; or (iii) prenatal care.
Administrative Code § 20 — 816(f).
. Local Law 17 states that
[a]mong the factors that shall be considered in determining whether a facility has the appearance of a licensed medical facility are the following: the pregnancy services center (a) offers pregnancy testing and/or pregnancy diagnosis; (b) has staff or volunteers who wear medical attire or uniforms; (c) contains one or more examination tables; (d) contains a private or semi-private room or area containing medical supplies and/or medical instruments; (e) has staff or volunteers who collect health insurance information from clients; and (f) is located on the same premises as a licensed medical facility or provider or shares facility space with a licensed medical provider.
Administrative Code § 20-815(g).
. The parties do not seriously argue that this first definition is vague as applied to entities like Evergreen and Life Center, which indisputably provide at least some of the services specified in the statute. For this reason, even if the dissent were right that the second definition is impermissibly vague as applied to the PCCNY Plaintiffs, see Dissent at [252 n. 1], this would not necessarily require striking the entire statute as opposed to merely that second definition.
. Assuming arguendo that Local Law 17's required disclosures regulate commercial speech, we do not believe that the law regulates “purely factual and uncontroversial information,” such that rational basis review would apply. Zauderer,
. As the district court noted, New York state does not impose licensing requirements on ultrasound technicians. Evergreen,
. We note that the plaintiffs in Riley did not challenge the status disclosure requirement, making the Supreme Court's discussion of the requirement dicta.
Concurrence in Part
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
Local Law 17 is a bureaucrat’s dream. It contains a deliberately ambiguous set of standards guiding its application, thereby providing a blank check to New York City officials to harass or threaten legitimate activity. Although I concur with the majority that the Government Message and the Services Disclosure fail under either strict or intermediate scrutiny, I agree with the district court that the entire statute is irredeemably vague with respect to the definition of a pregnancy services center (PSC). I therefore dissent from the Court’s conclusion that the Status Disclosure survives our review.
Plaintiffs’ briefs, the City’s arguments, and the record indicate that plaintiffs have mounted an as-applied, rather than a facial, challenge, and the district court treated it as such. See Evergreen Ass’n, Inc. v. City of New York,
Where, as here, a statute “is capable of reaching expression sheltered by the First Amendment, the [vagueness] doctrine demands a greater degree of specificity than in other contexts.” Farrell v. Burke,
No one disputes that Local Law 17 burdens First Amendment expression, and in my view the law utterly fails to provide adequate guidance for its enforcement. The law gives the Commissioner unbridled discretion to determine that a facility has the “appearance of a licensed medical fácil
This framework authorizes and encourages arbitrary enforcement. The law expressly allows the City to decide, without additional direction, what to do with centers that meet only one listed factor. And even worse, the law explicitly authorizes the City to rely on other, unlisted factors, not known to anyone, which may themselves be vague or discriminate on the basis of viewpoint. Although counsel for the City sought during oral argument to assure us that ad hoc investigative decisions would not occur, such a “trust me” approach to enforcement in serious regulatory matters is small comfort for those being investigated.
The City does not dispute that the Commissioner has broad discretion to determine whether a facility qualifies as a PSC — indeed, they admit that this is by design. According to the City, Local Law 17 “grants the Commissioner appropriate discretion to identify [a PSC] should there exist circumstances consistent with, but not strictly limited to, the guidelines enumerated.” Appellants’ Br. at 84 (emphasis added). As counsel for the City explained during oral argument before the district court, the definition of a PSC “is meant to cover anything that comes along in the future. I don’t know in particular what falls within the definition now.” Joint App’x 1007. In other words, because the City cannot anticipate all the facilities that it may want the law to cover, the City needs the maximum of flexibility to be able to decide whether a facility is a PSC. But “[i]f the [City] cannot anticipate what will be considered [a PSC under the statute], then it can hardly expect [anyone else] to do so.” See Fox Television Stations, Inc. v. FCC,
The majority’s reliance on United States v. Schneiderman,
Local Law 17 also regulates expression, which requires a particularly high degree of specificity. Under the law as written, a facility — whether or not it is anti-abortion — may be subject to the disclosure requirements simply because it is located in a building that houses a medical clinic, no matter how far it is from that clinic. The operators of such a center have no way of knowing whether the Commissioner will penalize them for failing to comply with the law’s requirements even if the center exhibits no other characteristics similar to a medical facility; the context of the law raises the troubling possibility of arbitrarily harsh enforcement against such centers that choose not to tell women about the option of abortion.
It mаy well be that some PSCs lull pregnant women into making uninformed decisions about their health. The City has an interest in preventing impostors from posing as healthcare workers and in making sure that misinformation is not directed at a vulnerable class of poor or uninformed women. However, the City does not have a right to sweep all those who, for faith-based reasons, think that abortion is not the right choice in with those who would defraud or intentionally mislead women making this important and personal decision. Local Law 17 is unconstitutional to the extent that plaintiffs challenge it in this Court.
. None of the PCCNY Plaintiffs engage in activities that trigger the "ultrasound/prenatal care” provision of Local Law 17. See Joint App'x 1051. Thus, they can only be subject to the law if they meet the "appearance of a medical facility” test.
. The Supreme Court's vacatur of this decision had no impact on the propositions cited above. The Court determined that the FCC's standards for determining obscene content were vague as applied to the broadcasts in question. It therefore did not address this Court's determination that the statute was unconstitutionally vague on its face. See Fox Television Stations,
