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Q&A
Questioning Mastro's praise for Giuliani and role in contract approvals
2:07:33
·
4 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers questions Randy Mastro about his past praise for Rudy Giuliani and his role in contract approvals during his time as deputy mayor for operations.
- Brooks-Powers cites Mastro's previous statements praising Giuliani as a role model
- She asks about Mastro's responsibilities regarding city contracts and approvals
- Mastro explains the contract approval process and his limited involvement in individual contract decisions
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:07:33
Mister Mashrou, around the time mayor Giuliani made you deputy mayor of operations in 1996.
2:07:40
The New York Times reported you referring to Giuliani as a role model and in in exploration in your life and stating, quote unquote, I'm very much looking forward to this challenge.
2:07:52
I'm very much looking forward to supporting the important mission and agenda that he has set for all of us, quote unquote.
2:08:01
And also, that you said quote unquote, so let's go forward and keep doing the good things we're doing.
2:08:12
As deputy mayor for operations, were you responsible for the contracts for the city of New York and approving any type of approval aspects of them?
Randy Mastro
2:08:25
There was a mayor's office of contracts, and the commissioners of agencies responsible for administering the contracts.
2:08:32
Mhmm.
2:08:32
The ones who made recommendations to that office, there was a at a very high level, a a review function, but
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:08:46
A review function by you?
Randy Mastro
2:08:48
By the mayor's office of contracts, which did report to to my office, but there was very
UNKNOWN
2:08:54
So it was very rare.
Randy Mastro
2:08:56
It was very rare that I got involved in an individual contract decision.
2:09:02
And if I can just say, if you will if you will please permit me, I I wanted to explain what I meant by that quote, and I I appreciate the opportunity to do that.
2:09:14
Because one has to put in context, the Rudy Giuliani of today is not the Rudy Giuliani of the mid 19 nineties when Rudy Giuliani came out.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:09:25
I I don't wanna sense this around Rudy Giuliani in that light.
2:09:29
I wanna be able to get the rest of the questions because I know a lot of my colleagues don't have some of
Amanda Farías
2:09:33
them because what I was
Randy Mastro
2:09:34
doing Why?
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:09:35
We don't need to explain I know who Rudy Giuliani is.
Randy Mastro
2:09:38
But this I don't
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:09:39
I don't need anyone to explain to me who he is.
Randy Mastro
2:09:41
This isn't about Rudy Giuliani.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:09:42
With all due respect, I'm reclaiming my time.
Randy Mastro
2:09:45
Yes, please.
2:09:45
Go ahead.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:09:45
Thank you.
2:09:47
Can you explain why you apparently were so looking forward to continuing to support Giuliani's despicable actions in dismantling the contracting equity, efforts of the 1st black mayor of the city of New York some of which was described, as I said before, as a, quote unquote, economic lynching.
Randy Mastro
2:10:07
K.
2:10:08
This is I was I was proud to continue the historic reductions in crime.
2:10:16
I was proud to continue the extraordinary job growth that occurred in the Chile administration.
2:10:21
I was proud to continue the war on organized crime in which I put my life on the line.
2:10:27
Those are the things that I was referring to.
2:10:29
And I think I should point out that I have the support of many people from the Jenkins admitted who who say that I was the administration's conscience, who say that I was the person they could talk to, and who would try to get things done, and I was a bridge.
2:10:45
So I think that you know, you'll have to put all of this in perspective.
2:10:49
I'm here as Randy Mastro.
2:10:51
Not as Rudy Giuliani.
2:10:53
Not as the mayor I served or as the mayor I I will serve because I'm gonna be serving the whole city.
2:10:58
I'm here to present my credentials.
2:11:01
And that's what I meant by.
2:11:02
I was proud that we had had such historic reductions in crime, such historic job growth, and that we took on organized crime.
UNKNOWN
2:11:09
And also that I put my life on As well
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:11:11
as historic dismantling of a program meant to lift up black and brown businesses.
Randy Mastro
2:11:18
I don't I don't know that to be the case.
2:11:19
That certainly wouldn't have
Diana Ayala
2:11:20
been the case, but it wasn't
Randy Mastro
2:11:22
a program that I had I administered.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:11:24
But you were a part of the administration, and you stayed for 3 additional years despite this.
Randy Mastro
2:11:32
Counsel woman, I I'm just explaining to you what I meant by the quote, and what my portfolio was.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:11:37
Understood.
2:11:38
Thank you.
2:11:38
Mister Mahesh, in light of what I have mentioned, how could the council possibly believe that you are truly committed to utilize in the office of the corporation counsel to further social justice as you have indicated.
Randy Mastro
2:11:51
Because I have a 40 year track record of bringing cases pro bono and otherwise because I have a track record, including in city government, of protecting human rights.
2:12:03
Because I put my life on the line for this city, and I prepare I would do it again.
2:12:09
And I spent two and a half years of my life under police protection so that the mob wouldn't kill me because of what I did for this city.
2:12:15
So how do you know I have the courage and the character to do this job?
2:12:20
You know it because I put my life on the line for this city, and I will do it again.
2:12:24
Thank you.