WINNERS & LOSERS

Who was up and who was down last week

After beating the No. 2 seeded Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the U.S. Open, Serena Williams told an interviewer, in the understatement of the century: “I’m a pretty good player.” If only we could see more of that kind of modesty in New York politics! We can’t go a half hour without Eric Adams declaring himself the face of the Democratic Party. If only, instead of running for president, Bill de Blasio had said, “I’m a pretty good mayor.” Modesty or no modesty, last week we were all winners watching Serena play.

RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMELYN

“It’s never been about rules. It’s never been about transparency,” The Brooklyn Democratic leader said in July about the reformers in the New Kings Democrats who oppose her. “It’s always been about power.” Well, real recognize real in Brooklyn. Her party held a quiet meeting last week to change the rules, reduce transparency and make it easier to maintain power.

WINNERS

OUR PICK

LOSERS

OUR PICK

LOUIS MOLINA

The New York City Department of Correction commissioner’s staff was again accused of negligence that led to the death of the 13th inmate on Rikers Island this year. Two correction officers and a captain allegedly watched Michael Nieves, a man with a history of mental illness, bleed for 10 minutes after he slit his throat with a razor. The captain and guards were suspended and the incident is under investigation, Molina said.

THE BEST OF THE REST BHAIRAVI DESAI

Despite striking a hard-fought deal with New York City last fall on debt relief for taxi medallion owners, it wasn’t until this month that the program finally got up and running. Despite the delay, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance’s Bhairavi Desai celebrated an updated agreement with the city last week.

ANTHONY CANNATARO

There’s a new face helming New York’s highest court. Associate Judge Anthony Cannataro was designated to serve as the acting chief judge in place of Janet DiFiore, who stepped down after six years in the role. Temporary or not, it’s no easy position to lead the entire state court system.

THE REST OF THE WORST NAUMAN HUSSAIN

A year ago, limo company operator Nauman Hussain pleaded guilty to 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide. As part of the plea, Hussain would not see any jail time. But now, a state judge has thrown out the deal and suggested that Hussain should face up to four years in prison.

ANTHONY MARCIANO

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor rejected the NYPD detective’s request to halt the city’s vaccine mandate for municipal workers, marking another loss for Anthony Marciano in his monthslong legal battle.

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