Winners & Losers 8/28/15

The Great New York State Fair is in full swing, so you may not have noticed that Lower Manhattan held its own summer fair this week. There were costumed characters (engaged in a "turf war" in Battery Park) and a roller coaster (the stock market). All it needed was to deep fry our winners and losers list and serve it on a stick ... so you will have to settle for the online version. Bon appétit!

WINNERS

Letitia James – A profile in the Monday issue of The New York Times is just the most recent boost for New York City’s public advocate, who last week was the subject of a number of articles that hinted at her running for mayor. The glowing article highlighted James' experience as a former public defender and how it is allowing her to define and expand on her role as both a civil and legal defender for the city’s voiceless. In the world of progressive Democratics, positive recognition from the Times is about as good as it gets. 

Christopher Kay - The New York Racing Association is hitting its stride. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is set to race in Saratoga’s Travers Stakes this weekend, generating excitement and likely boosting betting. NYRA already saw higher than expected operating income when the horse ran at Belmont, building on the rising racino revenues that put an end to a lot of red ink. Now all NYRA President Chris Kay has to do is navigate the association’s eventual return to private oversight.

Karen Magee – Critics of the NYSUT president and the opt-out movement lost an argument this week when it was announced that school districts with high opt-out numbers will not lose federal funding. If they had, Magee may have been public enemy No. 1 in some parts of the state. Now, it looks like her bet to push districts to opt out has paid off.

Roxanne Persaud- Roxanne’s on the rise! Last year, Persaud was essentially appointed to the Assembly when the Brooklyn Democrats picked her to run for an open seat in a special election. This year she’ll likely be moving up to the state Senate, now that she’s the party’s official nominee for John Sampson’s old seat. Then again, the biggest winner might be Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio, who gets to replace one loyalist with another – without even having to muddle through a pesky primary.

Laura Santucci – If only all jobs paid people six figures after they failed. De Blasio’s former chief of staff was paid up to $250,000 for her role in running the bid to host the Democratic National Convention in New York City – which didn’t exactly pan out the way they hoped.

LOSERS

Ruben Diaz Sr. – Let’s hope the reverend wasn’t making a Freudian slip. Diaz announced plans to introduce legislation outlawing breast-baring by both men and women so that “equality laws” would not stand in the way of rooting out topless women working for tips and the “immorality” in Times Square, Diaz said. His bill, however, inadvertently called for legalizing full nudity in public pools and beaches, according Bill Mahoney.

Joe Mascia – The embattled Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority board member took another hit, with Mayor Byron Brown issuing a letter saying he is suspended from the board for violating BMHA policy. This all started when Mascia used the N-word to describe Brown and other African-American leaders in a recorded conversation that was published by The Buffalo News in July. The longtime tenant representative on the board is fighting back, and continuing his run for Common Council, but his racist diatribe continues to be the focus as he presses on.

Naked Cowboy - Robert Burck had a nice thing going in Times Square, but then the desnudas came along and caused an uproar. Now he faces the threat of getting booted from the tourist trap that has filled his pockets. Rep. Carolyn Maloney this week said Burck should be treated the same as topless women. If they go, he should go, in the name of equality. At least he is preparing for a potential fight by trying out his act with a bra on.   

Shirley Patterson – The failed Assembly candidate from Brooklyn has seemingly become the sacrificial lamb for the LLC loophole gods. Patterson, whose campaign accepted donations from multiple companies, controlled by the same person or people, and in excess of campaign finance law limits, is now being sued by the state’s board of elections for those transgressions. While high profile pols like Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman have been roundly criticized for exploiting the exact same loophole, both have managed to avoid trouble. She’s a loser this week, but maybe Patterson will be rewarded for taking the fall.

Mike Verbitsky - The 19-year-old who shot a member of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s security detail in the back claimed through his attorney at his arraignment that the shooting was accidental. That would be somewhat more believable if Verbitsky wasn’t being accused of two separate pellet gun shootings at windows in nearby buildings. There’s stupid teenage decisions that we all made growing up, and then there are the decisions that get you charged with assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of criminal mischief.