A day after a federal judge dismissed Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption case, Adams’ newly appointed first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro said the administration is forging ahead with its priorities, including public safety and economic growth.
Speaking with “Mornings On 1” anchor Pat Kiernan Thursday about the latest developments at City Hall — including Adams’ decision to run for reelection as an independent — Mastro appeared unfazed.
“Oh, just another slow day at City Hall, Pat,” he joked. “You know, we are laser-like focused on good government, and improving New Yorkers’ lives. We’re in a critical period, budget cycle in Albany, budget cycle coming up with the City Council, so I’ve just, I dive right in and get to work, and we haven’t missed a beat.”
Mastro said he believed the judge’s decision in Adams’ case was “the right result — the result that should have happened.”
“To me, this is the first day of the rest of this administration’s legacy,” he said. “It is a new day, a new dawn. That was the past, now we look at the present and the future, and we move on as aggressively and successfully for New Yorkers as we can possibly do, because that’s the mission.”
“The mission is to continue to ensure public safety, to continue to ensure record job growth in our city, to continue to make this a city for working class families, where they get tax relief, and where we've had record levels of affordable housing created, including through the ‘City of Yes’ program,” he added.
Mastro, who served as a deputy mayor under then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s, also expressed optimism about upcoming policy changes, including potential reforms to criminal justice laws and expanded tax relief.
“We're very hopeful that some of the criminal justice reform laws, especially relating to discovery, that have led to too many getting out on technicalities, or recidivists hitting our streets, that there's going to be some reform there, and we support the governor in that push,” he said. “This has the potential to be historic.”
Last year, Adams wanted Mastro to serve as the city’s top lawyer, but Mastro withdrew his name from consideration amid fierce opposition from some members of the City Council.
Mastro is succeeding Maria Torres-Springer, who submitted her resignation alongside three other deputy mayors in February after the Justice Department asked a court to dismiss federal corruption charges against Adams.
Tap the video player above to watch the full interview.