Natalie Druce
9:27:52
How is the members of the roles committee of the opportunity to testify before you today?
9:27:55
My name is Natalie Drus, and I'm a staff attorney at the SageNet Project at the Urban Justice Center.
9:28:00
For over 40 years, the SageNet Project or S and P has provided free legal services to thousands of low and no income New Yorkers citywide.
9:28:08
Our services include helping tenants avoid eviction, address repairs, and landlord harassment, securing crucial public benefits, and enforcing the rights of homeless New Yorkers.
9:28:16
S and P encompasses an organized member base with lived experience of poverty and homelessness, the safety net activist, who organize campaigns to address homelessness and welfare issues.
9:28:26
We work extensively on homelessness issues, including advocacy around the rights of homeless New Yorkers in the shelter system and in the streets.
9:28:32
We were one of the organizations that led the homeless can't stay home campaign during the pandemic advocating for safe shelter for homeless New Yorkers when COVID was at its peak.
9:28:41
I'm here today to voice our organization's concerns regarding the nomination of Randy Mastro's Corporation Council.
9:28:46
Mister Mastro has a history of anti homeless and anti tenant activity.
9:28:50
Including engaging and litigation to oppose homeless shelters and wealthy neighborhoods.
9:28:54
He has previously represented groups trying to prevent the opening of shelters on the Upper East Side in Billionaires' Row.
9:28:59
As we have heard today, Mister Mastro represented a group of Upper West Side residents who after publicly expressing virulent anti homeless views sought to shut down a de densification shelter at the Lucent Hotel where over 200 homeless men were residing.
9:29:13
These men had been transferred from unsafe congregate shelters, where the risk of infection from COVID 19 was unacceptably high in part due to advocacy from groups like ours.
9:29:23
Mister Mastro deployed unscrupulous tactics during this case, including hiring former police officers to Mastro plumbers, gain access to a former looser residence, new home, and take photographs of him shirtless.
9:29:34
Regardless of his legal objectives, the unethical manner in which he pursued them is what concerns us.
9:29:39
Mister Mastro has also repeatedly represented landlords seeking to undo legal protections for tenants, This includes the Supreme Court challenge to the HSTPA and a 2021 lawsuit in which she represented landlords opposed to the pandemic era eviction moratorium.
9:29:53
New York City is experiencing an acute afford housing affordability and homelessness crisis.
9:29:58
The city claims that the shop system does not have the capacity to accommodate everyone, and as a result, it has set up a separate and unequal shelter system for recent immigrants and is evicting those residents into street homelessness after their stays expire.
9:30:09
There is clearly a need for expanded shelter capacity and yet in some neighborhoods aided by attorneys like Mister Master, residents opposed shelters, and seek to keep homeless New Yorkers away entirely.
9:30:19
Against this backdrop, it is deeply concerning that the administration would seek to appoint an individual with a track record of attacking the rights and interests of tenants and on house people to be the city's top lawyer.
9:30:29
Given Corporation Council's role in defending lawsuits involving allegations of governmental misconduct.
9:30:34
Mister Masters' history of engaging and unscrupulous conduct during litigation is also a cause for grave concern.
9:30:39
For these reasons, our organization has serious doubts that Mister Masters' appointment as Corporation Council is in the best interest of New Yorkers at large, and in particular, the interest of low income in homeless New Yorkers.
9:30:50
Thank you for your time today.
