Cohen to Represent Mascia at Hearing

Joe Mascia, the elected tenant commissioner at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority who was suspended by Mayor Byron Brown for racist remarks that were taped without his knowledge, will have a chance to make his case for reinstatement in front of a hearing officer Friday (Dec.18) at 9:30 a.m. in Buffalo City Court, Part 30.

The 70-year-old activist insists he is not a racist, and said if he was, “it would have shown up a long time ago.”  He plans to challenge the circumstances of the recording made by Paul Christopher during a four-hour car ride to Albany earlier this year.

Mascia has said that politics may have played a role in the tape being made as he was a candidate for the Fillmore District council seat when Christopher his tape, in effect torpedoing his candidacy.

Mascia will be represented by prominent Buffalo civil rights attorney Steven Cohen.