WINNERS & LOSERS

Who was up and who was down last week

Albany had its dysfunction up and running for the very first day of the new legislative session. But in a strange turn of events, Washington wound up outdysfunctioning the state Capitol as Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost not one, not two, but 13 (at last count) floor votes to become speaker. At least in Albany, legislative leaders were able to move on to the real controversial issues like the Court of Appeals chief judge nomination.

HAKEEM JEFFRIES

House Democrats are consistent. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn got the support of every one of them for speaker of the House time and time again as Republicans failed to pick a leader. The Democratic conference took a page out of Jeffries’ playbook: Remain cool and calm. Don’t make a scene. Have you ever heard your name spoken by 212 people 13 times? Sounds pretty darn boring in a good kind of way.

WINNERS

OUR PICK

LOSERS

OUR PICK

ERIC ADAMS

Someone at the New York City health department has got it out for Mayor Eric Adams. Either that, or Adams is just really, really bad at getting rid of rats – a promise on which he has staked a not insignificant piece of his legacy. The mayor received two additional tickets for signs of a continued rat infestation at the Brooklyn home that he owns, though he plans to fight them.

THE BEST OF THE REST ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS & CARL HEASTIE

Haven’t you heard the saying: New year, new pay? Congratulations are in order for the two legislative leaders. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill giving state lawmakers a $32,000 pay raise from their annual $110,000 salary, making them the highest paid state legislators in the country.

STACEY PHEFFER AMATO

Maybe she was just waiting until all this nepo baby coverage to blow over? But Stacey Pheffer Amato, the daughter of the Assembly member who used to hold the seat, was finally declared the victor two months after the election, by just 15 votes.

THE REST OF THE WORST ASHWIN VASAN

Whether or not there was ever arsenic in the water at NYCHA’s Jacob Riis Houses shouldn’t be such a mystery. But the question was raised again when elevated arsenic levels were found in a now-dead tenant’s blood. Now the city health department is back in the spotlight.

NICHOLAS SCALZO

There’s absolutely no defending New York City police officer Nicholas Scalzo who was suspended without pay after he was caught in a video repeatedly punching a 14-year-old girl as he and another officer attempted to stop an after-school fight on Staten Island.

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Vol. 12 Issue 1 January 9, 2023

New Brooklyn district

Finding fresh recruits Races to watch

Partisan rancor rises

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January 9, 2023

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