Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
The only thing New York City Mayor Eric Adams might hate more than rats is the departure of the woman charged with taking them down, as former rat czar Kathy Corradi – long may she reign – is taking a job at the New York City Housing Authority. Meanwhile, the salt the Transit Workers Union has for Adams, who recently called for banning horse carriages, has been literally palpable: Horse carriage supporters with TWU dropped off sour cream and onion chips at City Hall, a nod to a now-infamous incident.
Louis Theros, Ed Domingo & Robert DeSalvio -
The casino bids for Genting America’s Resorts World in Southeast Queens and MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino have been considered a slam dunk from the start, but for now, they are the only two to reach the final stage of the bidding process, having just been approved by their respective community advisory committees. Genting America’s East President Robert DeSalvio is sitting pretty, and so is Louis Theros of MGM. Theros’ predecessor, Ed Domingo, is probably celebrating Down Under, too.
Yvonne Flowers -
You’ve heard of express trains, but what about super express? Metro-North Railroad riders from Poughkeepsie will now be able to get to Grand Central in just 90 minutes. These new travel options should be a boon for Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers, whose city could attract more New York City commuters and more economic growth on the outer reaches of the MTA’s system. Just what every city wants, more modern luxury apartment complexes that all look the same.
Chris Scanlon -
Chris Scanlon came up short in his bid to remain king of the Queen City, but Buffalo’s acting mayor is being a good neighbor to future mayors. Scanlon won a lawsuit this week saying that Buffalo Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams must issue capital project bonds approved in the budget. Miller-Williams said the bonds threatened the city’s precarious finances. While Scanlon stops reigning from Buffalo’s towering city hall in January, he’s not going far, as he remains Council president.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie -
A Department of Correction employee violated New York City’s own sanctuary city policies that largely bar local collaboration with federal immigration authorities. His defense, which a city watchdog report found credible, was that he didn’t even know he was breaking the law. That leaves department leadership like DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie on the hook for failing to provide proper training and guidance to its staffers.
Edward Cerna -
There’s being a dedicated employee and then there’s running afoul of fundraising guidelines. City Council Member Alexa Avilés’ chief of staff Edward Cerna got fined $2,250 by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board after he encouraged fellow staff to donate to their boss’ campaign. Is this what it means to “care too much” at work?
Ron Lauder -
Imagine having to pay nearly $1 million to settle an inquiry into whether your super PAC illegally coordinated with the failed gubernatorial campaign of Lee Zeldin. Even for a billionaire, that’s got to hurt. So is the case for cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder – one of the Republican Party’s most generous bankrollers. A major backer for super PACs Save Our State Inc. and Safe Together New York, Lauder now has the pleasure of footing most of the hefty penalty.