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Fullerton residents and student journalists press council to reverse policy limiting publications in city spaces
Summary
Fullerton residents, student journalists and professors urged the City Council to reconsider a recently adopted resolution that removed nongovernmental newspapers from prominent public display, arguing it limits access to local news and risks First Amendment challenges; councilmembers agreed to bring rescission back for consideration.
City Council members heard a string of public objections on April 15 to a recently implemented resolution that moved nongovernmental newspapers and publications out of public-facing locations and into less-accessible areas of the library.
Emily Wilson, editor in chief of the Daily Titan at Cal State Fullerton, told the council that the policy was distributed to student staff only after papers had been delivered and called the change “an effort to silence criticism,” asking the council to reconsider. Frank Russell, a Cal State Fullerton journalism professor, urged the council to return the matter to the dais so student journalists can maintain a presence in the community for training and reporting.
The comments followed multiple residents’ accounts that the Daily Titan and the Fullerton Observer were removed from city hall and placed in a library area with restricted access. Felipe Garcia, a 38-year city resident, characterized the move as censorship that reduces access for people who do not rely on online news. Andre Tabadilla and others said the change disproportionately affects readers without reliable internet access.
Council member Zara said staff’s presentation about similar policies in other cities omitted critical context, pointing to cases where attempts to restrict materials led to litigation or where language was confined to library materials rather than a blanket citywide rule. The mayor noted the administration had already relocated some papers to the library and asked that the council revisit the resolution.
Councilmembers agreed to agendize a rescission request and to bring the existing resolution text and implementation details to the council’s first May meeting so members can review the policy language, how it is being applied in city facilities, and whether the time, place and manner language was implemented consistently. City staff said they would include the adopted resolution in the agenda materials and provide any related staff guidance about racks and placement.
Next steps: Councilmembers moved to bring rescission of the resolution back to the council’s May meeting for de novo consideration, giving the public and the council a chance to review the actual adopted text and the city’s implementation plan.
