This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

State Sen. Tim Kennedy of Buffalo raised $662,000 in just 6 months, the most money out of all his peers in the Legislature. And he has already used some of that money to send mailers to his constituents to remind them of all the work he has done. There is speculation that he might be interested in a Buffalo mayoral run, and with that kind of money, he’ll likely be off to a strong start if he does decide to dive in.

Rat haters rejoice! The past few months have been a high point in New York City’s rat eradication efforts. Citywide Rodent Mitigation Director Kathleen Corradi and Adams announced Tuesday that 311 reports of rat sightings have dropped 20% this May through mid-July as compared to the number of sightings reported during the same period last year. In the city’s four Rat Mitigation Zones, reports have dropped 45%. While New Yorkers laughed at the idea of a “rat czar” at first, her policies seem to be working.

Twas’ a successful week for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters – the union representing UPS – and its leader Sean O’Brien. For weeks, UPS drivers in New York and around the county braved sweltering heat without any air conditioning in their trucks – which resulted in threats of a potential strike. This week, the union and UPS managed to come to a tentative agreement that addressed those concerns – including AC and increased wages– and prevented a strike that would have led to consequences on a national level.

When Portland & Cromwell Consulting emails you directly, asking for help, you help! Like so many innocent office-dwellers before them, the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee fell victim to an email phishing scam and ended up wiring $55,000 it can hardly afford to lose to a company under that name. In their defense, phishing scams have gotten more sophisticated. Our advice to RACC Chair Steve Hawley: Beware three kids stacked on top of each other in a trench coat who come around the office asking for money to help you win Assembly seats.

The luxury sports car crouched in New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino’s driveway like a panther, an Arizona temporary license plate tacked to its back. The problem? Department of Transportation officials say the plates are a fraud. While Paladino was quick to say the car belongs to her son Thomas Paladino Jr., she’s been among the leading voices condemning unlicensed cars and fake temporary plates. Perhaps her efforts should be turned to her own driveway.

It’s the end of an era on Long Island now that Harendra Singh has been sentenced to four years in prison for his bribery of former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. The sentencing judge called Singh “a one-man economic crime wave,” which is an impressive title if it didn’t mean he’ll also serve time for it. Singh played an instrumental role in getting Mangano convicted, testifying in the former county executive’s trial after admitting his own guilt. It earned him some praise from the judge, but sadly not enough to avoid prison time.