In January 2018, The Sun-Sentinel published a questionnaire it submitted to then-Fort Lauderdale Commission candidate Steven M. Glassman. Like most newspaper candidate questionnaires, Glassman’s answers were intended to give a brief biographical sketch of the candidate. The questionaire asked questions like place of birth, education, marital status and goals if elected. But a question as simple as whether you have ever been sued may have tripped up Commissioner Glassman.

According to the January 10, 2018 article, the Sun-Sentinel asked: “Have you ever been the plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, bankruptcy or foreclosure?”

Glassman responded, “no.”

The question was straightforward. No qualifiers as to location or time span. The newspaper simply asked Glassman if he was ever part of a lawsuit.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Before moving to south Florida, Commissioner Steven M. Glassman lived in Buffalo, New York. According to the questionaire, the retired Glassman and his spouse Randolph have been together for forty years. According to a 2013 email, Glassman began his teaching career in Buffalo around 1977. He was an instructor at the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. Erie County records show Steven M. Glassman and Randolph Morris purchased a home on Pearl Street in June 1986.

While Glassman says he moved in 1994, Erie County records show he was party to at least two court actions. Records from March 1997 show Steven M. Glassman and Randolph Morris were the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against Jonathan Simon.

In May, 2002, The New York State Department of Labor Employment brought a case against Steven M. Glassman and Randolph Morris doing business as (dba) “Randy Salon.”

ADVOCATES PUT CITY 10 YEARS BEHIND IN AIDS ACCEPTANCE

On February 15, 1992, the Buffalo News wrote how the local gay community was handling the AIDS/ HIV crisis. “ADVOCATES PUT CITY 10 YEARS BEHIND IN AIDS ACCEPTANCE,” spoke to many prominent Buffalo residents about discrimination against those with HIV.

According to activists, even though Magic Johnson’s case had raised awareness about the disease, many in Buffalo still felt mistreated due to ignorance about HIV/AIDS. Reporter Gene Warner wrote, “And the state Division of Human Rights plans to reopen a case after initially finding probable cause that an Elmwood Avenue hair salon may have discriminated against a fired cosmetologist because the employer believed he had tested positive for HIV.”

In the report, hair stylist Thomas Bradford claimed he was fired because his employer believed him to be HIV positive.

The state Division of Human Rights, after a preliminary investigation, found probable cause in November to believe that there was discrimination and recommended the case go to a public hearing. According to two sources, that same office later changed its mind and decided to reopen the original investigation.

Thomas Bradford was a hair stylist at Randy Salon.

Acknowledging the competing claims in the Bradford case, the Buffalo News sought comment from the owners of Randy Salon.

Steven M. Glassman, a partner in the salon, has denied the accusation vehemently, claiming Bradford was an independent contractor, not an employee, did not possess a current license to practice cosmetology and all his claims have distorted the truth.

Did Glassman forget the cases in New York?

Is this a case of mistaken identity?

Did the Sun-Sentinel print the wrong answer?

Was the State Department of Labor Employment case related to the Bradford investigation?

Was he trying to hide information from Fort Lauderdale voters?

Commissioner Steven M. Glassman did not respond to repeated requests from REDBROWARD.