One year ago today, all government business in Albany came to a grinding halt due to the "New York Senate Coup" concocted by State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., the disgraced former Senator Hiram Monserrate, and the Republican Senate conference. In a shameful attempt to enhance his own personal power and wealth, Espada betrayed the 300,000 hard-working Bronx men and women he is supposed to represent, betrayed the Democratic voters that had supported him, and betrayed all New Yorkers who pay taxes and rightly expect their state government to serve them. For four long weeks, as the people’s business remained ignored, Espada continued to cut more deals to benefit himself. When he didn’t get all he wanted, Espada returned to the Democratic conference.
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The punishment? Espada was promoted to Senate Majority leader. The cost to you and me? About $150 million in halted tax collections, $700,000 paid directly to Espada and his cronies for more staff, and thousands of lost jobs for New York residents in the midst of the toughest economic climate in recent history.
Espada’s unethical dealings do not end there. In April of this year, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed two civil suits against him: one for stealing millions of dollars of our public money for his personal use (including $20,000 worth of sushi), the other for paying hard-working janitors as little as $1.70/hr. The FBI has raided his offices and seized records. Criminal indictments could be handed down any day. Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson is investigating whether Espada even lives in the district. Ample evidence suggests that his primary residence is upstate in Mamaroneck.
Pedro Espada’s actions have been nothing short of despicable. My community deserves better. The Bronx deserves better. New York State deserves better. I am running to represent this community because I believe the time has come to end Espada’s corrupt politics of personal gain once and for all.
I have lived in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx for a decade since shortly after arriving in New York from my native Puerto Rico. Throughout that time I’ve lived in a rent stabilized apartment and know what it is like to manage paying rent, keeping the lights on, and trying to earn a living. I have dedicated my life to public service and believe our leaders must be accountable to the communities they serve, not the lobbyists who line their pockets.
While I’ve worked for change across the US, New York, in the halls of Albany, in the streets of Manhattan, and right here in the Bronx, I’ve never run for political office. But when I traveled all over this great country of ours working to elect Barack Obama President in 2008, I was inspired by his message of hope and his call to service. With the problems our community faces, let my candidacy reflect the hope we need and the service that we deserve from an elected official.
For years, our community has been short-changed, promises have been broken and our Senator has been the poster child for corruption. He personifies what is wrong with Albany. The people deserve an elected official who's as honest as they are and works as hard as they do, an elected official who will spend every moment of the day fighting to make sure they have good paying jobs, access to affordable health care and housing, and that their kids have a first-rate education.
I am the only candidate in this race who has succeeded in bringing this kind of change to government. I will demand accountability, service and commitment from Albany, and I will provide that for the community I serve. If the good people of the Bronx support me, my solemn commitment is to provide them with the representation they deserve.
Espada needs to go. The Primary is on September 14th! YOU can make it happen. Help support Gustavo Rivera, the strongest candidate to defeat Pedro Espada.
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