This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Say bon voyage to toxic diesel fumes! This week, the City Council passed Avilés and Bottcher’s bill requiring cruise ships to connect to the city’s power grid when docked – instead of continuing to burn their diesel engines while in port. But it may be tough for cruise ships to comply with the new law: Brooklyn’s Red Hook port isn’t able to supply shore-based power to the largest ships, and Manhattan’s cruise terminal doesn’t provide any shore-based power at all.

They may have been robbed of their snow days, but at least the city’s public school students get to keep their French toast sticks. The city reversed its decision to remove some popular items from school cafeterias this week, following backlash from students and confusion about the reason for the cuts. The mayor’s preferred plant-based smoothies are all well and good, but what’s a varied palate without a bean burrito?

Her reign continues. For the seventh year in a row, Kasirer – helmed by Suri Kasirer – was ranked the top lobbying firm in New York City. The firm’s dominance was so prominent that roughly one in every seven lobbying dollars went to Kasirer in 2023. Talk about cashing in big. Makes sense with a client list 235 strong – also the biggest in the city.

The Guardian Angels founder’s botched Fox News appearance last month, in which members of his community patrol organization beat a Bronx man who tried to disrupt the live broadcast from Times Square, is turning into a legal headache. The 22-year-old victim, who emigrated with his family from Mexico 20 years ago but was randomly called a “migrant” and “shoplifter” by Sliwa on TV, is suing and has filed a criminal complaint over the attack.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to haunt him. The House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic wants to have a little chat with him about his oft-cited early pandemic instructions to readmit patients with COVID to nursing homes – which critics said led to more deaths. Republicans who lead the committee aren’t likely to be sympathetic to Cuomo’s line that he was only following Trump administration guidance and that there have already been several investigations into this. The deposition is scheduled for May 24.

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner announced a bold new proposal: surge pricing but for burgers. He quickly learned that you don’t mess with people’s food. The public outcry saw Wendy’s backtrack and even start a new promotion of $1 burgers. The pain didn’t stop there, as Assembly Member Angelo Santabarbara introduced a bill that would ban “dynamic pricing” for food, with Wendy’s serving as inspiration. Santabarbara said he’s not a big fast food guy, and he doesn’t see himself getting a Dave’s Single anytime soon.