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Investigating Diaz's Vans
September 20th, 2010

The charities bureau of the attorney general’s office is looking into a complaint filed by Bronx District Leader Ken Padilla over the fact that Sen. Ruben Diaz parks his campaign fleet at his church reports Celeste Katz of the Daily Politics. The IRS is also looking into the non-profit that runs Diaz’s church to see if further investigation is warranted.diazvans

Charlie Ramos, the man who unsuccessfully challenged Diaz for his senate seat in the primary last week said this Summer that he was concerned that Diaz was crossing a line by parking his vans at the church. Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc. which runs Diaz’s church also sponsored many block parties over the summer in Diaz’s name–parties that Diaz used to politic and press for votes.

I rode along with Diaz on his campaign caravan as he campaigned this Summer. It was a sight to behold.

By David King on September 20, 2010, 2:06 pm
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Empire Center and Council Spar Over Member Items
September 20th, 2010

Better late than never.

After more than six months, the Empire Center for New York State Policy is finally going to get a slew of information on the City Council’s member items requested through the state Freedom of Information Law. The request was filed shortly before Council Speaker Christine Quinn unveiled a new member items database, allowing New Yorkers to search through the council’s member items for this fiscal year.

The center had requested member items going back to 2006, including contact information for any nonprofit that received funding.

When it didn’t receive anything after several months, the state watchdog filed a suit against the council. Tim Hoefer, the center’s director of operations, said they plan to drop the suit as long as they get the information promised. According to the Daily News, they should receive the information on Wednesday.

“This is a victory for taxpayers throughout New York,” said Hoefer in a prepared statement. “We applaud Speaker Quinn for acknowledging the tardiness of the Council’s response to our FOIL and for her commitment to expanding openness in the future.”

The center operates the popular SeeThroughNY database, which catalogs all sorts of public information, including members items on the state level.

By Courtney Gross on September 20, 2010, 1:11 pm
In category: City Hall, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Quinn Responds to Lopez Nonprofit
September 16th, 2010

The City Council will not freeze funding for the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council — a nonprofit founded by Assemblymember Vito Lopez now under investigation by the city’s Department of Investigation — but it will check in with the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to “get further information,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn this afternoon.

The nonprofit came under fire this week after the Department of Investigation reported dysfunction and so-called incompetence within the organization and its board. Lopez denies this.

This fiscal year the council gave more than $581,000 to the group through its member items. All member items, Quinn said today, go through a rigorous vetting process by the council and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services.

When asked this afternoon whether the funding of Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council called that vetting process into question, Quinn said, “We have a process that we believe is the best out there in the country.”

By Courtney Gross on September 16, 2010, 2:46 pm
In category: City Hall, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Measuring UP, Public Finance, nextNY | No Comments »

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Council Gives to Lopez Nonprofit
September 16th, 2010

The now under fire Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, the nonprofit founded by Brooklyn boss Assemblymember Vito Lopez, received nearly $17.9 million in government subsidies in 2009.

That funding is now under intense scrutiny by the city Department of Investigation, which says the nonprofit is dysfunctional, has a clueless board, bloated staff salaries and little oversight of the programs it funds, according to a report released yesterday.

But none of that means the nonprofit isn’t a favorite for city politicians to give to. In fiscal year 2011, which spans from July 2010 to June 2011, the City Council allocated $581,385 via its member items.

Councilmember Erik Martin Dilan, whose district overlaps Lopez’s, gave the most with $198,875. Councilmember Stephen Levin, a former staffer for Lopez, allocated $64,000 to the so-called dysfunctional nonprofit, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley gave $18,510 and an additional $300,000 was allocated from the entire City Council (otherwise known as the speaker’s pot).

The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council is a common beneficiary of council member items. The Brooklyn delegation gave the group $350,000 last fiscal year as did Crowley, Dilan and the entire council.

To the Post yesterday, Lopez denied the nonprofit was dysfunctional, calling it efficient.

By Courtney Gross on September 16, 2010, 11:24 am
In category: City Hall, Crime & Safety, Economy, Electoral Politics, Eye Opener, Gotham City, Governing, Law, Measuring UP, Public Finance, nextNY | 1 Comment »

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Gustavo Rivera's Victory Speech
September 15th, 2010

Gustavo Rivera had three speeches ready to go last night: win, lose and voting disaster. He won and if you missed the speech I will supply the text here. Anyone who did not attend Rivera’s victory party missed seeing the very distinguished Sen. Liz Krueger get down to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” She was jubilant. Krueger came out early for Rivera earning the ire of some of her colleagues for going against one of their own.

