This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several bills into law that are aimed at alleviating the state’s overdose crisis, signaling a victory in particular for one Westchester Democrat and activists who had a personal stake in the legislation. The laws will decriminalize the possession of syringes, create a directory for naloxone, which can reverse overdoses, and provide better addiction treatment to prison inmates. State Sen. Pete Harckham, who has been candid about his own struggles with substance abuse, has played a vital role, serving as the chair of the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee. Advocacy groups like Drug Policy Alliance, spearheaded by Kassandra Frederique, and VOCAL-NY were present at the signing, after fighting in Albany for the laws to get passed.  

The state budget chief is one of the few Cuomo loyalists to survive an ongoing purge by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It is just the latest example of Mujica’s knack for political survival. Not everyone is happy that the former Republican state Senate aide will keep his powerful post in the state Capitol – as well as a bajillion seats on various boards overseeing public authorities like the MTA – but good luck beating this master player of the inside game.

Damian Williams is the latest top prosecutor to lead the esteemed Southern District of New York. His appointment to the post is particularly notable as Williams is the first Black attorney to ever head the office, which is known for leading high-profile cases. Not that he’s a stranger to prosecuting notable public figures, especially given his experience nabbing convictions for New York politicians like Shelly Silver and Rep. Chris Collins. Now, he gets to take some of that investigative energy to another longtime New York politico – Rudy Giuliani, who also just so happens to have once had Williams’ job as Southern District U.S. attorney.

Correction: A previous version of this entry incorrectly stated which cases have been handled by the Southern District of New York.

Soon after the Sergeants Benevolent Association’s offices were raided by the FBI on Tuesday and computers were seized from Ed Mullins’ home in Port Washington, Long Island, the union leader resigned. While little has been said about what prompted the raid, it is believed to be a part of a federal probe into Mullins’ misuse of the union's funds. Looks like the cops union leader was causing as much trouble offline as he was online. 

On the bright side, the mayor should be commended for allowing his own Department of Investigation such independence. The bad side? A new DOI report slammed de Blasio for using his NYPD security detail as personal servants for him and his family members – like when the publicly funded security tagged along for the mayor’s presidential campaign trips. Amazing they even found out that much, given the boss of Hizzoner’s heavies was referred for possible obstruction of justice charges. Might Troopergate 2021 end de Blasio’s gubernatorial ambitions? Doubtful. 

New York City has a reputation for working with some less than stellar homeless shelter providers, but Jack A. Brown III is a real standout this week. Brown, the chief executive of CORE Services Group – a nonprofit shelter operator – has been collecting a more than $1 million salary thanks in part to the nonprofit channeling city contracts into for-profit companies Brown has a stake in, The New York Times and New York Post reported. And it turns out Brown has something in common with former President Donald Trump, whose soon-to-be former golf course was briefly slated to be taken over by CORE. Both CEOs have an affinity for hiring their family members.