First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro resigned from his role Sunday, submitting a five-page letter to Mayor Eric Adams.

In the letter, Mastro pointed to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition plans as the reason for his decision.

What You Need To Know

First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro has resigned and will leave office on Dec. 31

In his resignation letter, Mastro criticized Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team for listing him among staff to be replaced

Mastro served about eight months in the Adams administration and highlighted several projects he said were completed during that time

Dean Fuleihan is set to take over as first deputy mayor when Mamdani takes office in January

“While I told the press months ago that ‘I will never work for a Socialist,’ the Mayor-elect’s transition team needlessly included me (and you) last week on a list of 179 City Hall staffers it intends to replace on January 1, 2026,” Mastro wrote in the letter. “No need to have done so. We will be leaving City government together.”

He said his resignation will take effect just before midnight on Dec. 31.

Mastro joined the Adams administration in March after several deputy mayors resigned. His appointment came months after Adams’ unsuccessful attempt to make him the city’s corporation counsel — a move that faced strong pushback from the City Council.

In his resignation letter, Mastro listed a wide range of projects he said the administration worked on during his eight months on the job, including new housing plans, school technology programs, expanded police hiring and climate resiliency efforts. He also noted the creation of several new mayoral offices.

“As you know, I joined your administration less than nine months ago. The time since has been a period of remarkable productivity,” he wrote, calling the work a “true team effort.”

Mastro’s departure comes as Mamdani prepares to take office in January. The mayor-elect has already named longtime budget official Dean Fuleihan as the next first deputy mayor.

Mastro’s appointment earlier this year drew criticism from some City Council members because of his legal work and his ties to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Council leaders also raised concerns about instability in the Adams administration following multiple high-level resignations and a federal indictment against the mayor that was ultimately dropped.

Adams praised Mastro when he appointed him in March, calling him “a storied and impressive New Yorker” with deep experience in city government.

Mastro ended his resignation letter by thanking Adams for the opportunity to serve and said he plans to “make every day count” in his final month.

“I love this City and am grateful to have had this opportunity to serve it again,” he wrote.