PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lawrence 'Muzzy' Rosenblatt, Leader of Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC)
9:53:28
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3 min
Lawrence 'Muzzy' Rosenblatt, leader of the Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC), testifies in support of Randy Mastro's nomination as NYC's corporation counsel. Rosenblatt praises Mastro's legal expertise, dedication to justice, and commitment to helping vulnerable populations based on their 30-year professional relationship.
- Rosenblatt highlights Mastro's successful defense of BRC against NIMBY opposition to a homeless shelter in Chelsea.
- He discusses Mastro's work in city government, including efforts to improve homeless services and secure federal funding.
- Rosenblatt also criticizes some organizations opposing Mastro, citing past corruption issues and interference with housing efforts for the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawrence 'Muzzy' Rosenblatt
9:53:28
My name is Muzzi Rosenblatt.
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For 24 years, I have led BRC, 1 of New York City's largest, most effective nonprofit organization serving people experiencing homelessness.
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For over a decade prior to that, I served the city government under mayors, Coch, Jenkins, and Giuliani.
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I speak today in support of the nomination of Randy Mastro to be the city's next corporation counsel.
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I've known Randy professionally for over 30 years and cannot imagine a better person to serve in this role.
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I say this based on years of experience working directly with Randy in his capacity as BRC's attorney and years of working with him in city government.
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Randy defended BRC against a wealthy, well organized, not in my backyard coalition, suing to stop us from citing developing and operating shelter and treatment program in Manhattan's Chelsea Neighborhood.
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Using their deep pockets, our opponents left no stone unturned in their efforts to destroy a project that would and now does deliver critical services for New Yorkers in need.
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His passion for justice would not let them stop us and his brilliance as a lawyer, stop them.
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He provided wise counsel, a comprehensive strategy, vast knowledge of every aspect of state and local law, and a heartfelt conviction to ensure that the right to quality care of our city's most vulnerable would not be denied.
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Not only did Randy protect the Archie's interests, he set new legal precedents that continue to protect the entirety of New York City's homeless shelter system.
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This litigation went on for years, not once did Randy hesitate, tire, or back down.
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Simply put, BRC and people experiencing homelessness in our city could not have had a more dedicated, more capable advocate.
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I also worked with Randy when we were served together in city government.
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He championed the effort to implement the recommendations of the New York City Commission on homelessness, a commission empowered by the previous mayor leading to a transformation of how homeless services are provided.
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Together, we turned a family shelter system into one that was robust and service rich, operated by a diverse array of New York City's best community based nonprofits delivering results for the people it served.
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Randy worked tirelessly to ensure more resources were spent on supportive in low income housing helped achieve a new level of commitment between the city and state in the New York, New York housing program and worked with the Clinton administration to secure the largest federal commitment of resources to addressing homelessness in New York City at the time.
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Throughout his career, Randy has been a fighter for the most vulnerable, willing to take on the most powerful, even if it meant risking his life.
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There could be no greater advocate for the city of New York or its residents than Randy Mastro.
9:56:08
I do just wanna add, it's not in my written testimony, really how incredible was to sit and listen to testimony from representatives of Met Council And Urban Justice Center, not that they were present at the time, but at the time that the legislation that undid rent regulated housing or minimized rent protections in the nineties.
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Met Council was led by somebody who went to prison for corruption and its greatest benefactor.
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Speaker Silver also went to prison for corruption, and he's the one that undid that law.
Keith Powers
9:56:39
Thanks.
Lawrence 'Muzzy' Rosenblatt
9:56:40
Similarly, the urban justice center who we worked with closely or their clients regularly undermined our efforts to work with unhoused New Yorkers who had been placed in hotels during the COVID epidemic.
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Epidemic pandemic to find permanent housing.
Keith Powers
9:56:55
Thank you.
Lawrence 'Muzzy' Rosenblatt
9:56:56
Thank you.