May 16, 2024: Housing Advocates and Homeless New Yorkers Call on City Council to Reject Expected Nomination of Randy Mastro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2024
CONTACT: Sara Newman, 646-907-9052, info@openheartsinitiative.org
Housing Advocates and Homeless New Yorkers Call on City Council to Reject Expected Nomination of Randy Mastro
We, the undersigned organizations, urge the City Council to reject the expected nomination of Randy Mastro for New York City’s Corporation Counsel. As New York faces a housing affordability crisis, Randy Mastro has used his power to challenge the placement of shelters in wealthy neighborhoods and dismantle tenant protections. Throughout his career, Mastro has often used unethical tactics that hurt tenants and homeless and housing-insecure New Yorkers.
Mastro was the lawyer behind efforts to evict homeless New Yorkers from the Lucerne in 2020. He represented a group that demonized Lucerne residents, used offers of food and cash to try to entice homeless neighbors to leave the neighborhood, and hired private investigators to pose as plumbers in an attempt to enter the apartment of a former Lucerne resident. In recent weeks, friends of Mayor Adams have used outright lies and misleading arguments to whitewash Mastro’s record on the Lucerne. Contrary to their arguments, shelter residents at the Lucerne did ultimately have access to drug treatment and medical services, and thanks to Lucerne residents’ advocacy alongside supportive neighbors, Lucerne residents were not ultimately moved to another hotel downtown.
During his time in the Giuliani administration, Mastro retaliated against Housing Works for their advocacy.
Mastro is currently representing landlords in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to invalidate the state’s rent stabilization laws.
Mastro fought to stop a shelter from coming to Billionaires Row. These efforts–ultimately unsuccessful–delayed the opening of the shelter by several years.
Mastro appealed to the city to try to stop the opening of a Safe Haven on the Upper East Side on the basis of zoning regulations.
Mastro represented landlords in a case to end the state eviction moratorium in 2021.
Mastro represented the LeFrak Organization in a case defending their discriminatory practices against HIV-positive renters.
Randy Mastro’s record makes clear that he is the wrong choice for this important role. We emphatically urge the City Council to reject his expected nomination.
Signatories:
The Open Hearts Initiative
Unlock NYC
The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing
Housing Works
VOCAL-NY
Safety Net Project
Neighbors Together
