Who's up and who's down this week?
Was anyone a bigger winner this week than Barbara Underwood or Preet Bharara? Did anyone have a worse week than Sheldon Silver? Check out our weekly Winners & Losers to find out!
Grey box with words "Winners & Losers" written in black
The attorney general race is evolving every day. Is Tish James a winner for her quick campaign rollout with some big endorsements, or is she a loser for rumors that she was cutting backroom deals and is too close to Gov. Andrew Cuomo? Are other contenders losers since they can’t match James’ qualifications of being both black and female? Is Rep. Kathleen Rice a winner for abiding by election law and not running two races, or is Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney a winner for maximizing his chances by potentially running for two seats at once? Or is it too early to tell for the entire AG field? To find out, read on.
John Bonacic -
You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away … from the state Legislature. Like any good gambler, the state senator is quitting while he’s ahead – and while his party is still in power. Then this week, his gamble that the U.S. Supreme Court would allow sports gambling paid off, as New York is already prepared legislatively to let sports bets be placed here – as long as the governor decides he wants in.
Preet Bharara -
The Scourge of Albany can sleep soundly again. Crooked power broker Sheldon Silver was convicted (again) a week ago, vindicating what briefly looked like a stain on the hard-charging prosecutor’s legacy of putting corrupt Albany politicians in jail. And whether or not anyone in Albany wants him to be – it seems likely NO ONE does – everybody else thinks he should be the next attorney general. And, apparently, he’s thinking about it. Not a bad week, Preet.
Robert Jackson -
Democratic unity isn’t as easy as it sounds. The one-time New York City Councilman Jackson who is now making a run at ex-IDC state Sen. Marisol Alcantara’s seat got a boost as one of the district’s power players, Rep. Jerry Nadler, backed him over the incumbent. After failed runs for Manhattan borough president and the same state Senate seat the last two cycles, Jackson needs all the help he can get.
Velina Mitchell -
A voice for radio? Try a voice for subways. This Queens resident and rail control announcer will soon be gracing your eardrums soon as the new voice of the MTA. Mitchell recorded over a dozen announcements as part of an MTA initiative to improve communication with riders. Sure, she won’t make the delays go away, but perhaps her voice will make them seem a little less bad.
Barbara Underwood -
Last week, it was anyone’s guess who the state Legislature would choose to replace the disgraced Eric Schneiderman. But uber-competent Acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood is likely to remain in place, thanks to the support of several editorial boards and her interview detailing her own stellar record. Although the Legislature hasn't yet scheduled a vote on the issue, it's likely that this Cosmo girl will remain in place until the election.
Michael Caputo -
There’s something in the water in Western New York … and it smells like political patronage. A former resident of Russia and one-time Trump campaign aide, Caputo is already under heavy scrutiny as thoughts of collusion fills Dems’ minds. But he’s got his own problems at home, locked in a power struggle with the Erie County Water Authority. They say: You screwed us. He says: I’ll sue you too.
Bill Lipton -
In Working Families Party lore, Letitia James is a pivotal figure for winning a seat in the New York City Council while running only on the WFP line back in 2003. Back then, she capitalized on a tragedy. Now, she’s capitalizing on a scandal. But this time around, the politically expedient thing to do apparently is to abandon the WFP. So if you’re Bill Lipton, the state WFP director, that’s about as disloyal as it gets.
Vito Mustaciuolo -
Shola Olatoye is gone, but NYCHA’s problems with lead inspections haven’t disappeared with her. The agency’s general manager this week admitted that it missed its deadline for inspecting common areas for the toxin. Mustaciuolo told lawmakers that he hopes to have them done by the end of June. Because that’s exactly what residents living in potentially lead-ridden buildings want to hear.
Sheldon Silver -
A shell of his former self with a sliver of the stature he once held, Sheldon Silver will be remembered as little more than a crooked politician. The now twice-convicted ex-Assembly speaker appears to be headed for the big house for corruption – finally. Like a movie monster rearing its ugly head one last time, Silver briefly looked like he might go free after his first conviction was overturned. But just like Hollywood would have it, it looks like the good guys won this one.
Hal Teitelbaum -
Teitelbaum is the CEO of Crystal Run Healthcare, which is being investigated by the Manhattan U.S. attorney for receiving a whopping $25.4 million in state grants after several employees donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign. Now the feds are on the hunt for signs of quid pro quo, although Teitelbaum says he has “no idea” about any subpoenas. He may have felt en-Teitel-ed to money from the state government, but now he may end up paying the price.
NEXT STORY: Marcus Molinaro vs. the Empire