Q&A
Mastro's defense of his tenure and role in Giuliani administration
2:02:17
·
5 min
Randy Mastro provides a detailed defense of his tenure in the Giuliani administration, emphasizing the limitations of his role and his lack of direct involvement in certain programs.
- Mastro argues that reforms to programs were not equivalent to dismantling them
- He emphasizes that he was not responsible for administering the minority business programs
- Mastro highlights his pride in certain achievements of the Giuliani administration while maintaining that he cannot speak to areas outside his responsibility
Randy Mastro
2:02:17
I I the fact that certain reforms are made to a program isn't dismantling.
2:02:23
And the fact that the the mayor several years later, couldn't quote the statistics any longer, wasn't aware of the statistician alert, doesn't mean the program wasn't still effective, and I didn't stay forever.
2:02:39
I left shortly after the reelection.
2:02:41
So you know, there are there are matters between me and and the mayor.
2:02:48
The reason why I'm a trusted counselor to mayors and speakers is because I maintain a confidence.
2:02:55
But there things in the Giuliani administration that I'm very proud of, that we did.
2:03:00
But this was not an area that I was responsible for, so I can't really speak to your questions, councilwoman, but I appreciate the questions.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:03:07
Well, I I will say that Well, I understand you didn't stay there forever.
2:03:13
You stayed there from 1994 to 1998 if I'm not mistaken.
Randy Mastro
2:03:18
June of 98.
2:03:19
Yes, counsel.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:03:19
Okay.
2:03:20
And this happened at the start of his term in 1994.
2:03:27
So there were still several years, and that was within this you know, frame of the administration's actions against this.
2:03:40
But just going to the next question, if the Jenkins administration goal of 20% was a arbitrary number as it was framed as, what metrics did you and the Giuliani administration set?
Randy Mastro
2:03:59
I'm sorry?
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:04:00
What metrics did you and the Giuliani metrics set?
2:04:04
Because At that time, it was stated that the goal of 20% was an arbitrary number.
2:04:11
So I'd like to know what metrics were set to ensure that minority and women owned businesses were able to have an opportunity of utilization.
Randy Mastro
2:04:23
Again, I wasn't responsible for administering re reforming or administering the program.
2:04:29
So I'm not the one who can address those questions.
2:04:33
Perhaps deputy mayor Washington can when when he is here.
2:04:37
But I I personally was not responsible for administering or reforming the program.
2:04:42
So I I don't I'm not in a position to to know kinda how to respond to your question in terms of
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:04:50
the Well, as chief of staff, I like to know how you purse similarly addressed this dynamic.
2:04:55
So in the event that you were to be appointed as court counsel and mayor Adams decided to change some type of policy that was deemed racist or an economic lynching or something that was not in the best interest of New Yorkers.
2:05:18
Are you gonna say that you will just stay there and stand by his died on that matter, or are you gonna do something?
2:05:26
And I wanna know what did you do in your role as chief of staff?
Randy Mastro
2:05:30
The answer is no.
2:05:32
I'm here to do something and stand up for our city and as corporation counsel I would be representing in the entire city, and my portfolio would be particularly broad.
2:05:43
But in terms of reviewing the legality of proposed actions and actions, but as chief of staff in that administration, actually, the role was more limited.
2:05:55
I was responsible for the immediate offices of city hall.
2:05:59
I was not responsible for any government agencies or the administration of any programs in government as chief of staff.
2:06:07
I was not.
2:06:07
And the certain administrations, the chief of staff's role, has been limited like that.
2:06:11
In other administrations, it's been broader.
2:06:13
But my role was very limited, and I don't
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:06:16
Mister Mashilo, you are saying.
Randy Mastro
2:06:18
Excuse me.
2:06:18
It's true.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:06:19
Mister Mashilo, did you have daily meetings with the mayor as in your role as chief of staff and or deputy mayor for operations?
Randy Mastro
2:06:29
There were daily morning meetings Mhmm.
2:06:32
With senior staff, and I was considered senior staff.
2:06:37
Okay.
2:06:38
But I didn't meet daily one on one with the mayor.
2:06:41
No.
2:06:41
Not as chief of staff.
2:06:42
Or even as deputy mayor for operations.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:06:46
Going back to the question, what metrics were set.
2:06:50
So you were a part of those meetings.
2:06:53
I imagine you had the opportunity to opine on things that were being discussed.
2:06:58
At this time, what metrics were set for this program.
Randy Mastro
2:07:03
Again, I appreciate the question, but I don't have a recollection 30 years later of whether I knew or participated in such a discussion.
2:07:15
I wasn't the one who would have reformed or administered the program and set the metrics.
2:07:20
So I can only answer you with my best recollection today.
2:07:24
It was not in my portfolio, and I don't have a recollection of discussions about the program.