This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority has New York in the crosshairs. The country’s top court struck down its concealed carry law, dealing a major blow to the state’s efforts to regulate gun ownership. Tom King, who helms the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association that took on the case, has been taking a victory lap. After all, while the governor and state lawmakers are planning to reconvene to try to preserve some restrictions, the Supreme Court has taken a lot of options off the table.

As the president of Disabled in Action, Jean Ryan is one of many, many advocates who deserve credit for pushing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make its subway stations accessible. Justice will come slowly – the MTA plans to have elevators and ramps in 95% of stations by 2055. But a baby in a stroller being carried upstairs today may not face the same issue when that baby has a baby of its own. 

Like 11-year-olds waiting for their letter from Hogwarts, progressive candidates must check their inboxes every day (we imagine) for that most coveted of endorsements: one that comes with an army of donors from around the country and the attention of young voters glued to Instagram. AOC, the holy grail. Ana María Archila, who herself is becoming something of a sensation, nabbed it this week, according to The New York Times, making the LG race even more interesting.

Cheap rent we hardly knew ye. Under the de Blasio administration, New Yorkers living in one of the city’s 1 million rent stabilized units saw little to no yearly increase in their monthly rents. That era has come to an end. On Tuesday, the Rent Control Board – which approves yearly rent increases for these units – voted to hike rents by 3.25%.  The highest increase in nearly a decade. Pro-tenant groups like the Legal Aid Society had vociferously fought to prevent this outcome, but a more landlord friendly board did not go along with that plan.

The federal monitor overseeing reform at Rikers Island may be having second thoughts about New York City retaining control of the jail complex after another inmate at the facility died this week, making it the ninth death of a detainee this year. The death comes after the city Department of Correction managed to dodge a federal takeover of the jail after reports that dangerous and inhumane conditions were worsening at the facility. All eyes are on the department’s commissioner, Louis Molina, who last month dismissed additional federal authority at Rikers, claiming that his office’s plan for reform would be enough to remedy the situation.

“It is better to learn from the mistakes of others than to wait until you make them yourself.” This 1905 newspaper quote could’ve helped Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz avoid a mess this week. The prosecutor was caught by a New York Post stakeout using her NYPD security detail to help her move into her new home, potentially running afoul of ethics rules. And it’s the same type of scandal that took down her mentor, then-state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who had to resign after he was accused of using his security detail to chauffer his wife around for years.