Pedro Espada, Jr., was sworn in as the new State Senator of the 33nd District during a ceremony at Lehman College, on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Espada defeated incumbent Efrain Gonzalez in a contentious Democratic primary battle this past September as Democrats gained a majority in the New York Senate for the first time in decades. After his victory, Espada formed an alliance with two other senators, Ruben Diaz, Sr. (Bronx) and Carl Kruger (Brooklyn).

The self-proclaimed “Three Amigos” refused to support Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith (Queens) in his bid for Majority Leader of the Senate. After months of negotiations, Espada and the other Amigos voted for Smith in exchange for plum committee assignments.

As a result, Espada will begin his second senate tenure (several years ago he represented the 31st Senate District, which Diaz now represents) as chairman of the Housing Committee.

Diaz and Kruger both attended the ceremony at Lehman College. 

During his acceptance speech, Espada touched on a wide range of issues. “I owe everything that I know about love, hope and compassion to my mother,” Espada said. “My father taught me that, even though I was scared, I should always be ashamed if I didn’t fight back.”

On the country’s current economic crisis, Espada said, “We understand economic crisis all too well, because what America systemically is experiencing, is a condition that has defined our daily lives.”

Espada, who also runs the Soundview Health Center in the south Bronx, said as part of his new role in the Senate, he would be head of a new Bronx economic development task force to coordinate federal, state and city aid to the borough. He added that he wanted “to once and for all, lift the label from the Bronx as the poorest community in the state, in America.”