Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
Donald Trump seems to have taken a page out of the Albany playbook during the debate, telling moderators that he had the “concepts of a plan” on health care – which sure sounds a lot like the language used during budget negotiations. State leaders are well known for announcing the “framework” of a deal or a “conceptual agreement” on a spending plan. But despite being criticized for making untrue and misleading statements during the debate, Trump was not the one whom Rep. Mike Lawler called a “lying sack of shit” this week. That honor went to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as he testified before Congress.
Byron Brown -
It seems like it’s always a bridesmaid, never a bride, in the Buffalo mayor’s quest for an exit ramp. Well, cue the music, because Byron Brown is now in contract negotiations to become Western Regional OTB president. Brown’s exit after 19 years would pave the way for Buffalo Council President Chris Scanlon to become acting mayor for a year. And outgoing OTB chief Henry Wojtaszek may join Western New York mayoral musical chairs with a bid for North Tonawanda mayor next year.
Mathew Bianchi -
There apparently is such a thing as a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, and NYPD officers get to distribute them to family and friends to help evade minor citations for speeding or not wearing a seatbelt. Police officer Mathew Bianchi claims he repeatedly refused to honor the so-called “courtesy cards” and was penalized for the integrity. Joke’s on the NYPD because Bianchi got a $175,000 settlement for the alleged retaliation. And he still works for the department, which seems awkward, but maybe having an extra 175 grand soothes the tension.
Torrance Harvey -
Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey and the City Council have cause for celebration after opting in to “good cause” eviction on Monday. It’s a big win for housing policy under his tenure, especially since the Hudson Valley city’s earlier attempt to pass a local “good cause” eviction law and its recent attempts to implement rent control were struck down in state court.
Edward Caban -
From New York’s Finest to New York’s Fired. New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned his position on Thursday, a week after becoming one of the latest officials in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to be raided by federal authorities. The feds are reportedly looking into whether Caban’s twin brother James profited from his brother’s position in the NYPD to sell consulting services to nightclubs, but no one has been accused of any wrongdoing by authorities yet. It’s also unclear why Caban was forced out but other Adams aides being looked at by the feds still have their jobs.
Randy Mastro -
If you can’t beat them, leave them? After a bruising 11-hour hearing last month, Randy Mastro withdrew his nomination for New York City corporation counsel – a highly prestigious position that he called his dream job. Facing slim chances of approval, he wrote to Adams days before the scheduled vote to thank the mayor for the opportunity and complain that City Council members had denied him a fair hearing. It remains to be seen whom Adams will choose to advance for the position next.
Marc Molinaro -
It’s hard to imagine what Rep. Marc Molinaro hoped to gain from sharing a racist, debunked conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating pets. The Republican got ratioed hard on social media, gaining just eight likes on his post compared to more than 120 replies, almost all of them critical. Molinaro was then called out by Haitian elected officials in New York – and even fellow Hudson Valley GOP Rep. Mike Lawler gently suggested that his colleagues should exhibit “restraint” before sharing damaging, unfounded rumors.