The citymeetings.nyc logo showing a pigeon at a podium with a microphone.

citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

Q&A

Addressing Mastro's past comments on the public advocate's office

0:56:14

·

120 sec

Council Member Adams questions Mastro about his past comments regarding the public advocate's office, particularly his role in a charter revision commission. Mastro defends his actions, explaining his stance on changes to the line of succession.

  • Mastro clarifies his role in a charter revision commission that considered changes to the line of succession
  • He emphasizes that he stood up to Mayor Giuliani by not changing the charter to eliminate the public advocate from the line of succession
  • Mastro argues that his actions demonstrate his ability to stand up to mayors and support other elected officials
Adrienne E. Adams
0:56:14
Speaking of a track rest record, once again, respectfully, Mister Mastro, the track record shows that you have called the office of the public advocate, a left wing radical, and fighting to cut that position out of the line of succession.
0:56:32
Is that true?
Randy Mastro
0:56:33
Well, actually, again, Mark Green supports me right now, and I and we've submitted that.
Adrienne E. Adams
0:56:39
That's not the question, miss White Mass.
0:56:41
Why we understand your endorsements to people that supports you have made their voices very clear to this council.
Randy Mastro
0:56:46
Thank you, Youra.
0:56:47
Thank you, Youra.
0:56:48
The the issue that you're racing has to do with a charter revision where the mayor wanted to eliminate the public advocate from the line of succession.
0:56:59
And in that context, I chaired that commission.
0:57:03
But actually, what I did historically, and I think it's why, Mark,
Adrienne E. Adams
0:57:07
what was your perspective?
Randy Mastro
0:57:10
My perspective was, and this eventually happened in the Bloomberg Administration when Betsy Gotbaum was the public advocate also here supporting me.
0:57:17
But when that proposal was made by the mayor to change the line of succession during the mayor's term.
0:57:25
I stood up to Rudy Giuliani.
0:57:27
My charter revision commission that I chaired said no.
0:57:31
We did not do that.
0:57:32
We said we would not do that while he was mayor and while Mark Green was public advocate, that that had to await a future generation.
0:57:39
That's the fact, madam speaker.
0:57:42
And I I think that shows you can count on me to stand up to mayors and count on me to stand up for counsel and other elected officials.
0:57:51
So we did not change the charter in that respect, and I refused to put on the ballot, changing the line of succession to eliminate Mark Green from succeeding Rudy Giuliani.
0:58:02
We said that that was a future issue and should go on the ballot only to happen prospectively after everyone had left office.
0:58:09
And eventually mayor Bloomberg made the same proposal and did that to Betsy got them.
Adrienne E. Adams
0:58:14
Okay?
Citymeetings.nyc pigeon logo

Is citymeetings.nyc useful to you?

I'm thrilled!

Please help me out by answering just one question.

What do you do?

Thank you!

Want to stay up to date? Sign up for the newsletter.