What makes it a "liberal" thing? The city management is saying it is illegal - did the law change? Or who decided to enforce it differently?

I saw the firefighter walking the line with the Fill The Boot boot the other day, though they didn't get to me, as they did pay attention to the traffic lights. It wouldn't be my preferred way of fund-raising, I would think they could raise just as much with a table and a couple firefighters in the mall parking lot. It was right in the middle of what I think of as "shopping central" - giant mall to the left and right of the intersection, and for a mile going forward!