• If Gov. Andrew Cuomo smiled on the IDC-Republican coalition of late 2011 to summer of this year — helping some progressive legislation pass, but seeing a number of controversial bills stall — he might find it expedient to foster Washington, D.C.-style stagnation in Albany for the rest of his gubernatorial term. Should he run for president in 2016, he can point to several years of accomplishment followed by the same paralysis that hampered other states, all while he did not have to push for issues unpopular among national conservative voters like immigration reform. That kind of scenario would leave Mr. Klein out in the cold.

• It will be a struggle for the senator to maintain his polished image as a pragmatist — and not a party turncoat. While Democratic primary challenger Oliver Koppell’s attempt to paint the senator as a traitor did not resonate with most voters, juggling alliances yet again could start to make Mr. Klein look unreliable to the New York progressives who are seething after a punishing general election.

It will be fascinating to see whether these kinds of antinomies resolve over the next two years, or perhaps lead to a whole new political configuration for the state come 2016.

Councilmen at Somos

Councilmen Andrew Cohen, who represents the northwest Bronx, and Ydanis Rodriguez, whose Upper Manhattan district includes part of Marble Hill, were among the small army of city and state politicians at the annual Somos El Futuro Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico over the weekend.

While headlines from the event mostly centered on the intense debate about leadership in the Senate, both Mr. Cohen and Mr. Rodriguez described their trip as a chance to network and build ties to Puerto Rico. 

Mr. Cohen was among the officials won over to a cause advocated by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who emphasized problems with flooding and raw sewage during a tour of a San Juan neighborhood.

Mr. Cohen said his West 231st Street office is going to set up a petition for constituents to support funding to dredge a canal creating problems where Ms. Mark-Viverito gave the tour.