New York City’s top lawyer has formally resigned, weeks after it became clear the Adams administration was looking to replace her with controversial litigation lawyer Randy Mastro, according to information obtained by the New York Post.
In a lengthy farewell email sent to the legal department on Thursday, Sylvia Hines Radix thanked staff for their efforts in shutting down marijuana dispensaries, suing social media companies, challenging Con Edison’s property tax bill and fighting the courts over ghost guns.
“As corporate counsel, I have seen up close your deep expertise across dozens of disciplines, your unwavering dedication to the rule of law and your unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of the city and its residents,” Hines Radix wrote in the letter, obtained by The Washington Post.
“I thank you for your exceptional contributions to ensuring the Department of Law remains a leader in public service.”
First Corporation Counsel Muriel Good Trufant will take over the role on an interim basis, according to the law department.
Hines Radix, who is stepping down June 1, was surprised by the news last month that City Hall had hired Mastro to replace him as corporation counsel, The Post previously reported.
Sources said her relationship with the administration deteriorated after she expressed concerns over legal issues, including the city’s representation of the mayor in a sexual assault lawsuit and the closure of Rikers Island.
Mastro has been a controversial choice for the prestigious position, with many city council members vowing to reject his confirmation, raising concerns that his aggressive style will be used solely to defend the mayor.
Council members were also unhappy with the way Hines Radix was evicted.
But city officials maintained that the hardline litigator would use his skills as law director to vigorously defend all aspects of the city.
Over the past few weeks, the administration has been trying to persuade council members in closed-door meetings with Mastro, sources told The Post.
Mayor Eric Adams has not formally endorsed Mastro, who served as Rudy Giuliani’s chief of staff and deputy mayor, to replace Hines-Radix, but he has been publicly and privately endorsing Mastro, a veteran litigation lawyer, for more than six weeks.
Adams’ top adviser, Ingrid Lewis Martin, told reporters at City Hall on Tuesday that the council had asked for more time and therefore delayed recommending him as corporation adviser.
“This is out of respect for Congress,” she said. “Jeremy [John] And I had a very long conversation and he explained that the council needed time before they would bring him forward because they needed to deal with the budget and those types of things.”
The two city hall sides have until the end of June to reach an agreement on next year’s budget.
And in recent weeks, City Council members have spent a lot of time at City Hall grilling staff during the annual budget committee meeting.
Parliamentary spokesman Mandela Jones later confirmed that Jones had simply told administration officials that Parliament did not have time to hold confirmation hearings because it was working on the budget.
City hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
