Randy Mastro will be working for Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall after all.
The mayor announced late Thursday afternoon that Mastro would join the Adams administration as the new first deputy mayor, replacing Maria Torres-Springer — who resigned her post in February along with three other deputy mayors and officially departed last Friday.
The appointment comes months after a failed effort to make Mastro—a former member of the Giuliani administration—the city’s chief corporation counsel. The nomination, one of the few that requires City Council approval, turned into a firestorm of controversy over Mastro’s political ties and past associations with Republican lawmakers and big corporations.
This time around, however, no Council consent was required for Adams to tap Mastro, a longtime associate, as the first deputy mayor — who coordinates operational efforts across various agencies and works to advance administrative priorities.
In announcing Mastro’s appointment, Mayor Adams touted his past efforts during the Giuliani administration, saying he has a “track record of success in the face of some of the city and nation’s most challenging times.” Mastro served under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani between 1994 and 1998 as deputy mayor for operations and then chief of staff to the mayor.
“I, and the whole team, welcome Randy to our administration and look forward to working side-by-side with him as we continue to lead the city forward and make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”
For his part, Mastro — who is currenlty a partner at a white shoe law firm — said he was grateful for the opportunity to return and “serve the city again,” saying that he loves New York and wants to succeed.
“So much has been accomplished for New Yorkers during this administration when it comes to public safety, job growth, and affordable housing,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to deliver a safe, affordable city and to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. I believe now, in particular, is a time to heed the call to public service, and I am excited to answer the call.”
A former assistant U.S. Attorney specializing in organized crime cases, Mastro has more recently served as chair of the Citizens Union, a nonpartisan good government group, and vice chair of the Legal Aid Society. He has also served on numerous boards for institutions such as CUNY, the YMCA, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Hale House, and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
But his ties to the Giuliani administration and conservative clients, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Chevron Oil, doomed Mastro’s nomination last year as chief corporation counsel—an office that oversees the Law Department and represents the mayor, council, city comptroller, public advocate, and the five borough presidents in legal cases.
During an eight-hour hearing before the City Council, members bombarded Mastro with questions about his past associations and clientele. Though Mastro noted that he was a lifelong Democrat, the fiery hearing ultimately led him to request that Mayor Adams withdraw his nomination before the Council. Mayor Adams instead appointed Muriel Goode-Trufant as chief corporation counsel — a pick that the Council easily approved.
Mastro now enters the Adams administration at a time when Hizzoner’s future in office appears grim.
Recent polls had Adams’ approval rating at 20% and far behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. He also raised hardly any new campaign funds in the first months of 2025.
Speculation has swirled as to whether Adams will pursue a re-election bid at all. As recently as Monday, the mayor insisted he would seek a second term in office, though he has yet to officially declare — and left open the prospect of potentially mounting an independent bid if he loses the Democratic primary.
