New top City Hall aide responds on the record
Manhattan: Re your March 27 article, “Mastro will have two jobs”: The very premise of the piece is wrong. The fact that, once I commence working as first deputy mayor of New York City on April 1, I will spend a minimal amount of time pro bono continuing to represent one long-time client in one litigation that I have led for the past eight years that is about to enter the summary judgment dismissal phase — among the dozens of other clients’ litigation matters from which I am withdrawing as counsel to return to public service — is not a second “job.”
Indeed, I will receive no compensation whatsoever for this limited role but have an ethical obligation as an attorney to see this one matter through at this critical dispositive juncture. Thus, this is not, as your headline blares, in any way, shape or form, a “job” — commonly defined as “a paid position of regular employment.” (See Oxford Dictionary).
Nor does it raise, as your article claims, any “conflict of interest concerns.” I sought and received the Conflicts of Interest Board’s advice permitting me to do so (conveyed in a confidential communication concerning confidential matters about what is expected to occur in an ongoing private litigation). And I will be recusing myself from any matter relating to that client that may arise during my city government tenure.
So to be crystal clear, I will be devoting 150% or more of my workdays, seven days a week, serving the city as first deputy mayor. I love this city and am honored to return to serve it. Randy Mastro
Rent hypocrisy
Flushing: Re “Landlord Brad’s COVID cry: Do as I say, not as I do” (March 25): There is a word for the article regarding Comptroller Brad Lander — it is “hypocrisy.” Martin Goldman
Protection racket?
Woodside: It is interesting to hear that the city is planning to change the rules and regulations concerning scaffolding around the city (“Pols curb sheds,” March 27). The reasoning behind it is understandable, but the time these structures are up is far too long in many ways. Even more interesting is the number of scaffolding structures that are up for no good reason. Many buildings in the city are set way back from the sidewalk and have the scaffolding set up around the building proper as work is progressing. However, building owners are also required to set up scaffolding over the sidewalk, which is nowhere near where the work is being done. Can we assume this was another money grab from the city and scaffolding companies? Interesting that the city would want to end that revenue resource. Tom Rice
Costly leaders
Whitestone: It’s pretty apparent that Gov. Hochul, along with MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, have no idea what the hell they’re doing. It’s time to remove him from his position, and next year with a governor’s election, we need to remove Hochul as well. It is completely outrageous that they are now claiming it’s gonna take $4.3 billion to complete one mile of the Second Ave. subway extension. Time to get rid of them. Gene O’Brien
Smart on smishing
Jersey City: I have been receiving bogus texts about unpaid tolls since last month. The problem is that I do not own a vehicle. I was happy to see an article in the Daily News (“Don’t click on those road toll texts,” March 13). Now they are threatening legal action. Bring it on. Anthony C. Zaccone
Family tragedy
East Meadow, L.I.: Sending Brett Gardner and his family condolences (“Tragedy in Yankee family,” March 24). No family should have to deal with such heartbreak. Jeff Tuck
Rolls off the tongue
Mineola, L.I.: If the NFL season started today, the top two Giants quarterbacks would be Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. That sounds like a personal injury law firm’s TV commercial! Philip Martone
Required participation
Bronx: Baseball keeps adding new rules and changes to the game. I say let’s add one more rule that will make the game really interesting. It works great in Little League baseball — all the members of the team (except the pitchers) must get up to bat and play the field at least once during the game. Jimmy Durda
Fueling the fire
White Rock, British Columbia: Israel’s government and IDF have deliberately used starvation, among other horrors, against Palestinian non-combatants as a part of its ongoing campaign. Daring legacy news outlets have published photos of foreign aid trucks with urgently needed food and medical supplies that passed inspection by Israeli security, yet were still made to park idly for days. It may not be hard for a conscience to do when one considers another an innately lower life form. Meanwhile, Western indifference, be it actual or perceived, toward the continuing mass suffering and slaughter inflicted upon helpless Palestinian non-combatants — mostly borne by children — will have further inflamed long-held Middle Eastern anger toward the West. The provision, mostly by the U.S., of highly effective weapons used in Israel’s ongoing bombing raids will likely have turned that anger into lasting hatred seeking eye-for-an-eye redress, perhaps even another attack on the scale of 9/11. Frank Sterle Jr.
Disappeared
Brooklyn: Something that I don’t understand: If the State Department revokes someone’s visa, how does that give the Department of Homeland Security the right to arrest and detain them? Shouldn’t they be told that their visa is revoked and given a reasonable time period to question the decision? Or to leave the country? The abduction of Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk by masked agents, similar to the arrests of Mahmoud Khalil and Badar Khan Suri, looks like something I could never imagine happening in America. We need our elected officials to speak out vigorously and forcefully condemning this outrageous action by the Trump administration! Charlotte Phillips
Changemaker
Leicester, Vt.: What’s the big hubbub!? Pete Hegseth said he would be a “change agent” and that was why his appointment was so contentious. Well, he was correct. He changed what was arguably the world’s best and most feared military into a laughingstock. Bravo, Pete! You couldn’t even accomplish that at Fox News. Robert Cappio
No recall
Bronx: On Tuesday, I listened to CIA Director John Ratcliffe being questioned by Sen. John Ossoff and responding with “I don’t recall” to almost every question, not giving a direct answer to any of them. On Wednesday, when questioned by a Republican House member, he said that he stood by everything he said — admitting that he is suffering from severe memory loss and should be placed in a nursing home. Randall Borra
Anti-intellectual
Cincinnati: Hilljack Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to stop funding PBS and NPR. Some of the greatest shows I have ever seen have been on PBS. It’s a national treasure. I not only question MTG’s college education, but I question if she made it through high school. I think she just printed off diplomas and degrees and no one has checked them. I can’t believe there is a place in America that would elect such a stupid, hateful person. Mark Jessee
Low blow
Bronx: Rep. Jasmine Crockett ridiculed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s physical affliction, which requires his use of a wheelchair, by referring to him as “Gov. Hot Wheels.” That should evoke at least an accusation of mean-spiritedness from Democratic pariah and party leader Chuck Schumer. How about some interest from the liberal media? Perhaps Abbott should counter with a reference to another kid’s toy, the Babeside Reborn Baby Doll. That may get the ball rolling. Joe Schulok
Pulled promise
Brooklyn: Social Security isn’t a handout — it’s a promise that millions of us older Americans have paid into with every paycheck. This administration is dismantling an essential program, closing offices, cutting hotlines and spreading misinformation to justify these attacks. As an elder, we deserve dignity, not broken promises. Lakshmi Banerjee
Delayed publication
Manhattan: Re “3 held in rape try” (March 27): This incident occurred on June 8, 2023. Why has it taken nearly two years to report this? Dare Lee
