The Last Mayor

It’s early New Year”s Day on West 246th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. A young family is taking off for a day in Manhattan–to do something. As Chris, Cathy, and their sons, Jack, and Richie, step out on to the stone patio outside their front door, they are surprised to see their neighbors lining the sidewalks cheering as the four come out of the house and jump into a car with two guys positioned on each side of the open rear door. Later in the day, standing on the cold, half-cleared, snow-white front steps of City Hall, Chris Russo takes the oath of office as New York City’s mayor, succeeding his lifelong Parkchester friend, Tom McCabe, who was forced to resign. . It’s a joyful, yet somewhat unsettling post-script to events that unfolded in Joe Hoffman’s first novel, “Acts and Omissions,” the senseless murder of two community activists and the baffling criminal investigations, bizarre courtroom antics, and unprecedented political chicanery that followed. “The Last Mayor” takes place post 9/11. The tragic events of that day and its destructive impact on New York City’s human and financial resources would dramatically change the focus of many services provided by the city. Terrorism Task Forces at all levels of government were being created and the NYPD would be expected to play a major role in these new efforts. At the same time, the cops along with all city agencies are faced with massive cuts in their budgets. The story gets underway six months into the new mayor’s term, following his surprising and bold organizational changes within a number of major city departments. Changes, that don’t sit well with many inside and outside city government. Russo acknowledges the emotional and political forces at play, but vows not to be distracted from fulfilling his promises, made during his campaign and pre-9/11, to create a more productive, more efficiently-managed city work force. Then, a brazen act of violence against one of the mayor’s top aides, followed by the brutal murder of a long-time friend of the Russo family seem to be more than coincidental to the mayor’s management moves. Is there a connection? That possibility sets into motion a series of highly publicized and seemingly clumsy investigations by local and federal law enforcement. At the same time, the uncovering of some incredibly clandestine political and criminal schemes, from startling sources, further complicates interactions among the mayor, the NYPD, the City Council, and the Governor’s office. Finally, Chris Russo’s personal life will be disrupted when some hopefully forgotten events from the past resurface, putting pressure on both his family and his running of the city. It’s early New Year”s Day on West 246th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. A young family is taking off for a day in Manhattan–to do something. Later in the day, standing on the cold, half-cleared, snow-white front steps of City Hall, Chris Russo takes the oath of office as New York City’s mayor. . The story gets underway six months into the new mayor’s term, following his surprising and bold organizational changes within a number of major city departments. Changes, that don’t sit well with many inside and outside city government. Then, a brazen act of violence against one of the mayor’s top aides, followed by the brutal murder of a long-time friend of the Russo family seem to be more than coincidental to the mayor’s management moves. Is there a connection? That possibility sets into motion a series of highly publicized and seemingly clumsy investigations by local and federal law enforcement. Finally, Chris Russo’s personal life will be disrupted when some hopefully forgotten events from the past resurface, putting pressure on both his family and his running of the city.