Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
This week's biggest Winners & Losers. City & State
The New York City Council announced committee leadership and assignments this week, and as it turns out, it pays to support Speaker Adrienne Adams. Justin Brannan, who dropped out of the speaker race to back Adams, secured leadership of the powerful finance committee, while Gale Brewer will head the investigations committee. But the real winner is Chi Ossé, named the chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs – a post that comes with a ticket to the Met Gala. If Ossé doesn’t serve a strong look at the gala, he’ll have us to answer to.
Kathy Hochul -
The governor raised a record-breaking $21.6 million during just five months since Andrew Cuomo announced he was stepping down, according to her latest campaign finance filing out Tuesday. She now has more money to put toward her 2022 campaign than even Cuomo did when he left office. Among her biggest donors were real estate magnates, the Rudin and Haugland families, along with tech bigs LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Comparatively, her competitors in the Democratic primary, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
Jim Malatras -
Despite resigning last month, after facing heat from the public for making disparaging remarks about Lindsey Boylan, who accused former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, the former State University of New York chancellor still appears to be making bank. Reports have indicated that Malatras will be paid $450,000 for a year-long “study leave,” and will continue to receive a $186,660 salary, which is what he was making as SUNY president, beginning next year. Talk about a severance package.
Eddie Gibbs -
For once a lawmaker who has been to prison BEFORE taking the job. The newly-elected Assembly member from East Harlem has reversed the normal order of things, since he pled guilty to manslaughter in the 80’s. Now the longtime political operative is being sent back upstate – but this time, the voters made the decision, not a judge. Hoping to join him soon are Inwood’s Manny De Los Santos and East New York’s Nikki Lucas who both secured the Democratic nomination (and effectively, the win) in their respective special elections.
Deborah Rogers -
The village of Williamsville, run by Mayor Deborah Rogers, is the only local government in Erie County that has been repeatedly flouting state-mandated mask rules. Now, the village is being sanctioned and fined by the county for failing to follow proper COVID protocols. The fine is only $300, but a penalty is still a penalty.
Margaret Chin -
The former City Council member couldn’t secure a law, but she did earn a place in the annals of history – her bill was Mayor Eric Adams’ first ever veto! And the first veto in more than eight years, since de Blasio never took up the big red pen of his predecessor. The SoHo/NoHo rezoning is still happening. Chin’s tangentially related bill that would have increased fines on non-artists living in housing designated for artists – is not.
Chuck Schumer -
Good luck Chuck. The Senate majority leader’s going to have a tough time getting much done since Senate Republicans – alongside regular Democratic defectors, Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema – shot down proposed changes to filibuster rules. That change was the only way Senate Dems could push forward their now-doomed voting rights bill, and its failure only signals how much harder it’ll get for Schumer to pass any major legislation as long as the Senate's 60-vote requirement stands.