This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Starbucks workers are serving up some piping hot organizing in Buffalo and beyond. The baristas’ unionization trend, which started with two now-unionized stores in Buffalo, continued this week with three other stores in the area voting to join Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. Gary Bonadonna Jr. leads the union’s work in upstate New York, but as he told City & State earlier this year, much of the credit belongs to “Generation Union.” 

The last time New York City Eric Adams got flack for an appointment, he ended up having to pay his brother a salary of $1. But now Fernando Cabrera, a Christian pastor who’s been called out for his anti-gay positions, can wipe away his tears with the $227,786 he’ll be making annually as senior advisor to the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships. He secured the job, AND the bag. Can I get a hallelujah?

The state is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to making good on social equity promises made about cannabis. Legal marijuana sales are on their way, and those with past convictions tied to the substance will be at the front of the line for licenses. State pot czar Chris Alexander still has a lot to do before those sales begin, but he can count the approval of these guidelines among an early win, especially after years of advocacy for an equity plan just like this.

The state Senate Democrats are pleading ignorance following Republican attacks after posing with a banner equating 9/11 to the impending dangers of climate change. Both lawmakers have apologized for the incident while claiming they didn’t actually read the banner. That’s a curious claim to make for someone with a literary doctorate or a guy caught on video directly referencing the banner. Still ... it’s not the first time Albany legislators have said they didn’t read something controversial before signaling their support.  

Thanks to the policing, er, practices of NYPD Sergeant David Grieco, New York City taxpayers have coughed up more than $1 million in settlements to people the cop wrongfully arrested or otherwise mishandled. The Daily News reported that Grieco is at the top of the list for most-sued cops, with 46 suits against him, including for unlawful arrests and raids without warrants. 

Rep. Tom Suozzi, who is running in the Democratic primary for governor, broke federal conflict-of-interest laws by reporting stock trades months, and sometimes years, after the disclosure deadlines, Business Insider reported. The errors were reportedly associated with 31 trades worth up to $885,000, including Apple, Boeing and BlackRock stock. Congress members are supposed to report the trades publicly within 45 days, or pay a minimum $200 fine, though the rule is rarely enforced, according to Business Insider.