Attorney General James Secures Settlement with Syracuse Landlords Over Lead Hazards, Unsafe Housing Conditions

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday a settlement with Syracuse landlords Brian A. Murphy and Harry Murphy after a state investigation found widespread lead hazards and unsafe housing conditions across dozens of rental properties, many of them in low-income neighborhoods.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) concluded that the father-and-son landlords repeatedly failed to address deteriorating lead-based paint and did not consistently provide required disclosures to tenants. Investigators found that hazardous conditions persisted in nearly two dozen properties over several years, resulting in elevated blood lead levels in at least seven children.

Under the settlement, the Murphys will establish a tenant relief fund, conduct lead hazard inspections and remediation, and submit to ongoing independent oversight to ensure compliance with housing and environmental laws.

“Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, yet too many New Yorkers are still exposed to toxic lead in their own homes because landlords fail to meet their legal obligations,” James said in a statement. “The unacceptable conditions my office uncovered in this investigation put children at risk of serious, lifelong harm.”

The OAG investigation, launched in September 2023, found the Murphys owned and managed dozens of pre-1978 rental properties containing lead-based paint. Between 2017 and 2025, at least 23 properties were cited for deteriorating paint and other violations, resulting in hundreds of documented code breaches. During that period, at least seven children living in the properties were found to have elevated blood lead levels.

Lead exposure remains a persistent public health issue in Syracuse, where much of the housing stock predates New York’s 1970 ban on lead-based paint. According to state data cited by the OAG, 545 children in Onondaga County had elevated blood lead levels in 2024, with roughly 90% living in Syracuse. Health disparities are significant: about 8.8% of Black children tested in the county showed elevated levels, compared to less than 2% of white children.

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause permanent neurological and developmental damage, particularly in children under six, who are most vulnerable to ingesting lead dust or paint chips from deteriorating surfaces.

As part of the settlement, the Murphys will pay $35,000 into a tenant relief fund for families affected by lead poisoning and commit at least $80,000 toward inspections, risk assessments, and remediation work. They must also hire certified professionals to conduct comprehensive hazard assessments, complete required repairs on a strict timeline, and retain an independent monitor to oversee compliance. Annual inspections and full compliance with federal, state, and local housing laws are also mandated. Failure to comply could result in an additional penalty of up to $80,000.

Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens praised the agreement, calling it a critical step toward accountability. “Every family deserves a safe home, and no child should suffer lifelong harm because a landlord fails to meet their basic legal responsibilities,” she said.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon also welcomed the settlement, saying it strengthens ongoing efforts to reduce lead exposure in the region. Community advocates and medical professionals echoed those concerns, calling lead poisoning a preventable but persistent threat in older rental housing.

“This settlement is more than a legal action; it is a recognition of the harm our community has carried,” said Oceanna Fair, chair of Families for Lead Freedom Now.

Federal Court Blocks Nexstar–Tegna Merger After Antitrust Challenge by New York and Coalition of States

NEW YORK — A federal judge has temporarily halted the planned merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc., following a lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of seven other state attorneys general who argue the deal would significantly reduce competition in local television markets nationwide.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on Monday granted a preliminary injunction preventing the companies from combining assets while the case proceeds. The ruling follows an earlier temporary restraining order issued in related litigation brought by DirecTV, which has since been consolidated with the states’ antitrust case.

James and the coalition filed suit on March 19, seeking to block the merger on the grounds that it would violate federal antitrust law by creating what they describe as an overly concentrated broadcast television powerhouse. If completed, the combined company would control more than 250 local television stations reaching roughly 80% of the U.S. population, according to the complaint.

“Consolidating hundreds of local TV stations under one corporate owner would mean higher prices and lower quality programming for consumers,” James said. “Nexstar’s merger with Tegna illegally eliminates competition, and today we won a critical victory in our effort to enforce the law.”

Nexstar Media Group, currently the largest local television broadcaster in the United States, operates more than 200 stations across 116 media markets, reaching an estimated 220 million people. Tegna Inc. owns 64 stations in 51 markets, making it one of the country’s largest station groups.

The lawsuit argues that the merger would eliminate competition in at least 31 markets where the two companies currently operate competing stations, including Buffalo, New York. Prosecutors warn the consolidation would give the combined company significant leverage over retransmission fees charged to cable and satellite providers—costs that would likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher subscription bills.

The complaint also alleges the merged entity could withhold broadcast signals from providers that refuse higher fees, potentially cutting off access to major network programming, including news, sports, and primetime shows from the “Big Four” networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.

In addition to pricing concerns, the coalition argues the deal would harm local journalism by reducing newsroom staffing and eliminating independent editorial voices. Regulators say Nexstar has a history of consolidating news production across stations, a practice they contend would likely expand under the merger, leading to more uniform content and fewer local perspectives.

The injunction bars Nexstar and Tegna from integrating operations or transferring assets while the litigation moves forward. The court’s decision allows the states’ antitrust challenge to proceed on its merits.

Joining New York in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia.

“My office and attorneys general nationwide have secured a preliminary injunction in our lawsuit opposing the illegal and U.S. DOJ-approved merger of Nexstar/Tegna — an order that demands the broadcasting titans stop merging while our case proceeds. This is a critical win in our case,” said California Attorney General Bonta. “This merger is illegal, plain and simple. The federal government may have thrown in the towel, but we’ll keep fighting for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our local news.”

“I commend the court for its decision to halt this illegal merger between Nexstar and TEGNA as we litigate this case to prevent the control over an unprecedented share of broadcast television content, including local news and sports,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “We are fighting to keep lower prices for Illinois consumers without jeopardizing competition in local news or cutting jobs in the newsroom. Now more than ever, consumers should have access to the diverse ideas represented in independent newsrooms.”

Both Nexstar & Tegna could not be reached for comment.