This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Despite New York City’s earlier efforts to block it with a last-minute rule change, it’s all systems go for Revel’s new all-electric car service. The transportation company known for its bright blue mopeds and led by Frank Reig is launching an equally bright 50-strong fleet of Teslas to serve its new ride-hailing operation. A dustup with the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission over whether Revel would be allowed to launch this fleet given a cap on new for-hire vehicle licenses appears to have now been cleared up, continuing the de Blasio administration’s mixed record of regulating the ride-hailing industry.

The U.S. Department of Justice decided to drop their investigation into the governor’s alleged mismanagement of the state’s nursing homes, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this week. That’s one probe down and (at least) three more to go! Cuomo has said he’s “eager” to see what the results of state probes into his handling of nursing homes, in addition to allegations of sexual misconduct, will reveal but only time will tell if he’ll be able to continue skirting scrutiny.

Cuomo just signed off on the two lawmakers’ latest piece of legislation aiming to give extra protection to domestic violence survivors. Domestic violence advocates now must legally commit to confidentiality when speaking with clients, with some exceptions such as disclosing suspected child abuse. The new law should hopefully give domestic violence survivors – who have already been at high-risk for abuse throughout this year – greater peace of mind when they seek support in the future.

Who watches the watchmen? Or in this case, your county district attorney? Former Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell was indicted by his predecessor (and former assistant district attorney) on charges of corruption and larceny. Public corruption is nothing to write home about in New York state, but there’s something about watching a former member of the criminal justice system fall from grace that just hits different. Cornwell has pleaded not guilty, so he’s probably hoping for a better outcome than another infamous former DA over in Suffolk County.

Politicians master the art of evading tough questions. But evading taxes? That’ll cost you. And in the former southern Brooklyn Council Member’s case, it cost him three months of his freedom, in prison, plus one year of supervised release, $107,000 in restitution and a $5,500 fine, after pleading guilty to dodging federal taxes on his real estate company. But Deutsch is lucky that he’ll never be the most notorious former representative of the 48th Council District. That, some may argue, would be Anthony Weiner.

You know you’re a sore loser when you forfeit a U.S. presidential election, then ironically decide to participate in the dismantling of democracy through an insurrection. Brooklyn plumber Daniel Christmann, who also ran for state Senate against now incumbent Julia Salazar, was arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, climbing through a window to get inside and subsequently broadcasting the event on Instagram. Hopefully he can put those plumbing skills to good use fixing this major blow to his future political prospects.