The Syracuse City School District is under scrutiny over a cease and desist letter. A dispute is signaling a “possible” legal standoff between the district and members of the local press.
CNY Central says its being threatened with action if its journalists don’t stop contacting elected leaders of the school board directly. At a board meeting yesterday, veteran anchor Matt Mulcahy cited a letter. He says it’s from an attorney representing the district who accuses news staff of harassing school district employees and officials. Mulcahy describes its contents as troubling for first amendment advocates.
“I know all of you who are commissioners as many of you were activists before your commissioners… many of you would seek us out to do interviews. You would go to find the camera. Yet, for some reason now you’re being told you can’t speak to the media to share your own thoughts about important topics.”
CNY Central says the letter was sent a month after an angry parent allegedly assaulted a Lincoln Middle School Teacher. The incident, heavily covered by CNY central, sparked demands for better school security measures. WAER has reached out for comment from a school district spokesperson.