This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Don’t fall for the April Fool’s joke, Justin Brannan did not quit his sweet new gig right after getting it – though Italian soccer fans are indeed SOL at the World Cup again. After eight years as a member of the New York City Council, Brannan has landed in the Hochul administration as the senior director of major events operations. What does that mean? Basically, he’s in charge of all the fun things in the state this summer. The World Cup? Brannan is all over it. America’s 250th birthday events? Brannan’s your guy.

“Claire was there” is the congressional candidates’ online rage bait of a campaign slogan, but in this case, the New York transplant Assembly member WAS there at Bernie Sanders’ “Tax the Rich” rally, while her main opponent Antonio Reynoso was playing baseball with his son even though his campaign posted a photo IMPLYING he was there. Days later, Valdez secured Bernie’s endorsement – big in the “Commie Corridor” district – and she also bragged about a big fundraising quarter, with 11,200 unique donors. 

Dyngus Day is Monday, and former acting Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon should be celebrating. A lawsuit challenging a controversial contract he granted to operate Erie Basin Marina has been dismissed. Music to Scanlon’s ears with Mayor Sean Ryan seeking to cancel Scanlon’s signature parking ramp plan. Dyngus Day, a Polish holiday that’s HUGE in Buffalo, includes a parade, traditional water fights, the chance to polka till you drop and Polish food, drink and folk music. 

A Gov. Kathy Hochul appointee and chair of the state’s Public Campaign Finance Board was one of four Democrats to decide to block Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the likely Republican gubernatorial candidate, from getting up to $7 million in campaign matching funds. Good-government groups say the partisan decision undermines the new system that’s meant to give independent candidates a boost against incumbents. Hochul, who has $20 million in her campaign war chest, opted out of participating in the system.

Federal agents seized their phones. Days later, things spilled into the public eye: New York City Council Member Farah Louis, gubernatorial aide Debbie Esther Louis, and Edu Hermelyn, the husband of Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, were under investigation in a probe tied to bribes, kickbacks and the appropriation of city funds. While none have been charged, that hasn’t stopped consequences from rolling in. Debbie Louis is on leave. Hermelyn stepped away from his cushy job. And Farah Louis? Time will tell.

Being an elected official can at times be a thankless job, but at least you get a pension. Well, The City reported this week that someone impersonating the beloved New York City Council member stole nearly $33,000 from her pension fund. As nonstop as she is, the prospect of Brewer needing her retirement funds any time soon may be unthinkable, but this is just plain cruel!!! Poor Gale.