Here is Rivera’s victory speech:

Thank you! Thank you very much!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we did it!

Tonight, the people of the Northwest Bronx have spoken. They’ve sent a clear message that will echo all across New York State:

WE WANT OUR GOVERNMENT BACK, AND WE WON’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

For far too long our community has been ill-served by a corrupt politics. We’ve been the brunt of jokes and the object of ridicule. Well Tonight you had a choice. You had a choice between progress or patronage. You had a choice between honest policy or the politics of “me.” You had a choice between ethics or indictments.

Tonight, I am here to report that the people of the Bronx made the right choice!

You showed the rest of New York that we can end politics as usual, that we can stand up to powerful interests, and we can make a difference by working and sticking together.

Tonight you’ve started a movement that will reverberate from Fordham Road to Fulton County, from East Tremont to Irondequoit, from Kingsbridge and Riverdale to Kinderhook and Rensselaer.

It’s a movement that says loud and clear to the people who think they control Albany: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. YOU WORK FOR US. AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FORGET IT! Read the rest of this entry »

By David King on September 15, 2010, 2:23 pm
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Sampson Figures Out Who Gustavo Rivera is
September 15th, 2010

I caught up with Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson as he was exiting Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s victory party this morning. I asked him what he thought of Gustavo Rivera’s victory over Sen. Pedro Espada.

Sampson couldn’t recall who Rivera was last time I ran into him. This time he characteristically had few words. “The people spoke,” he said.

I asked whether Rivera and his victory might be used in the general election in the Democrat’s quest to retain and expand their thin majority. No more Espada for Republicans to hold over their heads. “Maybe,” said Samspson. “Reform is here.”

When I asked Sampson about Rivera when Rev. Al Sharpton endorsed Schneiderman at City Hall earlier this month. “Who?” he asked. When I explained he was challenging Espada Sampson responded simply, “The senator is a colleague.”

One Democrat told me last night that Sampson was between a “sword and a rock” ( Espada means sword in Spanish) and had no choice but to hold his conference together but had his fingers crossed for a Rivera victory.

By David King on September 15, 2010, 2:01 pm
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Schneiderman Challenges Donovan to Debate
September 15th, 2010

Sen. Eric Schneiderman didn’t declare victory in the Democratic primary for attorney general until early, early, this morning but his campaign is ready to start debating Republican nominee Dan Donovan. Schneiderman got to test his debate legs during the primary. There were like a million debates…or something. The topic of the proposed debate would be how to police Wall Street. Donovan has stated that he would “be careful” in policing Wall Street.

The AP reports that Donovan’s campaign has yet to receive the challenge.

Here is Schneiderman’s letter:
September 15, 2010

Donovan 2010
126 Fifth Avenue
Second Floor
New York, NY 10011

Dear Mr. Donovan,

I hope this note finds you well. I am looking forward to a positive and substantive campaign where we can put forward our visions to voters in a rigorous way.

To that end, one of the areas where we diverge is on how we would approach Wall Street and crack down on financial crimes.

While you’ve suggested in recent interviews that you would seek to relax the focus of the Attorney General’s office when it comes to cracking down on these crimes, vowing not to “disturb the garden,” I intend to make protecting homeowners and consumers from bad actors on Wall Street a key concern, as it has been for Andrew Cuomo.

Given our honest difference of opinion on this issue, I would like to invite you to join me in a debate specifically on our approaches to Wall Street, to be hosted by an independent moderator. It is my hope that we may engage in an honest back-and-forth on this vital issue, so that voters will know where we stand.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Eric T. Schneiderman

By David King on September 15, 2010, 11:27 am
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The Results
September 15th, 2010

Sen. Pedro Espada is out. Gustavo Rivera is in–at least as the Democratic candidate. Carl Paladino is the Republican candidate for governor. And most incumbent legislators held on to their seats. Throw the bums out? Not quite.

Check out our election list and see who survived. Hint: If you had a sitting Democratic incumbent they are likely still the party’s nominee.

