This week's biggest Winners & Losers

We’re all tired of “Why I left New York” essays, but we’re dying to read one by Train Daddy. The bald-headed Brit became beloved soon after getting the job leading New York City Transit, but he said “cheerio” after too many differences of opinion with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Now he’s got a job as commissioner for Transport for London. Goodbye, Governor. ’Ello, Guv’na.  

There may be a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean victims of childhood sexual assault can’t seek justice. Lawmakers passed state Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal’s legislation to extend the lookback window for their Child Victims Act by a year because the coronavirus had shut down the courts. Advocates had always argued that the original one-year window to file civil suits regardless of how far back the allegations date wasn’t long enough. Seems like a massive public health crisis turned out to be just the push needed to get the extension.

Smaller, socially distanced religious services and Memorial Day barbecues were a perfectly fine exception to shelter-in-place rules, according to the governor. But the New York Civil Liberties Union said not so fast. The organization quickly filed a lawsuit against the state for restricting protests while carving out exceptions for other equally large gatherings. And just about as quickly, the state changed course – allowing any and all gatherings of up to 10 people given that people take precautions. 

The Republican Assembly minority leader must’ve hoped he could make a few political waves in the state Capitol by proposing legislation to limit Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency powers. Alas, it was not to be, as the lack of a response from Democratic leaders made it clear the bill was dead on arrival. We’re not saying Barclay should garner attention like his predecessor did, but they say there’s no such thing as bad press. And when was the last news cycle that Barclay dominated anyways?

This week’s most hated person in New York is Amy Cooper, who was filmed calling the cops on a black bird watcher after he asked her to leash her dog in Central Park. The video of Cooper, who told the police that there was an “African-American man threatening my life,” has gone viral. Just 24 hours after the video was shared, Cooper lost her job and her dog, and apologized for her behavior. 

State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon hasn’t cultivated a glowing reputation through the coronavirus pandemic, what with all the delays in paying unemployment insurance claims. Now, just when the department was making strides in fulfilling those claims, they’re hit with a lawsuit from Uber and Lyft drivers who say they weren’t paid benefits they're entitled to in a timely way. The lawsuit also specifies that part of the problem is getting Uber and Lyft to provide data on workers’ earnings to the state. But it’s Reardon’s – and Cuomo’s – name on the paperwork, leaving them to answer for these alleged wrongs. This is one problem that a “tech surge” – no matter how electrifying – just can’t fix.