Personality
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
Former Rep. John LaFalce may have left Congress 22 years ago and died earlier this year, but he has helped his Buffalo neighbors one final time. In September, LaFalce’s federal campaign committee donated the remaining $112,820.87 in its account to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, before officially ceasing operations this week. It’s a lasting tribute from the 14-term Tonawanda Democrat who chaired the Small Business Committee and worked to prevent another Love Canal, among other accomplishments.
Moises Rendon -
Mayor Eric Adams may be on his way out of office, but before he does, he’s creating a new Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain. It’s headed by Rendon, who currently serves as a policy adviser on those topics in the city’s technology office. Is the move akin to the captain of the Titanic appointing a new head of crypto in sight of the iceberg? Maybe. It depends how crypto-curious the city’s next mayor is.
James Skoufis & Amy Paulin -
After several vetoes from the governor, things weren’t looking too great for state Sen. James Skoufis. But in a turnaround, the state Court of Appeals upheld his and Assembly Member Amy Paulin’s law shifting many local elections from odd years to even years. And no offense to some of the vetoed bills, but none of them would have the kind of impact that permanently changing the election calendar will. The new court ruling paves the way for the first even-year municipal elections next year.
Janno Lieber -
Metropolitan Transportation Authority leader Janno Lieber has at least one fewer funding nightmare to worry about. That’s because a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration illegally withheld nearly $34 million in counterterrorism funding from the system and ordered the federal government to restore the money to New York City in full. Big shoutout to Attorney General Letitia James for leading the charge. May she be rewarded with safe delay-free travels on public transportation.
Peter Giunta -
Who would have thought praising Adolf Hitler and rape could lead to political turmoil and the loss of gainful employment? Former state Young Republican Chair Peter Giunta was fired from his day job as Assembly Member Mike Reilly’s chief of staff after a group chat where he and his allies used racist and homophobic language was leaked. The repercussions didn’t stop there. It now looks like Giunta’s inside jokes may lead to the dissolution of the entire state young republican organization.
Louis Theros -
Oh, how far the mighty have fallen. Long thought to be a shoo-in, MGM turned heads Oct. 14 when it dramatically pulled its bid for a full-fledged casino license, citing economic concerns and constraints around the length of their potential license. With Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano calling for an investigation into the twist of fate and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins echoing Spano’s suggestion of foul play, it’s not a great time to be Louis Theros, president of MGM’s Northeast Group.
John Ferretti Jr. -
Pro tip if you’re secretly plotting: the embroidery can wait. A judge found that Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti’s initial August appointment was illegal because the town board picked Ferretti in secret after his predecessor’s surprise resignation and then held a meeting to confirm it. Among the evidence was video showing Ferretti with an embroidered shirt identifying him as supervisor just hours after his appointment – proof that the appointment was planned in advance. But Ferretti remains supervisor, since the town board held a second meeting to reappoint him.