He continues to speak negatively about other African-Americans including Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and BMHA Executive Director Dawn Sanders-Garrett.
Advertisement
We listened to the recording, then invited Mascia to the newsroom to hear it. Mascia sat down in front of a computer, along with his campaign manager, and a campaign supporter, and listened.
“The statement was totally out of character”, Mascia wrote in an email apology. Mascia said in a quote to The Buffalo News he is sorry for his remarks, saying he would personally apologize to each person mentioned on the tape.
Pridgen says he is mad; he says he’s hurt and disappointed that he was called the “N” word by someone who wants a seat next to him on the Buffalo common council.
The recording was apparently made several months ago with a cell phone.
Despite outrage over Mascia’s disparaging comments, the 70-year-old has expressed no plan to end his campaign against Franczyk or step down from his elected role at the city’s housing agency.
“I have been made aware of the existence of a tape that allegedly contains statements that are unacceptable and inflammatory by any standard”.
Brown said in a statement, “Clearly if Mr. Mascia can’t deny making these statements, he should immediately resign his elected position as a Commisioner of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority”. Turns out Fillmore councilman Dave Franczyk, the endorsed Dem and the man Mascia hopes to unseat, accepted GOP endorsement this year.
“It sounds like language in the 1860s old South”, Franczyk observed. “It’s pretty scary stuff”.
“Well, they were negative”, said Mascia.
Mascia, he said, is “not fit for elective office”. “I have no tolerance for this kind of issue”, Lorigo said. I live in a mixed community. He also entered in a three-way Democratic Party primary for the post.
Be careful who you make racist, vulgar remarks to.
“It was brought to my attention today that I was recorded without my knowledge, and on the recording said something that I am deeply embarrassed by and ashamed of”.
Pridgen said Mascia has no business remaining a housing commissioner either, a sentiment the mayor echos. “And know me well”, he said. “I should not have said those things”. “I have a bi-racial nephew”, Mascia went on to explain.
“I’ve known Joe since I was a kid”, he said, “but I don’t consider him a friend anymore”.
“My faith taught me better”, Christopher said of his Catholic upbringing and his motivation in exposing Mascia.
The Buffalo News released the report and the phone recording.
“I’m deeply disappointed in Joe”. I will continue to fight for neighborhoods that have been neglected and people who have been ignored.
Mascia said he believes there’s a reason he’s been elected to serve a vastly minority municipal housing population five times.
“When the same five commissioners were appointed again, it was frustrating, and I was raging about it. Again – it was something that never should have been said, it was said out of weakness, it was a weak moment”, he said.
“What did I say?” asked Mascia.
Mascia: Well they were appointed wrong.
He said he made the remarks in the heat of anger because he was upset by Brown’s involvement with the housing authority.
“Do you think that people are okay with you saying what you said?” asked Dudzik. “People that know me, and know that that’s not who I am, absolutely”, said Mascia.
Mascia: Oh, another n****r.
“People know me. They know that that’s not me. I’ve never done anything to him”, she said.
Regardless of my frustration at the time, there is no excuse for the language that I used. “The Common Council has worked together to increase diversity and inclusion in our city”. Statements like those allegedly spoken by Mr. Mascia illustrate why our work is not done when it comes to race relations. If it was it would have surfaced a long time ago.
“I had just seen Joe at five different events, in which he shook my hand”, Pridgen said.
Advertisement
I am told both the Buffalo Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation heard these vile recordings. The Bible says to forgive.
