Eric Adams’ Charter Revision Commission kicks things off at Randy Mastro’s office

On 4/20, the collection of people assembled by former Mayor Eric Adams on his final day in office met for the first time – a dream blunt rotation for the New Yorkers who want the city to adopt an open primary system.

Former First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who is providing the 13-member Charter Revision Commission pro bono legal services, hosted the gathering at his law office in midtown Manhattan Monday afternoon. The first order of business: Selecting Gilford Monrose, Adams’ former faith adviser, as acting chair, and Menashe Shapiro, his former senior adviser, as acting vice chair. Kayla Mamelak Altus, another Adams alum, was named acting secretary and spokesperson for the group.

“This commission does not and cannot make decisions for the city,” Mamelak Altus said after telling the 30-some attendees that the group would specifically consider whether to bring forward a proposal to switch the city from a closed-primary system to an open one. “Our role is to listen to public testimony, decide what proposals to present to the public, and then it is up to the voters and the voters alone to decide whether to approve or reject them.” 

It’s unclear whether the commission’s decision to name its own leaders will stick. The person Adams initially appointed for the role of chair failed to file the necessary paperwork in time – one among many potential hurdles the group faces as it barrels forward without the support of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Several good government experts previously told City & State that only the sitting mayor is able to appoint the charter commission’s leadership, even though Adams initiated the commission. This is one of the questions that could play out in the courts between Mastro and the city’s Law Department should Mamdani seek to kneecap the group. A spokesperson for Mamdani did not respond to a request for comment.

There was little mention of that or any of the other challenges Monday – at least not during the official meeting, which only lasted about 10 minutes. (Future meetings, which will be open for public comment, will likely last far longer.) Speaking to the press afterwards, however, Mastro acknowledged that Mamdani could theoretically appoint a new chair and fill the commission’s two vacancies. Still, he was bullish about the group’s ability to move forward, arguing that the chair position is an honorarium and no more significant than other members of the commission. 

“I believe in the power of the law and the law permits a charter revision commission and for that commission to put proposals on the ballot,” Mastro said. “If the commission has done its work well, it’ll put proposals on the ballot the commission embraces.”