Introduction to the Adams Administration
In another mayoral administration, Mike Mazzio might have had a tough time opening doors at City Hall as he campaigned for a potentially lucrative contract for his truck-towing company. For one thing, Mazzio had been charged by the Manhattan District Attorney in an indictment alleging that he participated in a mobbed-up “fraudulent monopoly” that controlled the city’s entire towing industry. What’s more, before Eric Adams was elected mayor, the city had refused to renew his company’s towing license after determining that it had overcharged hundreds of customers.
Mazzio’s Campaign for a Contract
But after throwing a campaign fundraiser for Adams that generated nearly $400,000 and hiring a lobbyist with longstanding ties to the mayor, Mazzio’s company, Mike’s Heavy Duty Towing, found a place on the schedules of multiple top administration officials, including some of the mayor’s closest advisors, an investigation by THE CITY shows. Mazzio’s offensive is a case study in how, until law enforcement investigations upended the Adams administration, supporters were able to win the ear of the mayor and some of his closest advisors despite serious integrity problems. Dubious deal-making continues to shadow City Hall as Adams gears up a re-election campaign in the aftermath of the dismissal of his own corruption charges at the Trump administration’s behest.
Mazzio’s Comeback Campaign
The details of the Manhattan DA’s 2018 indictment show just how deep a hole Mazzio had to climb out of if he was to win city work. Alleging that the city’s towing industry was controlled by organized crime, the DA unsealed criminal charges against multiple tow firms in New York, including Mike’s. Prosecutors alleged that companies without permits had been paying Mazzio to use his permit to remove vehicles from city highways as part of what they alleged was an illegal scheme to control the industry. In 2020, the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection rejected the company’s permit renewal request, accusing the firm of gouging drivers with illegal fees of $150 to $300 per tow.
Mazzio started his redemption campaign by suing the city to get his company’s license back and won an injunction that let him continue operating. Adams’ campaign for mayor opened a new front for Mazzio. On Aug. 8, 2021, he co-hosted a fundraiser for Adams at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens, with Joseph and Anthony Livreri, owners of Aldo’s Pizzeria, the mayor’s favorite restaurant in neighboring Ozone Park. They raised $140,000 for Adams campaign. Donors included several of Mazzio’s relatives as well as vendors his company worked with, and the contributions generated more than $223,000 in public matching funds for the mayor’s campaign.
Bringing in Klein
Enter Klein, who knew Adams well from their senate days more than a decade ago. Klein was the architect of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), which often sided with Republicans for control of the Senate. Adams was a frequent ally of the group. On at least one occasion the pair co-sponsored legislation, a bill to help victims of home foreclosures. Signing up Mike’s Heavy Duty for a year’s worth of lobbying work starting in August 2022, Klein soon won his meetings with the high-ranking Adams officials, which were aimed at winning Mazzio a role in a program the NYPD was rolling out to crack down on the illegally parked tractor trailers.
Senate Independent Conference leader Jeff Klein speaks at a press conference with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, April 4, 2018. Credit: Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office
The program, named Operation Heavy Duty Enforcement, sought to target 18-wheelers parking overnight in residential neighborhoods, a problem that had grown worse with the surge in e-commerce warehouses across the city. Maspeth, Queens, was among the neighborhoods that bore the brunt of the problem.
Abandoned Trucks
In the end, City Hall and the NYPD decided not to hire private tow truck firms to attack the problem of overnight truck parking in residential areas. Why is an unanswered question. A spokesperson for the mayor said they could not provide information on that decision because the aides involved in the discussions — Pearson and Hernandez — no longer work for the administration.
Trucks parked long-term along a public park in Southeast Queens, March 27, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
The tow program has remained an in-house NYPD initiative with the department relying strictly on its own trucks to do the job, according to the department’s press office. Operation Heavy Duty targeted the 113th Precinct in Queens and lasted two weeks from Aug. 15 to Aug. 26, 2022. All told, 1,142 summonses were issued, 148 boots were installed and 100 vehicles were towed.
Conclusion
Mazzio’s case is a prime example of how individuals with questionable backgrounds can gain access to top officials in the Adams administration. Despite being charged with participating in a mobbed-up "fraudulent monopoly" and having his company’s towing license renewal request rejected, Mazzio was able to meet with high-ranking officials and potentially secure a lucrative contract. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the administration and its dealings with supporters.
FAQs
Q: Who is Mike Mazzio and what is his company?
A: Mike Mazzio is the owner of Mike’s Heavy Duty Towing, a company that provides towing services in New York City.
Q: What was Mazzio charged with in 2018?
A: Mazzio was charged by the Manhattan District Attorney with participating in a mobbed-up "fraudulent monopoly" that controlled the city’s entire towing industry.
Q: How did Mazzio try to regain his company’s towing license?
A: Mazzio sued the city to get his company’s license back and won an injunction that let him continue operating.
Q: Who did Mazzio hire as his lobbyist?
A: Mazzio hired Jeff Klein, a former colleague of Mayor Adams, as his lobbyist.
Q: What was the outcome of Mazzio’s case?
A: Mazzio’s case is pending, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
