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
They say you could hear the sound of Mayor Eric Adams tapping his foot and grinding his teeth all across the Upper East Side. That’s because Mayor GSD was stuck at H-O-M-E with COVID. Thankfully, he was feeling fine enough for constant media hits, but he couldn’t be on the ground after the subway shooting in Sunset Park, and, afterwards, had to watch everyone in his administration performatively riding the train while he rode his stationary bike. Another good way to pass the time at home? Reading this week’s Winners & Losers.
Ana María Archila & Diana Reyna -
It’s a good time to be running in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. With the incumbent out, Diana Reyna and Ana Maria Archila find themselves in a head-to-head race to become the first Latina to win statewide elected office. Archila picked up some new lawmaker endorsements and Reyna became THE moderate voice of the race. Which one will benefit more from the former LG’s fall from grace remains to be seen, but news of the arrest was likely music to both their ears.
Ronald Lauder and Richard Parsons -
We wouldn’t exactly call them underdogs, but these two wealthy businessmen logged a win this week as Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks announced an expansion of the city’s Gifted and Talented education program. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio put the controversial program on the chopping block at the end of his term, but Adams said early on he would keep it in place. Cosmetics empire heir Ronald Lauder and former Citigroup chairman Richard Parsons lobbied hard against de Blasio’s education agenda, but appear to have found a friend in Adams.
Zack Tahhan -
In a peak New York moment, Zack Tahhan became an instant celebrity following the arrest of the alleged Brooklyn subway shooter in the East Village on Wednesday – and he’s taken well to his newfound fame. Tahhan, a 21-year-old Syrian who lives in Jersey City, gave an impassioned TV interview at the scene of the arrest, describing to reporters how he identified Frank James and warned people on the street to stay away from him before cops showed up and arrested him. #ThankyouZack was trending on Twitter Thursday.
Brian Benjamin -
The now ex-lieutenant governor crashed hard this week following his arrest for alleged involvement in a bribery conspiracy. He now joins the ranks of other politicians who resigned in disgrace. Not the type of history Benjamin was hoping to make when Hochul appointed him last year. But maybe Benjamin – who has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts – will make good on his lawyers’ vow to show everyone how his actions were totally “laudable – not criminal.”
Kathy Hochul -
Tip for the gov – The City isn’t paywalled. And you can probably read the Daily News and the Times Union on incognito if you bust your personal limit. So even if the former lieutenant governor lied on a vetting form, it’s not like you had no idea about his ethical controversies. So the last thing you needed as you claim a new day of ethics in Albany is for your handpicked nominal no. 2 to get arrested on corruption charges. Which serves as a reminder that the governor is ALSO mixing campaign donations with government access.
Edward Mangano -
Brian Benjamin may have dominated New York’s attention as the latest politician facing bribery allegations, but let’s not forget about Edward Mangano. After being convicted in 2019 of accepting bribes and kickbacks, the former Nassau County executive was finally sentenced to 12 years in prison, while his wife faces 15 months. That concludes a years-long saga that brought the once popular politician – who used his office to get expensive gifts and a no-show job for his wife – into disgrace.