Council questions Adams Corp attorney candidate Mastro over Giuliani ties, lawsuits against city

Randy Mastro, the nominee for corporate counsel, made an impassioned case for himself at a hearing Tuesday, recounting his work fighting the Mafia and defending thousands of poor clients in pro bono cases.

But a skeptical City Council seemed unmoved, questioning his record as a top adviser to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in addition to his paid work for landlords and anti-congestion pricing groups, and whether he will represent all of New York City’s interests, not just those of Mayor Eric Adams.

“For those who say I’m just going to be the mayor’s lawyer, they clearly don’t know me. I’m my own man. I’ve taken on organized crime, mayors, governors, even presidents when they were wrong — and won,” Mastro said during his opening statement.

“You don’t have to guess if I’m getting up. I already did.”

Mastro was a former chief of staff and deputy mayor under Giuliani. He has worked as a private-sector attorney since the late 1990s, most recently at King and Spalding.

But becoming the city’s top lawyer would be a “dream” he’s been working toward his entire career, he said.

Under Giuliani, he helped wrest control of the Fulton Fish Market and the private cart industry from the Mafia, requiring 24-hour police protection for two and a half years, he said in his testimony.

“I risked my life for this city,” he said.

Councilmembers Alexa Aviles, Yusef Salaam and Chi Osse listen to Randy Mastro’s answers to questions. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY

But the Giuliani administration has also been known to stoke racial tensions in the city, defend police brutality and was the target of a federal discrimination lawsuit, all of which have been fodder for questioning from council members.

Most members of the 51-member council have opposed Mastro’s nomination since news of his possible appointment broke months ago. Since then, he has worked behind the scenes to hold meetings with anyone who would.

In April, the Council’s Black, Asian, and Latino Caucus, which represents 34 members, immediately announced their opposition, citing his lawsuits against the city and his representation of “questionable clients.”

Council members who questioned Mastro on Tuesday expressed skepticism that the self-described “bear in the courtroom” would be the best candidate to replace former corporate lawyer Sylvia Hinds-Radix, who stepped down in May.

“How can this council trust that you will faithfully represent the interests of all city offices, not just the mayor?” asked Chairwoman Adrienne Adams (D-Queens).

Councilman Keith Powers (D-Manhattan), chairman of the Rules, Privileges and Elections Committee, asked Mastro about his role in the current lawsuits against the City of New York. That includes a lawsuit filed by condo and co-op owners challenging Local Law 97, which requires buildings to have energy-efficient upgrades, and representing the state of New Jersey in its fight against congestion tolls for vehicles entering Manhattan.

Mastro said he would recuse himself from any lawsuit he is currently involved in against the city if he is confirmed in the position.

“I have been described as fearless, tenacious, courageous and I will stand up for what is right for the entire city, including the city council,” he said.

He was also asked about his pro bono work for the Adams administration, focusing on legal services for asylum seekers, work that had not previously been made public.

“It’s not about being dependent on the mayor, I’ve done that work for the city,” he said, adding that he has signed up “for every mayor.”

A joint push

The hearing follows a months-long public relations campaign by Mastro and the Adams administration after news first emerged in April that he was being considered for the role. When Hinds-Radix resigned, some reports said she left after disagreeing with a decision to have the city represent the mayor in a case alleging Adams committed sexual assault while with the NYPD. The mayor has denied this and denies the allegations.

The council, which gained appointment powers over the in-house counsel through a 2019 revision to the city charter, is expected to vote on his nomination before its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 12.

The City Council hearing on the mayor’s choice of corporate counsel, Randy Mastro. August 27, 2024. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY

The questions from the council members themselves continued into the evening, long before the period expired for the public to testify, including supporters such as former governor David Paterson. Anyone in the audience could speak for or against.

As the interrogation of the Councillors entered its sixth hour, The mayor’s team gathered many of Mastro’s supporters in the Governor’s Room at City Hall, where they testified to what they described as his legal skills and character. Most expressed dismay at a lengthy hearing that they suggested would not convince the council to approve him.

Veronica Moyé, a partner at King & Spalding with Mastro, said he supported her career and growth in a field that has not always been welcoming to black women.

“What I found so frustrating when I attended this hearing was listening to the attempt to conflate the Giuliani record on diversity, inclusion and racial justice with the Randy Mastro record,” she said.

“You don’t see many black women in my position because there aren’t enough Randys.”

But Bertha Lewis, the founder and president of the Black Institute, told THE CITY before her testimony that she was “vehemently” against Mastro’s nomination.

“You were not a public defender. You chose to represent this client or that client, you chose to join the Giuliani administration,” she said.

She believes there are plenty of other, better candidates for the position.

“You can’t walk 10 feet without tripping over a lawyer in New York City,” she joked. “Why is this the only guy we would hire as in-house counsel? No, no, no, no. Do a little more due diligence and look elsewhere.”