Steve Glassman - REDBROWARD

Just days before Lionel Messi plays his first soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel censored an editorial written by City Commissioner Steve Glassman questioning the motivation of the newspaper’s criticism of Inter Miami CF and team officials. On Wednesday, the paper published Glassman’s editorial entitled, “Inter Miami is our partner. The city should act that way.” Glassman’s editorial attempted to correct a littany of previous editorials written by editor Steve Bousquet, a Tallahassee resident.

Glassman was not shy. “This newspaper is obsessed with portraying the relationship between the city and Miami Beckham United as “fractured” and relishes in fanning the flames,” Glassman wrote. “Anything remotely heated seems to really ruffle the paper’s panties. Toughen up, Sun Sentinel.”

The Sun-Sentinel made minor grammatical and stylistic changes to Glassman’s piece. But a copy of his original editorial obtained by REDBROWARD shows the Sun-Sentinel deleted an entire paragraph questioning the motivation of its negative coverage.

In this delete section, Glassman wrote:

“Lastly, shame on the Sun Sentinel for once again going after a female lobbyist for simply doing her job and implying that I am ‘running interference’ for her. That I was asked on the phone if she wrote my questions was beyond insulting. I do my work, thank you. And the hypocrisy here is that we all know how another far more controversial female lobbyist continues to fly under the radar. Was her ‘influence’ the reason Ms. Bryan’s accurate article was not the last word on this topic?”

Glassman appears to reference repeated attacks by the opinion page editor on Stephanie Toothaker, a local attorney working for Inter Miami CF/Beckham United. The Sun-Sentinel repeatedly questions Toothaker’s role with Inter Miami and other high-profile projects like One Stop.

Glassman’s line regarding a “far more controversial female lobbyist” flying under the radar appears to be a reference to lobbyist Judy Stern.

Long time REDBROWARD readers are familiar with the lobbying prowess of Stern. Since the November 2022 election of Commissioners Pamela Beasley-Pittman, Warren Sturman and John Herbst, Stern and her daughter Barbra Stern have become fixtures at Fort Lauderdale Commission meetings.

Barbra Stern seated next to an off-camera Judy Stern

Last November, REDBROWARD revealed how Stern’s longtime friend Steve Bousquet wrote numerous supportive articles about John Herbst, a close ally of the Sterns. Bousquet, a Tallahassee resident, is the opinion page editor of the Sun-Sentinel.

When The Sun-Sentinel endorsed Herbst they touted his dislike of lobbyists. But one lobbyist never mentioned in their endorsement was Judy Stern.

The controversial Stern has been a fixture in Fort Lauderdale for decades. Stern is listed a registered lobbyist in the City of Fort Lauderdale for four companies: Suntex Marinas, The Corradino Group, Skanska USA and Garth Business Solutions.

In addition to her lobbyist role, Stern is campaign manager/consultant.

In fact, despite his alleged dislike of lobbyists, John Herbst used Judy Stern to run his November campaign. Herbst told REDBROWARD that he has known Stern for many years.

But Judy is not the only Stern in Herbst‘s corner. In April 2022, the lawyer for John Herbst wrote a letter to Fort Lauderdale City Attorney Alain Boileau seeking to settle matters surrounding his dismissal as city auditor.

John Herbst’s lawyer is Barbra Stern.

Herbst, a harsh critic of Inter Miami/Beckham United, regularly gets his opinion published in Sun-Sentinel editorials and news reports.

Why is The Sun-Sentinel so comfortable attacking one female lawyer while censoring any (veiled) mention of lobbyist Judy Stern?

REDBROWARD asked Steve Bousquet. As of publication he has not repsonded.

Every time Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman opines on public policy he offers more proof of his backbencher status. On Monday, Glassman, the former owner of a Buffalo hair salon, offered his plan to “Relaunch Lauderdale.” There was little fanfare surrounding the announcement because most people tend to ignore Steve Glassman.

As usual, Glassman turned to social media to garner some attention for his “announcement.”

In his announcement, Glassman concedes this is not really his plan. He admits fellow backbencher Mayor Dean Trantalis and his reopen “Working Group” came up with this silly plan. No mention whether Trantalis/Glassman adviser Blake MacDiarmid (R-Lobbyist) hatched this turkey.

First, Glassman makes the laughable claim that Fort Lauderdale led the way when COVID-19 forced the shutdown of Broward County. He laments the loss of Spring Break and all its revenue. Movers and shakers in Fort Lauderdale have not missed Spring Breakers since they chased them out of town in 1980s.

As a condo dweller, it’s no surprise Glassman’s manifesto calls on multi-unit dwellings to control the opening of their private property. “Let them decide which amenities to open responsibly and safely and which should remain closed,” Glassman writes.

Yet when dealing with private businesses like restaurants, Glassman and Trantalis think they know better. For some reason, these guys appear to believe the only restaurants in Fort Lauderdale are located on the beach or Las Olas Boulevard.Glassman wants to “Spread Out On Sunrise Lane” by allowing patio seating in front of The Parrot Lounge and Yo Mama Ice Cream. Glassman says, “Customers will be able to ease their way back into our local economy on the beach in an open air marketplace and unique eating experience.”

On Las Olas, Trantalis and Glassman would eliminate on street parking. The busy boulevard would become one lane each way with the new seating and pedestrian walkways taking up a lane of traffic.

Glassman and Trantalis would create “pop up shopping experiences” in empty parking lots and alleyways to “jump start our economy.” The plan would move shopping to “tents and stations” with “car hops“ delivering clothes and food to your cars!

As for the beach itself, Glassman and Trantalis call for the beach to be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in May with no “congregating” allowed. Towels, blankets and chairs would be outlawed. Parking along A1A would remain closed.

Clearly, Glassman and Trantalis never heard of Adam Smith and his “invisible hand.” Local businesses don’t need advice from backbencher politicians and their cronies. Local residents don’t need Steve Glassman and Dean Trantalis micromanaging their shopping trips to Las Olas and outings on the beach.

Just lift your orders, stop harassing local businesses and get out of our way.