The margins weren’t exactly close:

Sen. Ruben Diaz defeated Charlie Ramos with 79 percent of the vote. Sen. Jose Serrano beat his challenger by 81 percent. Assemblyman Marcos Crepo took 74 percent of the vote. Sen. Shirley Huntley won by 73 percent.

Not heartening news for the reform crowd or Ed Koch’s NY Uprising. Voters did manage to keep former Sen. Hiram Monserrate from having a second go as a state legislator. Check out our in-depth coverage here.

For more on the man who beat Espada check out our primary-eve interview with Gustavo Rivera.

By David King on September 15, 2010, 10:37 am
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Poll Problems
September 14th, 2010

Today New Yorkers — or at least those casting ballots — bid farewell to lever voting machines and stepped into the age of the optical scanner. And not surprisingly it has not gone entirely smoothly.

There have been frequent accounts of poling places opening late — one supposedly a whopping three hours behind schedule — as poll workers struggled to get things in order.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Gail Robinson on September 14, 2010, 3:25 pm
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Espada Using Securtiy Guards and Roadblocks to Sway Voters?
September 14th, 2010

Despite massive backing from editorial boards, unions and good government groups, Gustavo Rivera’s campaign faces a great challenge–winning the vote away from Sen. Pedro Espada. The Rivera campaign has issued a press release detailing ways they say Espada’s camp is violating election rules. Some of the accusations include having security guards ask who people are voting for –only allowing them in if they support Espada. The Espada campaign is also alleged to have set up a road block at a polling place to stop cars and hand out campaign literature. No one said it was going to be easy for Rivera. Here is a sample of accusations against the Espada campaign:

“At 268 East 207th Street: Senator Pedro Espada was inside the polling location, talking to voters,
handing out literature, and saying “vote for me” with his campaign workers.

At P.S. 33: Pedro G. Espada handed out literature for his father inside the poll site.

At Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Park: An Espada staffer on government payroll, Michael Gary, who is apparently a poll inspector, steered people to vote for Espada. Once voters are inside the poll site, Gary said, “I speak Spanish and I can help you vote.”

At Middle School 80: As soon as the police left for lunch, Espada volunteers started leafleting within
the poll site vicinity. Also, the person who is giving instruction for voters changed the instructions
from English to Spanish for an English-speaking voter so the voter could not understand. The
Spanish interpreter gave Espada volunteers high-fives and hugs as he walked out of the polling site.

At Fort Independence Community Center at 3350 Bailey Avenue: An Espada poll worker said to Rivera workers, “you better tell your people to behave because I’m likely to stab first.”

Fordham Hill Coop, 2440 Sedgwick Ave: Several canvassers said the apartment building security guards at the poll site have asked voters who they are voting for. Only Espada voters have been allowed into the building.

At P.S. 70, Eastburn Avenue and 173rd Street: There was no Spanish interpreter at the poll site. The
Espada poll watcher had a “poll workers” certificate and a sign that said, “I speak Spanish”. She was told to cease and desist.

P.S. 93 at 182 Washington Street: Espada’s workers set up a road block to stop traffic and are giving out literature.

At P.S. 57: Ruth T.P. Smith, one of the poll inspectors who is close friends with Espada, told people to vote for Espada inside the poll site.

At P.S. 23: An Espada worker wearing campaign paraphernalia inside the poll site, was asked to leave, but refused.”

If you see anything fishy going on at your polling place, whether by campaigns or just general voting problems let us know.

By David King on September 14, 2010, 3:19 pm
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Lazio Releases Video With Dramatic Music, Wants Mosque Investigated
September 10th, 2010

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio has a one track mind as of late. It goes something like: “WHY WON’T ANDREW CUOMO INVESTIGATE THE MOSQUE? ANDREW CUOMO MUST INVESTIGATE THE MOSQUE!”

“Team Lazio” has released another video with that theme. There is a lot of dramatic music and whenever anyone related to the development of the mosque is shown, they are shown in black and white–scary, ominous, black and white.

Lazio faces Carl Paladino in next week’s primary. Apparently neither of them are too keen on the Park 51 deal. Its a “thing” for them both.

Here is the text of a recent release from “Team Lazio”:

“How many red flags does Andrew Cuomo need to look into the Ground Zero Mosque?

