The Taking Of Albany One Senator Two Votes Three Times Under Investigation

Runaway Senator Pedro Espada Grabs Power, Hijacks NY Senate

New York State Senator Pedro Espada, who last Monday stole the presidency of the Senate, only to find himself in a dead-even tie when his under criminal-investigation counterpart Hiram Monserrate flip-flopped back to the Democratic party, yesterday announced, “I can have two votes!” Yes, the most-American idea of one man, one vote, to Pedro Espada, a man under numerous criminal investigations by numerous bodies, has decided that he can re-interpret the rules of the New York State Senate to give himself two (count ’em – TWO) votes; one vote for being a senator, one vote for being the “acting” lieutenant governor. Never, never in the history of this country has one man ever legally had two votes. As a matter of fact, when the president invokes the 14th Amendment, and there is no Vice President, the Speaker of he House has to resign before taking the oath to be the President of the United States temporarily. Perhaps Senator Espada should consider that alternative.

We all know Espada. You knew him as a kid. He’s the neighborhood bully. Unchecked, figured out at an early age that rules only apply if you get caught. Figured out at an early age that most people are too afraid or too busy or too powerless – or think they are – to stop someone who thinks they’re unstoppable. The problem is that this game of his has gone on far too long. And we, the citizens of the Empire State, are paying a dear price. (There’s a joke floating around Twitter right now about Espada: “Senator Palpatine called- he’d like the New York Senate back.” Only, it’s not funny.)

In fact, Espada is playing a game of chicken right now. Instead of saying, “Oh my God, I’m in trouble. I’m being investigated left and right,” Espada is taking the offense and filing a complaint with State Inspector General Joseph Fisch for “prosecutorial misconduct and selective prosecution.” PolitickerNY reports, “Espada hasn’t rebutted any of the charges against him, focusing instead on his record of public service and the fact that his constituents have elected him.” Well, that’s a strategy, and we’ll take a look at Espada’s career of corruption. But this quick note, first:

Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., is the author of the gay rights bill sitting in Albany, awaiting a vote. He claims tirelessly he wants to see a vote on it, calling it his “signature legislation.” I don’t care. I certainly care about marriage equality and about LGBTQ rights. But I care more about good governance and the reputation of the people of New York State than I can about a bill, even a gay rights bill. So, in the interest of good governance and pride in my state, I will continue to work to expose Senator Espada for the fraud and offense to the people he claims to represent, because New York deserves better.

But it’s not just the gay marriage bill that is affected. The New York Times reported yesterday,

“The Assembly has passed dozens of bills in recent weeks that would allow counties to charge additional sales tax. But those bills have been bottled up in the Senate, which has not taken action on a single piece of legislation since June 8.

“That’s the thing that I think is being missed by most people,” said Joanne M. Mahoney, county executive for Onondaga County, which includes Syracuse. “I don’t know if they realize this has very real consequences for us on the local level. This pays for our schools, our public safety. It’s $40 million for our budget.”

And yes, you absolutely can blame Sneator Espada, more than any other Senator, for this disaster.

So, what’s Senator Espada up against? He’s being accused and/or investigated for the following:

Espada is accused of not living in his district, although he claims he does, and is required to as terms of his being a State Senator. The Bronx DA is investigating. He could lose his Senate seat for this issue alone.

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating Espada’s use of his Soundview Health Clinic for personal political reasons.

Espada owes more than $60,000 in fines because he refuses to file campaign finance reports. The New York Times notes, “It is not the first time he has run afoul of the State Board of Elections: His 2000 Senate campaign was fined for failing to submit finance reports.”

Speaking of interesting campaign contributions and pandering, Espada is chairman of the Senate Housing Committee. He has effectively squashed a bill that would have cost landlords and the New York housing industry billions of dollars, and saved his constituents and many renters in New York billions of dollars.

And to all this, Espada replies, “They hate me because I’m not perfect.”