Lawyer Repping UWS Group Against Lucerne Gets Home Vandalized

Upper West Side NY

22 October, 2020

11:07 AM

Description

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The home of a lawyer representing Upper West Side residents pushing to get homeless shelter individuals moved out of hotels in the neighborhood had his home covered with spray-paint on Tuesday night. Randy Mastro, who was hired by the recently-formed nonprofit West Side Community Organization, has been a prominent voice in the effort by some members of the Upper West Side to get homeless men staying at The Lucerne hotel at 201 West 29th Street out of the neighborhood. Mastro is a former deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani. Mastro's Upper East Side home was vandalized with red paint and graffiti, and the spray-painters did not hold back in their messaging. "F*** you Randy," and "Shame" were spray-painted multiple times in front of Mastro's building. "Randy Mastro you can't displace us," was one of the messages splashed across the entrance to his building read, according to the NY Post. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he would move the homeless residents out of The Lucerne in September, a few days after Mastro threatened to sue the city. However, the residents are still at the Upper West Side hotel after a judge put a temporary block on their move to a Financial District shelter. Multiple people and organizations have condemned Mastro's home's vandalization, including the UWS Open Hearts Initiative, a group that has fought to keep the homeless residents at The Lucerne. "We've received reports from one of our faith leaders that Randy Mastro's home has been vandalized," Open Hearts wrote in a tweet. "UWS Open Hearts and Lucerne residents unequivocally condemn this kind of personal attack. Our fight is for human dignity for all, and we extend our support to the Mastro family." Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also spoke out against the incident. "I've seen reports that Randy Mastro's home has been vandalized. While I understand that tensions are high regarding the situation at the Lucerne, civil discourse must prevail. Destruction & vandalism won't solve anything, and I unequivocally condemn this kind of illegal attack," Brewer tweeted.