As the Attorney General of New York, it is Andrew Cuomo’s responsibility to oversee charities in this state.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s Cordoba Initiative is one of these charities. Why has Andrew Cuomo ignored the numerous red flags that have appeared in connection with Imam Rauf’s cohorts?

Why is Andrew Cuomo refusing to do his job?”

By David King on September 10, 2010, 5:35 pm
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Mad Men Star for Rice
September 10th, 2010

Not sure this counts for anything really, (except that Mad Men is the best show on television) but John Slattery of Mad Men fame has endorsed Kathleen Rice. It doesn’t hold the weight of an endorsement by the New York Times, Daily News, NY Post or Times Union. Regardless, here is the video of the endorsement by the man who plays Roger Sterling–a drunken, adulterous, misogynist on the show.

Here is the text of Slattery’s thumbs up to Rice:

Hi Im John Slattery and I have known Kathleen Rice since we went to college together. I can tell you that shes smart, shes tough, shes compassionate, and I think shed make an ideal attorney general. Shes been a prosecutor her whole career, has an amazing record of success in important and difficult legal cases, cases involving sexual predators, drunk drivers, public corruption. Im voting for Kathleen on Tuesday; I hope youll do the same. Thank you.

Rice’s assumed front runner status has not lead to major newspaper endorsements but her campaign points out she has the backing of a number of other celebrities.

“Slattery isnt alone among celebrities supporting Rice, who was elected as Long Islands first woman district attorney in 2005, defeating a 31-year, anti-choice Republican incumbent,” says the press release. ” Also supporting DA Rice are Queer as Folk star Michelle Clunie and Bravos Andy Cohen.” Rice was also recently endorsed by feminist icon Gloria Steinem.

Assumed Rice supporter Andrew Cuomo has also reportedly decided not to endorse any candidate for attorney general before the primary.

By David King on September 10, 2010, 5:23 pm
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Liu For Rice, Weiner for Schneiderman
September 7th, 2010

City Comptroller John Liu has endorsed Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice in her bid to become attorney general.

Kathleen Rice is progressive, shes tough and she will be an excellent attorney general, said Liu. From her work taking on corrupt public officials and sexual predators, to her tireless commitment to protecting consumers, immigrants and taxpayers from fraud, Kathleen has proven that she is the candidate most capable of reforming Albany and most capable of managing an office that is so vital to New York families. In addition to her unrivaled law enforcement and legal experience, there is no doubt that Kathleen gives our party the best chance to keep this office in progressive hands after November. Shes got my support and I look forward to campaigning hard with her over the next week.

This is a major endorsement for Rice who is trying to make inroads into New York City. Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s campaign has racked up a list of impressive city based endorsements in the last month. And the tide has not stopped.

Schneiderman’s most recent endorsement comes from Rep. Anthony Weiner.

“I am endorsing Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General because he has been a lifelong champion for middle-class families and those struggling to make it into the middle-class,” said Weiner. “No one has fought harder for fair wages, for equality and flexibility in the workplace, for foreclosure protections than Eric. We need a strong, lifelong progressive Democrat to fight for the working people of this state as Attorney General. We need a real leader with guts, who fights for whats right, not just whats politically popular. The choice is clear. The only choice for progressives is Eric Schneiderman.”

There primary is on Sept. 14.

By David King on September 7, 2010, 4:25 pm
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Bloomberg Bucks for Bing
September 7th, 2010

As we write today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed State Assemblymember Jonathan Bing earlier this summer. Now the billionaire mayor has put his money where his mouth is, giving almost $4,000 to Bing’s campaign on Aug. 31.

Bing was the sponsor of an unsuccessful bid to change the current system of laying off teachers, which depends on seniority. This spring, when the city feared massive teacher layoffs, Bloomberg’s school chancellor, Joel Klein, repeatedly endorsed altering the “last in, first out” system.

In the primary, Bing faces Gregg Lundhahl, a longtime teacher backed by the teachers union. The winner will compete against Republican Paul Niehaus in November.

By Gail Robinson on September 7, 2010, 11:22 am
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Padernacht, NY Times Endorse Gustavo Rivera
September 6th, 2010

Daniel Padernacht, a Bronx lawyer who was campaigning to oust Sen. Pedro Espada has dropped out and put his support behind surging candidate Gustavo Rivera. There was a lot of talk that the anti-Espada vote would be split as Rivera racked up endorsements and Padernacht continued his campaign.

