Winners and Losers 10/10/14

Gov. Cuomo could have made our Winner's list this week: He won the backing of the Business Council, started hawking his new self-congratulatory memoir, and announced plans for a world tour in 2015. But not so fast: It was also revealed that a state-commissioned fracking study from 2011 was edited a little too heavily in its final draft, so we're not sure where that leaves the governor. Then there’s Preet Bharara—an even clearer choice, seeing as he topped Worth Magazine’s “100 Most Powerful People in Finance” list, beating out multiple heads of state, including President Obama. But Preet’s been such a perennial Winner of late that we decided it would be best to keep the cast of characters fresh. Keep reading to brush up on who did make the list this week, and be sure to vote!

WINNERS

Michael Bloomberg - The billionaire mogul and former New York City mayor added another choice item to his résumé this week with Queen Elizabeth II naming him an honorary Knight of the British Empire. Mike's dubbing was in recognition of such services to Her Majesty as locating his European headquarters in London and, as the New York Times put it, “exchanging outdoor advertising space” with former London Mayor Boris Johnson in an effort to boost tourism in both cities. Bloomberg, the Times reported, also had the admirable habit of “throwing parties at a two-story apartment on Cadogan Square.” It’s hard to argue with that sort of civic-mindedness. Because Bloomberg is not a British subject, he is not allowed to be addressed officially as “Sir Bloomberg,” but we greatly look forward to his jousts.

John Cahill - In a surprising move, the state Business Council endorsed the Republican candidate for state attorney general, issuing its first ever endorsement for the position. That announcement came on the heels of a Quinnipiac poll suggesting that Cahill is the Republican candidate with the best chance of winning statewide this cycle—though that's not saying much, given that the Q poll still had him down by 12 points.

Tom DiNapoli - As good as it is to have dominating poll numbers and a campaign warchest that far outmatches his opponent, it's extra sweet for DiNapoli that the independent credit agency Moody's praised his performance this week while simultaneously castigating New Jersey for failing to run its pension fund as efficiently as New York.

Sean Patrick Maloney - The DCCC is disappointed with two of its upstate candidates—Martha Robertson and Aaron Woolf—but that just means the Congressional Dems are going to have more time and money to help Maloney in his rematch with Nan Hayworth. On top of that good news for the freshman Rep., two prominent Republican elected officials in his neck of the woods got behind his campaign this week, upping Maloney's bipartisan cred in the swing district.

Eva Moskowitz and James Merriman - After the election of Mayor de Blasio, many thought the charter school movement could be on life support in New York City. Well, it sure looks like the reports of its demist were greatly exaggerated. The SUNY Board of Regents approved 17 more charters for New York City this week, including 14 for Moskowitz's juggernaut Success Academy, which is sure to keep both Moskowitz and Merriman, the CEO of the NYC Charter School Center, smiling.

LOSERS

Martin Golden - You know you’re having a bad week when Preet Bharara’s on your trail. The U.S. Attorney is reportedly investigating Sen. Golden’s campaign finances, which were also reportedly being looked at by the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption before Gov. Cuomo abruptly shuttered it. Ultimately, this could all wind up being much ado about nothing, but how often does that happen when Preet's on the case?

Michael Gianaris - Maybe there was a reason state Sen. Jeff Klein of the IDC wanted to wait until after the November elections to commit 100 percent to a reunification with the Senate Democrats. According to new polls out this week, three first-term Democrats have some serious catching up to do by Election Day, and that’s in addition to strong leads for two Republicans on Long Island in districts that also were expected to be competitive. For Gianaris, who’s heading the Senate Dems’ reelection efforts, there’s a lot of work to do and only a little time—or it’s going to be a long wait until 2016. 

Jerome Hauer - The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services commissioner reportedly had never paid a Latham restaurant for catering a $3,000 picnic (sales tax and tip not included!) in August for the agency. The owner apparently did finally wind up getting a $2,000 payment—a day AFTER a Times Union reporter called about the bill. Hopefully, a financial settlement can be reached without Hauer having to reach for his laser pointer.

Joseph Martens - With Bill Clinton, it depends on what your definition of “is” is. In the Cuomo administration, it depends of your definition of “independent.” That kind of semantic debate came up again this week when the news broke that New York officials had delayed a federal water study tied to the state’s never-ending review of hydrofracking and dropped out or downplayed inconvenient details. It’s unclear if Martens had any direct role, but his Department of Environmental Conservation certainly did. It’s also unclear what Cuomo knows. Asked why it happened, Cuomo said, “I don’t know.” 

Al Sharpton - Despite enjoying more political clout than ever before, the walls seem to be closing in on the Rev's inner circle. One week after his former aide's cop-hating live-in boyfriend became tabloid fodder, Sharpton's longtime attorney buddy Sanford Rubenstein was accused of rape by one of Sharpton's board members after his 60th birthday party. No matter how much Mayor de Blasio, Gov. Cuomo and every other New York politician sings his praises, at a certain point the company Sharpton keeps will become a liability, if it hasn't already.