Q&A
Mastro's decision to work for Giuliani's administration
2:32:30
·
154 sec
Council Member Hudson questions Mastro about his decision to work for Giuliani's administration, given Giuliani's role in the 1992 police riot. Mastro defends his choice as answering a call to public service.
- Hudson asks if it was morally right for Mastro to serve as Giuliani's counsel and in his administration
- Mastro cites the city's problems at the time, including high crime rates and job losses, as reasons for joining
- He emphasizes Giuliani's campaign positions on various issues as aligning with his own values
Crystal Hudson
2:32:30
Given Mister Giuliani's role in one of the most public and overt displays of racism in the NYPD's history, Was it the morally right choice for you to serve as his counsel and later in his administration?
Randy Mastro
2:32:45
I answered the call to public service because the city faced such enormous issues, such enormous crises at the time.
2:32:58
Over 2000 murders a year, hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs lost a declining quality of life in every neighborhood of
Rudy Washington
2:33:08
the city.
Crystal Hudson
2:33:09
There's one thing to answer the call to public service in a government position.
2:33:14
It's another thing to work for somebody's political campaign.
2:33:19
So I will ask again, given Mister Giuliani's role in one of the most public and overt displays of racism in the NYPD's history, was it the morally right choice for you to serve as his counsel and then later in his administration?
Randy Mastro
2:33:34
And and I will answer again.
2:33:36
I answered the call to public service.
2:33:39
I served as a pro bono lawyer on campaign finance law issues only.
2:33:46
And the positions that Rudy Giuliani took during that campaign in 1993, pro choice, pro gay rights, pro immigrants rights, pro gun control, and a safer city with economic opportunity.
2:33:59
Those are things that I agreed with.
2:34:01
And the city faced enormous problems.
2:34:04
In 1993, given the 2000 a year murder rate, job losses, declining quality of lifetime magazine, calling us the rotting apple, announcing the call to public service to do good, to do something, and I did do something.
Crystal Hudson
2:34:19
So I'm gonna life on the line for this.
2:34:21
I'm reclaiming my time.
2:34:22
Thank you.
2:34:23
And I'm going to take your answer as a yes.
2:34:26
It was the morally right choice for you to serve as his counsel on waiting to administration.
Randy Mastro
2:34:31
It wasn't a moral choice about that one event.
Crystal Hudson
2:34:34
Well, that's my question, sir.
2:34:35
Sure.
2:34:36
My question is, was it the morally right choice for you to serve as his counsel later in his administration?
Randy Mastro
2:34:41
That's the woman I've already said that
Crystal Hudson
2:34:45
You're evading my question.
2:34:46
That's what you've said.
2:34:47
So I'm asking for a direct answer.
2:34:49
And if you can't give it to me and you're not giving me a no, I'm gonna take it as a yes.
Randy Mastro
2:34:54
Counselwoman, obviously, I agreed to serve.
2:34:58
And I I think my record in public service speaks of sacrificing If you're
Crystal Hudson
2:35:05
not gonna give me a direct answer, I'm gonna move on.