Here is a statement from Rivera regarding Padernacht’s decision:

“Dan Padernacht is a tireless community advocate who ran a great campaign, and his selfless decision today puts our community first. With a united front, the thousands of voters in the district who are seeking change can turn to one place. That’s the message that Dan and I are going to be getting out together over the next 9 days. I am deeply grateful for his support.”

Rivera also received the endorsement of the New York Times.

By David King on September 6, 2010, 5:49 pm
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Times Union Endorses Schneiderman
September 5th, 2010

The Albany Times Union has endorsed Sen. Eric Schneiderman for attorney general. A number of other candidates were hoping that an endorsement by the paper would help establish them as the “upstate candidate” but Schneiderman has added the paper to his long list of recent endorsements that include The New York Times, The Amsterdam News, El Diario, The Nation and Rev. Al Sharpton.

Here is a snippet from the endorsement:

“New Yorkers might be understandably wary of drawing their next attorney general from the state Senate, a body that has symbolized dysfunction. But Mr. Schneiderman has long distinguished himself as a cut far above the rest in that chamber. Whether he was in the minority or the majority, he has been an eloquent, progressive voice, speaking out for reform, sensible gun control, marriage equality and equal protection for all New Yorkers.”

The endorsement notes that Assemblymember Richard Brodsky has a strong reformer buy says he “grates on even his allies.” It describes Kathleen Rice as having done “some good work,” on local government corruption but questions her independence from Cuomo and her experience. It cites Eric Dinallo’s time in the attorney general’s office under Spitzer but questions his record as Insurance Superintendent. The endorsement says that Sean Coffey could be called the “most independent” but worries about his political contributions that seem to have lead to business for his firm.

The endorsement could come as a surprise to some as Schneiderman recently no-showed a debate in Albany hosted by public radio station WAMC. He was slammed by the other four candidates and Alan Chartock, the host of the debate, for not appearing.  But Schneiderman did host a forum on gun violence in Albany in the last few weeks.

Schneiderman has raised the most money during this period but Nassau County District Attorney has the most cash on hand heading into the Sept. 14 Democratic Primary.

It has been said that Schneiderman is relying heavily on votes from minorities in the city but the Times Union endorsement should solidify him as a force upstate.

By David King on September 5, 2010, 1:30 pm
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Party at Gillibrand's!
September 3rd, 2010

Have no plans this weekend? Going to be upstate? Perhaps in Columbia County? Cash burning a hole in your pocket? If so maybe you want to drop by the Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s house in Hudson. She is throwing a shindig to raise some cash.

A general admission ticket will cost you $100, VIP tickets $250 and “host” tickets $1,000. The senator has been known as a prodigious fundraiser since her days as the congresswoman from the 20th district.

Gillibrand is facing primary challenger Gail Goode in the Democratic Primary and will face one of three Republican challengers in the general election, if she wins. Her Republican challengers are Joe DioGuardi, Bruce Blakeman and David Malpass. If anyone goes please tell me how the BBQ was– press are NOT invited. Hurumph. I tried! And to think I was born in Hudson. Have a happy Labor Day!

BBQ-2010-postcard-front-large

Here is the text of the invite:

Please join Kaye & Chuck Abraham, Jon Arnason, Phebe & George Banta, Margaret & David Bova, Mary Burns & Vince Clephas, Paige Crable & Ray DeMarco, Kathleen H. Dittus, Esq., Joan & Wolcott Dunham, Fran & Steve Edelstein, Karen Feldman, Julie Fenster, Kristin & Charles Flood,
Paula & Philip Forman, Joan & Harvey Friedman, Judith B. Grunberg, Cyndy Hall, Linda Hirshman & David Forkosh, Sylvia K. Johann, Barney Karpfinger & Eric Marcus, Jamie Kibel, Katherine Kolbert & Richard P. Rubinstein, Debbie Lans & Sharon Grubin, Jeffrey Lick & Steve McCarthy,
Kerry Madigan & Neal Rosenthal, Stephen Mazoh & Martin Kline, Robert Montgomery, Sue & Henry Neale, Susan & Harry Newton, Polly N. Rutnik, Susan & Roger Tilles, Ulster Cty Democratic Women, and David B. Wood, III for a Labor Day Weekend Barbeque at the home of

