The tyranny of the Glacken Administration again reared its ugly head on February 11, 2002.

The Mayor and Pat Murphy, the Village’s publicity director, have continually tried to isolate and intimidate your reporter and FreeportNYNews. Despite requests, the Glacken Administration has refused to fax or e-mail the Village’s press releases to FNYN. Murphy has gone as far as threatening this reporter with police action when he came to her office in Village Hall to pick up the Village’s press releases.

On February 11th, unaware of the isolationist tactics of the Glackenites against FNYN, Jim Golding, the reporter from the official newspaper of the Village, the Leader, sat directly behind your reporter at a Village Board meeting, engaging in some small talk. Murphy, not hiding her annoyance, got up from her seat on the other side of the room, came over to where Golding was sitting and told him that he might want to consider sitting somewhere else.

Stunned, Golding, long time village beat reporter and a professional journalist, looked like he had just seen a ghost, as he picked up his coat, put his pad under his arm and went to sit in the back of Conference room, saying to no one in particular, "I can’t believe this."

After Golding moved, your reporter turned to Murphy and asked, "Why did he move?"

Murphy smiled and said, "I have no idea."

FNYN checked with Golding today and asked him about his seating arrangements. Golding said, "The issue is resolved and they said I can now sit where ever I like."