Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
Forget the budget coyote – where were you for the Great New York Budget Hack of 2024? Truly, anything that could go wrong in the budget process this year would go wrong. But more than two weeks after the original deadline, lawmakers were finally ready to start their marathon sessions of debate and voting in hopes of wrapping up before the Passover holiday – and their scheduled legislative spring break. If they can make it over the finish line, we’ll all be winners with a finalized state spending plan.
Chuck Schumer -
Move over former Gov. DeWitt Clinton, Chuck Schumer is now in the driver’s seat for the Syracuse region. The Senate majority leader and CHIPS Act author announced $6.1 billion in federal CHIPS funding to Micron for its new plants in the Syracuse suburbs and a plant in Idaho. Syracuse University law alum President Joe Biden will celebrate the funding in Syracuse next week. Schumer touted Micron as the best thing to happen to Syracuse since Clinton’s pet project, the Erie Canal.
Amy Cohen -
After several years of advocacy from Amy Cohen, Sammy’s Law – named after her late son – is finally poised to become law. Since Sammy was killed by a car in 2013, Cohen has been a leader in the fight to make New York City’s streets safer. The legislation would allow the city to decrease speed limits to as low as 20 mph. Despite widespread support, a pocket of opposition in the Assembly has stalled the law’s passage. But Hochul confirmed that Cohen’s legislation will be included in this year’s state budget.
Ligia Guallpa -
Sorry NIMBYs. New York City is officially moving forward with a plan to transform an old vacant newsstand outside of City Hall into a hub for delivery workers. Billed as a necessity to support the tens of thousands of app-based couriers working in the city, the station will function as a rest and e-bike charging facility. It’s a big win for Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Workers Justice Project, which helped put the project together and is expected to staff the station during peak delivery hours.
Colin Ahearn -
More than a fortnight after the state budget was due, the state Legislature’s Bill Drafting Commission was hit with a cyber attack. The commission is responsible for, you guessed it, drafting bills – which is a pretty darn crucial part of the state budgeting process. Fortunately, the hack only paralyzed legislative operations for a few hours before the government switched to a ”backup system.” But it’s safe to say that Colin Ahearn, the state’s chief cyber officer, had a pretty stressful Wednesday.
Bo Dietl -
Following his two obscene rants to reporters this week, Bo Dietl and his company were fired from working on Mayor Eric Adams’ legal defense trust. Dietl – a former police detective turned failed politician and conservative media host – cursed out reporters at the Daily News and Politico, telling the latter to “Go suck dick somewhere.” After being fired, Dietl reportedly told the Daily News that he took a vow not to curse anymore and visited his priest. But it might take more than 10 Hail Marys to get the job done for Dietl.
Marc Molinaro -
Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro’s campaign enters spring in a tough spot. His opponent, Democrat Josh Riley, has had multiple strong quarters of fundraising. Lagging in receipts and cash on hand, Molinaro must now seek reelection in a race that is expected to be both very expensive and very close – with a war chest that is more than $700,000 smaller than Riley’s, who aims to make the most of their rematch.