This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

One of the key witnesses to the photobombing of former interim NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon, the New York City Police Department deputy commissioner of operations has reportedly been picked by Mayor Eric Adams to be the new deputy mayor of public safety. It’s the culmination of a shocking rise for Daughtry, a close associate of former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey who miraculously overcame misconduct allegations after jumping six ranks from detective to NYPD assistant commissioner.

At least one Adams is still getting love. Amid the chaos circulating around the New York City mayoral race, some of the state’s most powerful political players are looking to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for rescue. Attorney General Letitia James and others are reportedly making calls to promote the low-key but well-respected speaker. While there’s no guarantee she’ll run, it’s gotta be flattering when people are begging you to be mayor.

It’s not dead yet! Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government Executive Director Sanford Berland and Chair Leonard Austin saw their ethics panel saved by the state Court of Appeals this week, which ruled COELIG has a constitutional right to exist. It was a win for Berland and Austin and a win for ethics – less so for ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who filed the suit after COELIG probed his $5 million book deal for a COVID-19 pandemic memoir. 

Flattering someone’s New Yorker bona fides will get you pretty far in this world. But it wasn’t enough to stave off President Donald Trump’s attempt to kill congestion pricing. Now it’s back to the battlefield for Metropolitan Transportation Authority President Janno Lieber. Lieber has defended the tolling program before and has said he’s prepared to do it again. But the congestion pricing roller coaster has a lot of ups and downs for even the feistiest rider.

Getting ID’ed is a flattering experience for many. Not so much for Tim Pearson, former senior adviser to Mayor Eric Adams. After being asked for identification to access a migrant shelter, Pearson refused and eventually shoved two security guards, a man and a woman, before getting them arrested as he claimed he was the victim in October 2023. Yesterday, a NYC Department of Investigation probe concluded he committed misconduct, adding to his legal issues which includes a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Hopefully the Correctional Leaders of America advises its members to avoid a prison strike, prison riots and calling in the National Guard at once. If not, maybe New York prisons chief Daniel Martuscello III, a CLA board member, can share this advice, once he navigates the state’s prisons out of this unholy trifecta. In a bizarre silver lining for Martuscello, the President Donald Trump-produced congestion pricing and Mayor Eric Adams soap operas have higher ratings this week.