Mayor Adams tapped Giuliani administration alum Randy Mastro on Thursday to become his new top deputy at City Hall, an appointment that's expected to spark controversy amid the mayor's ongoing political struggles.
Mastro, a prominent attorney with a record of championing conservative causes in court, has for weeks been rumored for the first deputy mayor post, which is the second-in-command role in city government.
As first reported by the Daily News, he was initially expected to be appointed as early as at the beginning of March, when Adams named four other new deputy mayors to replace top aides who had submitted their resignations out of concern about the circumstances surrounding the Trump administration's efforts to dismiss Adams' corruption case.
Late Thursday afternoon, Adams finally made Mastro's appointment official in a statement that touted his lengthy resume in both law and government.
"Randy is a storied and impressive New Yorker with a track record of success in the face of some of the city and nation's most challenging times," Adams' statement said. "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."
According to a source close to Mastro, the delay in his appointment had to do with a personal matter he needed to resolve before taking on the high-profile role at City Hall. The source called it "no big deal."
Mastro, who's a partner at a prominent Manhattan law firm and served as Mayor Rudy Giuliani's chief of staff and deputy mayor for operations, is returning to City Hall at a tumultuous time.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News
Randy Mastro. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News)First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and three of her fellow DMs — Meera Joshi, Anne Williams-Isom and Chauncey Parker — submitted their resignations Feb. 17 after privately telling Adams they're concerned about his ability to govern the city independently after President Trump's Department of Justice moved to drop his federal corruption indictment.
In a motion seeking to dismiss Adams' criminal case, the Trump DOJ wrote it wanted the case killed with the understanding it could be resurrected for a new prosecution as early as November. In the interim, the DOJ wrote in the motion, which is pending approval from a judge, that Trump expects quashing Adams' case will enable him to help facilitate Trump's "mass deportation" agenda in New York, an unusual caveat that both allies and critics of the mayor say makes him a "hostage" to Trump.
The court developments have led to renewed calls for Adams to resign or be removed from office, but the mayor maintains he will stay put and run for reelection in June's Democratic primary, even as he reels from record low approval ratings and polls projecting him losing the election. He has said there was no quid pro quo with Trump and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Mastro first emerged as a contender in Adams' administration when Adams nominated him last year to become the city government's corporation counsel. But the nomination collapsed when Mastro withdrew himself from consideration after Council Democrats made clear during a marathon confirmation hearing they would vote to block his hire due to concerns about his work for Giuliani and his conservative litigation record, including representing fossil fuel interests.
In an appearance on PIX11 after his appointment, Mastro acknowledged he went "through a grueling process" before the Council.
"So I must really want to serve," he joked. Unlike the corp counsel role, Mastro can serve as first deputy mayor without Council approval.
When asked whether he foresees any difficulties working with Council Democrats after his contentious confirmation battle, Mastro said "that was then and this is now." He also defended Adams against accusations that the standing of his corruption case precludes him from fighting back against the Trump administration — which has threatened to strip New York City of billions of dollars in federal funding for key initiatives, including housing, education and public benefits.
"I know this mayor and I know he's not afraid to speak up," Mastro said. "He's a person of conviction, and I don't see a future where he won't speak up when the city needs defending."
A spokeswoman for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who's running against the mayor in June's primary and spearheaded the opposition to Mastro's corp counsel nomination, issued a skeptical statement in response to his new first deputy job.
"The instability of this mayoral administration has been harmful to New Yorkers and shaken their confidence in City Hall," the statement from spokeswoman Julia Agos said. "The Council remains focused on ensuring city government delivers for the people and will work with any member of the administration committed to that goal."
Andrew Savulich / New York Daily News Rudy Giuliani and Randy Mastro in 1995. (Andrew Savulich / New York Daily News)
Mastro became a serious candidate for the first deputy mayor after Frank Carone, Adams' first chief of staff who remains one of his most trusted political advisers, mounted a behind-the-scenes push for the Giuliani administration alum.
As first deputy, Mastro will oversee the work of most of the other deputy mayors and report directly to the mayor.
According to City Hall's organizational chart, Mastro will also directly oversee key agencies like the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of City Planning and the city Economic Development Corporation.
On paper, the first deputy also takes over as mayor when Adams is out of town or is temporarily unable to discharge his duties.
With Josephine Stratman
Originally Published: March 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM EDT
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