PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Devorah Halberstam on Randy Mastro's Nomination for Corporation Counsel
9:48:51
·
4 min
Devorah Halberstam provides emotional testimony in support of Randy Mastro's nomination for Corporation Counsel. She shares her personal tragedy of losing her son Ari in a terrorist attack and emphasizes Mastro's support and integrity over the past 30 years.
- Halberstam recounts how Mastro helped her family navigate the criminal justice system after her son's murder
- She highlights Mastro's contribution to the creation of the Jewish Children's Museum in memory of her son
- Halberstam emphasizes Mastro's qualities of wisdom, integrity, and leadership, stating he will be an asset to the city
Devorah Halberstam
9:48:51
Good evening, speaker Adams, and model council members that are here today.
9:49:00
Thanks for hearing from me.
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First, I have to say from his deja vu sitting in these chambers.
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I've sat here many a day, and I don't want to begin to cry, but I will.
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But I I have to stand up with the speaker because she is Very special.
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My name is Devora Halberston.
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It was a Tuesday morning, March 1 1994, 1021 to be exact.
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My teenage son Ari, who was traveling in a van with his schoolmates, were attacked by a terrorist, with a barrage of bullets, and an arsenal of weapons.
9:49:49
My son Ari was shot in the head with the oozie machine gun and died in the worst anti semitic attack fueled by hate.
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The city has ever seen to date.
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Please just look out the window and be with me in a moment.
9:50:07
He was murdered on the Brooklyn Bridge.
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On that day, at that moment, my life was changed forever.
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You became victims of hate and terrorism.
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Being a victim is not a state of mind.
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It takes courage to survive the death of your child, and I speak for all moms whose children were taken from them.
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There is no freedom for us.
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Our law informs that decisions in life going forward.
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And there were many beginning with the burial.
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The long road ahead through the criminal justice is the emotional toll this takes on a family, the domino effect in our home life while keeping the memory of our hourly women.
9:50:54
This is why I am here today, you know.
9:50:57
They say it takes a village.
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We are here today to talk about the appointment of Randy Maestro for the position of Corporation Council.
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It is not just the position to be filled.
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It is crucial that the person who fills this box is a man of integrity, a man of wisdom, a man of compassion, and a man who knows how to get things done.
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I am here to talk about Randy.
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That person, I am witness to who Randy Maestro is and was.
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You cannot rewrite history.
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Randy was with us right from the day Ari was shot.
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He stood by us with strength and help us through some of the most grueling days and agony, which none of you should ever know.
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He walked me through the criminal justice He was there with strength, a device, a knowledge, and guidance.
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He supported my vision for the Jewish Jewish Museum that this council carries on.
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Memorializing Ari forever has a living and breathing space for children.
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He was the year from the ground breaking and contributed constantly until this very day that has served 3,000,000 children and families teaching them to respect and understand to love and not to hate to accept each other no matter who we are and where we come from.
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In over 30 years, Randy has never asked me for anything, but he has always stood by me and my family until this very day.
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30 years has shown me who he is.
9:52:32
Now is the time to speak the truth, think of gratitude.
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I have learned the workings of our city and government I recommend to you a man with such vast knowledge and wisdom for the position of corporation counsel at this time in history.
9:52:46
For this position, you'll have to be wise.
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Not just have wisdom, sometimes even Soleimonic wisdom.
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You have to have integrity and leadership.
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Randy has those qualities.
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He is consistent and trustworthy.
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He will be an asset to this city.
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I know that this council is looking out for the people of the city.
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I am the people of this city.
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Randy will never fail you or the people of the city.
9:53:18
I am sure of it.
9:53:19
Thank you so much.