Winners & Losers 7/17/15

The big competition this week was a dash for cash, with elected official flaunting their rich campaign war chests. Donald “TEN BILLION DOLLARS” Trump got in on the act too, updating the nation’s voters on his growing net worth. But the elections are months away—and money isn’t everything in a campaign—so we looked elsewhere to find the week’s winners and losers.

WINNERS

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Bannister – With the federal government issuing plans for a 40,000 troop and 17,000 civilian worker reduction for the U.S. Army, northern New Yorkers worried that decision could mean large losses for Fort Drum and the local economy. But Bannister brought good news this week when Fort Drum largely avoided cuts with only 28 troops relocated. Later reports from Sen. Charles Schumer said the base would also dodge most of the civilian cuts and retain most of its staff, another huge win for Bannister and the residents around Watertown. 

Richard Brown – The Queens District Attorney’s office is set to collect $116 million from its share of the HSBC Holdings PLC’s $1.9 billion settlement in 2012. This may be chump change for Donald Trump, the money is more than enough for the prosecutor to upgrade its office and take credit for helping keep the borough's coffers flush. 

Amy Paulin – The state assemblywoman found out this week that a bi-state effort to make the Port Authority open up its records to the public was successful, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signing the legislation late last month. Paulin was one of multiple lawmakers championing the bill, and it’s also a win for reporters and the public. Of course we’re biased in favor of more FOILs—but after the Bridgegate scandal, can you blame us?

John Samuelsen – As bike enthusiasts turned their attention to Tour de France, the TWU Local 100 President announced those tending the Citi Bike system had been victorious and became the nation's first bike-share program to reach a union contract agreement. The deal will give workers at least $1.50 more an hour, and TWU hopes to use it as a model for agreements in Boston and Chicago. 

Scott Stringer - The news media was kind to the New York City Comptroller this week as he grabbed headlines for yet another NYCHA audit and also was front and center as the city announced a settlement deal with the family of Eric Garner. There weren't any home runs, but when you can rack up singles and doubles and avoid striking out then you can call it a good week at the office. 

LOSERS

Bill de Blasio - See below.

Andrew Cuomo - Politicians like to say they don't pay too much attention to polls. I think we all know that's not true. They care. And when a reputable polling institute like Siena College says only 39 percent of voters think you are doing a good job, you have a problem. Equally as alarming, less than half of voters have a favorable opinion of him. On a couple of his signature issues—improving the economy and reforming education—voters pan him as well.  The one silver-ish lining (maybe nickel silver is a more apt description) from the poll is that people find Cuomo more trustworthy and effective than New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio—which is why the world-traveling mayor has landed back on the list.

Alphonso David – It's hard to say whether gun-control or gun-rights advocates won after the recent SAFE Act deal between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan ... even harder when you figure both sides can't really sort through the confusion. One thing that is clear is that the job of trying to explain this mess has fallen to Cuomo’s counsel, who is sure to have some frustrating days ahead. 

Marcello Trebitsch – The son-in-law of disgraced former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, didn’t do any good for the family’s reputation when he plead guilty on Monday to running a Ponzi scheme and agreed to pay back more than $5.9 million to the victims.  According to filings, Trebitsch admitted that he fooled clients into investing $6 million over seven years by telling them that he would invest their money generating double-digit returns with minimal risk. When it sounds too good to be true, it's probably not true. But when you are given fake account statements and tax forms showing gains, as Trebitsch did to his investors, it's easy to see why they were led astray.  

Thomas Wilmot - A lucrative casino license is not worth much if you can't build your casino. That's the situation the owner of Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County found himself in when an appeals court nixed the local approval plan after finding that the town board was found to have violated a state environmental law. Wilmot has called the order to halt construction a mere “detour” and says he’s confident his casino will get a license come fall—but we doubt Mr. Wilmot is so blasé about the delay in private when he thinks of the dollars the delay will cost him as the days tick away.