Winners & Losers 8/14/15

The scores are in! And while we are sure many wish they could opt out of our weekly assessment of winners and losers, we are not deterred. So check out the latest results – and see how the politicians try to spin them.

WINNERS

Ursula and Charles Massoud – If there’s one thing political observers can agree on, it’s that Gov. Andrew Cuomo loves his alcohol (or the promotion of it, at least). Since becoming governor, he has designated millions of dollars to expand cideries, wineries and breweries in the state. This week, these two owners of Paumanok Vineyards won Winery of the Year at the 2015 New York Wine & Food Classic. Let’s all raise a glass to them!

Chirlane McCray -  You look at your mail, and your chest tightens. You know what it is just by looking at the envelope: jury duty. And of course they’ve scheduled it on the one week you really can’t miss. So you move heaven and earth to rearrange your schedule and rehearse what you’re going to say to the judge to please please please let you off the hook. We’ve all done it. But the Best Jury Duty Excuse Award goes to the Big Apple’s first lady, who got to postpone serving because she moved into a mansion.

Satish Tripathi – The University at Buffalo is in the money after winning a prestigious grant award from the National Institutes of Health, and the school’s president Satish Tripathi couldn’t be more proud. The $16 million grant will go a long way toward supporting research in translational medicine, but, perhaps more importantly, the recognition will raise the profile of the research university, as only 62 institutions across the country receive the funds each year.

Tom Wilmot – The Finger Lakes racino had to fold ’em this week when a judge tossed its lawsuit against the Lago casino proposal. The developers of Lago were dealt a strong hand, having been recommended by a state siting board for a license for a full-fledged casino, while Finger Lakes had sued to try to block the potential competitor. Tom Wilmot, whose company is behind the planned Lago casino, saw his odds improve with the decision, but he’ll have to beat another legal challenge before he has a chance at a full house. 

Stephanie Yazgi - What’s the key to scoring a good job these days? Networking, networking, networking. Or you could just try dating a City Hall staffer, like de Blasio aide Emma Wolfe’s longtime partner, whose $150,000-a-year job, according to the Post, was basically “just a made-up position.” Swipe right for cushy gig.

LOSERS

Yury Baumblit – When The New York Times featured Baumblit in an exposé of shoddy and dangerous conditions and exploitation of addicts and the mentally ill at so-called three-quarter houses, his lawyer denied that he had done anything wrong. But now the landlord is in a bigger mess, thanks to criminal charges filed against him for allegedly booting tenants.

Noramie Jasmin – There will be plenty of prepared meals where the ex-Spring Valley mayor is headed. A federal judge sentenced Jasmin to four years in prison and fined her $20,000 for selling her affirmative vote on a proposal to build a community center near a municipal complex. She also sought profits from a catering hall planned in the community center.

Martin Reid – The former Rensselaer County Legislature chairman resigned this week hours after he was charged in a 41-count indictment. The lawmaker collected $15,000 in unemployment benefits while earning a $30,000 salary for his legislative work. It was the perfect crime, and he would have got away with it too if wasn’t for those pesky prosecutors.

Tom Prendergast – Nobody said it would be easy. But the MTA chairman has taken heat on several fronts this week: A state audit contended the portion of subways ending their route within five minutes of their scheduled arrival fell in 2014; plans to replace 1964-era subway trains were pushed back another four years; and amNewYork, famous for hawking their free paper at the city's busiest subway stops, deplored the delays on its cover.

Michael Powers – After the prison break at the Clinton Correctional Facility this summer, the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association faced a lot of criticism, but unfortunately for the union the worst may be yet to come. This week, the Times broke a story alleging correction officers at the facility physically abused inmates after the prison break in hopes of gaining information about the escapees. Good luck winning this PR war.