Personality
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
We lost a true icon this week in Dolly Parton, but at least some New Yorkers commemorated her at the closest place the state has to Dollyland – the Great New York State Fair. But as we raised a glass while listening to “Jolene,” we were also reminded that some divas will simply live forever. There’s nothing more old-school New York machine politics left than former Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio telling one observer outside the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club before a contentious vote, “You wouldn’t even know the inside of this clubhouse if you took a shit in it.” Rock on, Frank.
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn -
The Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair’s “THIS IS NOT A POWER GRAB” video had people asking a lot of questions already answered by the video. All the most powerful Democrats in the state told Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn to back off her plan to stack the executive committee to keep reformers out. She did it anyway, under the cover of printer paper on the windows, then snuck out the backdoor before posting the video declaring herself the REAL progressive, “unshakened” by the criticism.
John Mannion -
Listen up Syracuse University students, New York’s elected officials have got a beer for you. Anheuser-Busch is investing $13 million into its Baldwinsville plant in suburban Onondaga County to produce more Michelob Ultra and Cutwater. Rep. John Mannion joined Gov. Kathy Hochul in raising a glass to the investment into Baldwinsville’s brewing bonanza. Now, are any elected officials brave enough to do a Michelob Ultra keg stand at the Sept. 5 football home opener?
Kendra Hems -
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway will keep on truckin’ – and the truckers are thrilled. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to maintain the city’s triple-cantilevered portion of the BQE by building a temporary highway next to it drew consternation from urbanists who want a long-term solution like a complete teardown. But it’s a win for Trucking Association of New York President Kendra Hems, who praised the plan for its minimal effect on 13,000 daily truck trips.
Bruce Blakeman -
Despite his initial defiance, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman ultimately decided to bend the knee to his opponent Gov. Kathy Hochul (and state law) and end the county’s two 287(g) agreements with ICE. The “law and order” executive said being forced to follow the “bad law” was “one of the saddest days” of his tenure and joined a lawsuit against the measure. At least he’s no longer subject to a lawsuit for refusing to follow the law, unlike his Capital Region counterpart in Rensselaer.
Simone Hawkins -
An apparent bureaucratic snafu is leaving outgoing Deputy Chancellor for Early Childhood Education Simone Hawkins holding the bag. Her department is now being blamed for not registering contracts for 3-K and pre-K programs in time for early childhood education centers to actually get their money before the first day of school. And Hawkins was aware of the delay when she conveniently announced back in July that she’d be stepping down in September.
Jessica Ramos -
State Sen. Jessica Ramos is in hot water after her own former staff members spilled the beans on how she allegedly double-charged taxpayers for travel expenses. A New York Times analysis found at least 130 lawmakers used their campaigns to pay for travel while receiving legislative reimbursements, but Ramos was the only one singled out for double-billing – and state officials are now investigating her expense practices.