UNITED STATES SENATOR
KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND

Saturday, September 4
The home of Kirsten & Jonathan Gillibrand
Hudson, New York
VIP Reception and Photo Line: 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. | General Reception: 4:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
Host: $1,000 (write or raise) | VIP: $250 (per individual) | General Ticket: $100 (per individual)

By David King on September 3, 2010, 6:23 pm
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District Council 37 Endorses Brodsky (Update)
September 3rd, 2010

The city’s largest public employee union has endorsed Assemblymember Richard Brodsky. The union boasts 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees. In a low turnout election unions that have proven to be able to mobilize their membership will be key and by scoring this endorsement Brodsky has taken a bit of steam out of Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s bid to dominate the vote in the city.

*Update* I goofed a bit–District Council 37 endorsed Brodsky in July–so it doesn’t change any of Schneiderman’s plans for victory via the city vote.

In other news for the race for attorney general, fund raising numbers are coming in and Sen. Eric Schneiderman has raised the most this period with $380,000 raised in an 18 day period (the New York Times endorsement likely helped out a bit.) Schneiderman has approximately $1.3 million on hand.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice raised $278,405 and has $2.8 million on hand. She was the top fundraiser in the last period. Eric Dinallo raised $66,908 and has $1.6 million on hand. Brodsky raised $98,999 and has $335,494 on hand. Sean Coffey raised $39,120 and has $1.57 million on hand. He loaned his campaign $1 million.

For more on what differentiates the candidates (besides money) check out our recent story on the race.

By David King on September 3, 2010, 6:07 pm
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Wall Street's Vote
September 3rd, 2010

As the candidates for attorney general struggle to carve out identities for themselves, Eric Dinallo may have found his. The Financial Times is reporting (registration required) that the former state insurance regulator is emerging as the candidate of Wall Street.

The paper analyzed his campaign donations and found Dinallo had far outpaced other candidates in money from Wall Street, bringing in $109,000, compared to the $65,000 financial companies gave Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

The paper also found that eight of Dinallo’s 10 top donors work in finance, including Jim Chanos, who gave $50,000 himself and $16,500 through his hedge fund.

The irony is that Dinallo worked former Wall Street nemesis Eliot Spitzer when he was attorney general. But, Blair Horner of New York Public Interest Research Group, told the Times that Dinallo may have tuned that to his advantage, going back to contacts he made in his earlier job to “shake the money tree.”

For his part, Dinallo told the paper that his Wall Street supporters know that, while he can be “tough on people who’ve cheated, who’ve had conflicts of interest … ultimately I am fair.”

Dinallo also has worked in finance — at Morgan Stanley and Willis Group. And he won the endorsement of Crain’s. In the editorial the paper praised Dinallo for having “a profound understanding of financial services, which he is eminently prepared to police — without the ego and the mean streak that made Mr. Spitzer the industry’s enemy” and chided two of his opponents, Assemblymember Richard Brodsky and State Sen. Eric Schneiderman for having priorities “not aligned with the business community.”

By Gail Robinson on September 3, 2010, 5:48 pm
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Daily News for Gustavo Rivera
September 3rd, 2010

It is a good day for Gustavo Rivera. His bid to unseat Sen. Pedro Espada is gaining some big-name support. Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled to endorse him today and he has won the approval of the Daily News.

The News does not hold back in their contempt for Rivera’s opponent Sen. Pedro Espada. Here is an excerpt from the endorsement:

“The grounds for dumping Espada, poster boy for Albany insanity, are almost beyond imagining. He was the party-flipping, power-grabbing instigator of the Senate coup last summer that paralyzed Albany for a month. He also stands credibly accused by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of looting $14 million from a taxpayer-financed chain of health clinics.
On top of that, Espada notoriously lives outside his district, in Mamaroneck; persistently ignores campaign finance laws, and is even being sued for allegedly stiffing his tailor on $7,200 worth of fancy suits. Rivera bears no such ethical taint. His professional background consists mainly of campaigning for Democrats, including President Obama. He most recently worked as an aide to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He also teaches political science part time at Pace University. While this page is not in sync with Rivera on some issues, he is likely in line with the sensibilities of the district and is surely in tune with the economic interests of working New Yorkers.”

By David King on September 3, 2010, 11:29 am
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