Winners & Losers 11/04/16

Some are calling it the win of the century. A long-suffering fan base finally gets to celebrate great news – and in such an exciting fashion! Yes, all you de Blasi-fans, after years of criticism, the Post has written an op-ed with unequivocal praise for Hizzoner complimenting his plans for an online bail payment system. Not everything is topsy-turvy this week, though: Anthony Weiner is still a loser.

WINNERS

Carmen Fariña – The New York City Education Department made progress on a key goal this week when new data showed school suspensions dropped more than 15 percent from 2014-15 to 2015-16. What’s more, crime in schools has gone down, with arrests and summonses also on the decline. There are still some critics against the de Blasio administration’s approach, but the mayor can tell them to go sit in a corner.  

Sara Horowitz & Brad Lander – New York City is home to so many freelancers – more than a million, by some estimates – that it’s not a surprise that it’s the first place to pass legislation  protecting them against wage theft. The so-called Freelance Isn’t Free Act passed unanimously late last week, a victory for Lander, the bill’s sponsor, Horowitz, who heads up the Freelancers Union, and of course the city’s many independent workers.

Frank Morano & Curtis Sliwa – Donald Trump’s not the only media celebrity to get into politics. Radio host Frank Morano and political personality Curtis Sliwa won spots on the re-formed Reform Party this fall, and this week a judge ruled that Sliwa could keep his position as party chairman. But for many New Yorkers, Sliwa is still that slightly nutty guy who shows up on NY1 every week.

Basil Smikle – In a blue state like New York, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Democrats have an enrollment edge. But new data released by the state Board of Elections show the number of Democratic voters has continued to rise since 2008. That’s good news for the executive director of the state’s Democratic Party, although it hasn’t helped the party regain control of the state Senate. Yet.

Ruben Wills – It’s the perfect move for a lawmaker who’s a possible lawbreaker. While the Queens city councilman is under indictment, he got a bill passed requiring the Department of Correction to hand out ballots to jailed inmates and help them register to vote. It’s a win for voting rights – and will comfort Wills if he ever has to take advantage of the legislation himself.

LOSERS

James Burke – The former Suffolk County police chief’s legal troubles began when he beat up Christopher Loeb, who was in custody for breaking into Burke’s car and stealing a duffel bag – which just so happened to have porn and sex toys in it. This week, Burke had to listen to this petty thief lecture him in court, where the ex-chief was ultimately sentenced to nearly four years in prison.

Daniel Derenda – You know things are bad for Buffalo’s top cop when the police union and criminal justice reform activists are coming together to criticize him. An Investigative Post report this week revealed that the department offers little use of force and de-escalation training, with most of the instruction coming in the form of classroom lectures rather than simulation, even as officers have pleaded for more.

Matt Driscoll & Joanie Mahoney – Despite multiple notices noting that they were out of compliance with federal regulations, Driscoll’s Department of Transportation and Mahoney’s Thruway Authority went happily along using public money and resources to install signage that promotes tourism along major roads throughout the state. This head scratcher left us wondering: Was it hubris or incompetence?

Larry Schwartz – Gov. Andrew Cuomo put several of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s appointees to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on hold for months, prompting one critic to claim that the governor and the state Senate were “Merrick Garland-ing the MTA.” But the governor had one appointee of his own, former top aide Larry Schwartz, who left another MTA spot more less vacant. The reason? Schwartz missed dozens of hearings and meetings over nearly a year and half.  

Anthony Weiner – Does anyone else have potentially costing Hillary Clinton the election on their conscience? The Clinton campaign iced him out long ago – way before the FBI announced it stumbled upon a cache of emails potentially relevant to its Clinton probe while looking into Weiner’s sexting. Now Democrats are bluntly saying they only tolerated Weiner because of his wife, a top Clinton aide. But at least the shame seems to be sinking in, given that Weiner has checked into rehab.