This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

The most talked-about figure in the New York City mayoral election who wasn’t actually a candidate for mayor has fulfilled her prophecy: Becoming the most talked-about hire of the Mamdani administration. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch accepted Mamdani’s offer to stay on in the role when he takes office, sealing her place in what’s been described as her dream job – while doing plenty of good for Mamdani’s big tent bonafides, too.

Come one, come all, here’s hoping this will help more kids have a … ball? That’s certainly what schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos is hoping for. Starting fall 2026, New York City is adding 10,000 after-school seats at 75 schools and 11 community centers. The $331 million investment will significantly increase access to this important programming for families across the city, allowing more parents to work while benefiting children’s social and physical development.

The New York Times declared in a March headline, “Everyone Hates Sidewalk Sheds.” They may not have to for long, though, thanks to a set of new design parameters rolled out by New York City Buildings Department Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. The six approved shed designs will let in more light and feel less like a cage. While the ugly green sheds of today won’t be phased out, it would be nice to see developers embrace these more stylish designs.

The former Eric Adams staffer got off relatively easy, avoiding jail time in his corruption case. A judge gave Mohamed Bahi one year of home confinement for his role in the flurry of ethical scandals surrounding the Adams administration. But as the federal judge pointed out, Adams himself managed to avoid consequences after the president pressured the DOJ to drop the charges against the mayor. Instead, Bahi was left to bear the blame in place of his boss.

Can the real WFP candidate please stand up? It’s really becoming quite the issue for co-directors Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila after an alleged conservative plant wound up on their ballot line on Long Island, harming the Democrat in the local race. It’s at least the second time such line-jacking has happened; something similar occurred in a Hudson Valley congressional race last year. The Long Island grandmother who ran on the WFP line is now attracting protesters, so maybe WFP leadership should figure this out.

Pro-tip: Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life” is not a role model. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is trying to evict a 91-year-old great-grandmother from her house to facilitate the Micron project. But, Azalea King has an agreement with the county to stay for life. McMahon is trying to entice King to leave, while subjecting her to public hearings and eviction notices and suggesting that staying in her home could derail Micron. We’re hoping for a Hallmark ending.