Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you polls, make political hay. When Siena University’s August poll showed Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman just 10 points down on Gov. Kathy Hochul, he criticized the poll, saying it’s “always off and continues to be off” – even as it was the closest any public poll had had the race thus far. But 9 points? A masterpiece! The Nassau County executive changed his tune this week when Siena’s latest showed him trailing by that much. But when Quinnipiac University released its own poll less than 12 hours later, showing the governor up 19 points? Crickets.
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn -
It was probably wise that Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn didn’t show up to the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s organizational meeting. Disorder, delays and dysfunction reigned at the biannual gathering. But from afar, shielded from furious attendees’ roars of “shame, shame, shame,” the chaos worked to her advantage. With the aid of hundreds of proxy votes under the control of her allies, the embattled party chair emerged largely victorious – at least for now as the pending court case threatens to undo it all.
Zohran Mamdani -
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had an unusually high-profile week – even for him. First, he and President Donald Trump had a surprisingly warm, seemingly beneficial, meeting at Gracie Mansion. Afterward, Trump even said Mamdani’s “got potential to be a great mayor,” frustrating Republicans. And even though he didn’t follow through on his threats to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he certainly got Bibi’s – and the world’s – attention.
Rich Schaffer -
It’s 26 years and counting for Suffolk County Democratic Party Chair Rich Schaffer after he successfully fended off his first serious challenge for the position. The tense race against Southold Town Democratic Party Chair Kathryn Casey Quigley culminated in allegations of attempted vote buying and threats to employment, but it wasn’t enough to convince the majority of committee members to turn on their longtime leader. Now Schaffer just has to prove he was the right choice with some wins in November.
Dru Rai -
One might think it’s an exciting time for a civic technology professional to work for Gov. Kathy Hochul, who totally has the whole artificial intelligence destroying us thing under control. But not for Dru Rai. Rai served as the state’s top technology official until his unceremonious exit this week. Hochul’s office said she “no longer has confidence in his ability to effectively represent this administration.” We no longer have confidence that we’re being told the full story about what happened with Rai.
Trisha Shimamura -
Some Staten Island citizens think the blood of the fish, turtles and guppies that once inhabited Clove Lakes Park is on the hands of the New York City Parks Department, unfortunately for Commissioner Trisha Shimamura. Complaints are piling up this week about a raw sewage leak into the lake, thanks to the Stone House restaurant. The repair process may be underway, but don’t expect to see Shimamura dining at Stone House any time soon.
Kris Kolluri -
New Jersey, listen up now, we know you worship Bruce Springsteen, but “Dancing in the Dark” ain’t a motto. NJ Transit yahoos, led by rail chief Kris Kolluri, plummeted Newark Liberty air traffic control into the dark by slicing a back-up cable that provided data to keep planes from crashing. Flights all over the metropolitan area were canceled and diverted. Albany took in planes from Paris, Nice and Rome. And what better time for it than during the U.N. General Assembly?
NEXT STORY: Inside Ogden’s challenge to Jay Jacobs