Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
Bill de Blasio scored a candid Q&A in New York Magazine this week where he got to look back at the highs and lows of his mayoralty. He also got slapped the next day with having to pay a whopping $475,000 for using city resources for his ill-fated presidential run while he was still mayor. At least de Blasio vowed he won’t run again because he “got the memo” that people are tired of him. Perhaps he just found out why. For more tales of winning and losing, read on.
Renee Campion -
New York City Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion is batting a thousand. A rare holdover from the de Blasio administration, Campion has now secured several major labor contracts with the Adams administration, including two tentative contracts this week alone for the Uniformed Officers Coalition and the United Federation of Teachers. While the employees on the other ends of these contracts could arguably be considered winners as well, Campion deserves credit for getting the agreements to home plate.
Catalina Cruz -
Democrats finally got the Clean Slate Act passed in the Assembly, with the help of sponsor Catalina Cruz. Along with a version of the bill that previously passed in the state Senate, this is the first time both houses have approved the legislation that would seal criminal records for people who become eligible after a set number of years – eight for felonies and three for misdemeanors. It’s now up to Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign or veto the bill.
Alex Bores & Brad Hoylman-Sigal -
The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman and the first term Upper East Sider can channel their inner-Oprah by going “you get a judgeship” at a bar association meeting. The pair passed legislation creating 21 new judgeships across the state. No doubt a way to address caseloads but also plum gigs for attorneys with black robe wishes and gavel dreams. If Bores or Hoylman-Sigal tire of creating new judicial prizes, we hear Pat Sajak’s job is open.
Eric Adams -
All Eric Adams wanted to do was party. But four different LGBTQ+ groups boycotted his Pride celebration for the second year in a row. The groups cited the appointment of two advisors who they consider to be anti LGBTQ+ as reason for skipping the mayor’s shindig. And if he wasn’t already feeling rejected, New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell informed him she was stepping down amid reports that he micromanaged her out the door. Sewell may have found validation in her decision when she received a standing ovation at NYPD headquarters, sans the mayor.
Janet DiFiore -
As if resigning last summer after facing ethics charges for allegedly abusing her authority wasn’t embarrassing enough, former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore will now have to say sayonara to her security detail and drivers as well. In a blatant rebuke to her administration, new Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas has barred former judges from receiving court-funded protective details if they resign from their position.
Kathy Hochul -
It’s safe to say Gov. Kathy Hochul concluded her second legislative session in office on a considerably sour note. After the Legislature killed the governor’s Housing Compact plan, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie shifted blame to Hochul in the waning days of session, for apparently failing to come on board with their housing plan – although they had not introduced or passed any housing bills for her to review. To make matters worse, the Senate did not take up a vote to confirm her pick to lead the state’s power authority: Justin Driscoll – which several climate advocates characterized as a win. Better luck next year madame governor!
NEXT STORY: Interview: Conquering procurement reform