Q&A
Transparency in Giuliani's administration and removal of public records
4:06:30
·
152 sec
Council Member Brannan questions Mastro about his previous statements regarding transparency in Giuliani's administration, contrasting them with reports of secrecy and the removal of public records. Mastro defends his past statements, citing daily press conferences and his own availability to reporters.
- Brannan references an NBC News report criticizing Giuliani's administration for lack of transparency
- Mastro is questioned about Giuliani taking 2,000 boxes of records when leaving office
- Mastro defends the administration's transparency, citing regular press conferences and media availability
- He also takes the opportunity to firmly state his opposition to any form of discrimination
Justin Brannan
4:06:30
Okay.
4:06:31
NBC News reported back in 2007 that Giuliani's city hall was secretive to the point of being openly hostile toward open government, the first amendment, and the public's access to simple facts and figures.
4:06:45
You issued a statement for that campaign that said Giuliani ran and open and transparent administration.
4:06:52
I've submitted that report for the record, and you added, quote, there was probably no elected official in this country who made himself as available to the press.
4:07:02
And and public as Rudy Giuliani did when he was mayor of New York City, unquote.
4:07:07
At the time you made that statement, you were aware that when Giuliani left the mayor's office, he took 2000 boxes of written photographic and electronic records, including your records, Mister Mastro, which the city then had to spend years trying to get back.
4:07:24
So it was a mayor taking public records from city hall that should go into the city archives appropriate?
Randy Mastro
4:07:31
I I actually, at the time that happened, I I I don't recall being aware that he did that.
4:07:38
I was no longer in city hall.
4:07:40
I'm glad that you got the records back because I understand you've reviewed dozens of boxes here in in preparation for these hearings.
4:07:48
And the reason I said what I said that you're quoting is because every day the mayor would have a press conference.
4:07:56
Every morning, he would have a press conference.
4:07:58
Himself available to the press.
4:07:59
And then every afternoon, when I was deputy mayor, there would be a gaggle of reporters able to ask me any questions at the end of the day.
4:08:10
So I can I considered myself to be transparent?
4:08:14
I spoke to any reporters who ever had questions for me, and I know that the mayor made himself available in ways that other mayors have not.
4:08:21
And I I just wanted to say one last thing because I didn't really get a chance to respond to all the points that I made earlier, I unequivocally am a 100% against any sexism, racism, discrimination of any form, and there's no evidence that I would ever condone any such thing.
4:08:40
And there's plenty of evidence in my record of fighting for civil rights, constitutional rights, racial justice, and to promoting diversity.
4:08:52
So I just wanted to make that crystal clear because we got a little off track in the back and forth councilwoman, but I just want that to be crystal clear.
4:09:01
Thank you.
4:09:02
Sorry, councilwoman.