It would be nice if we had a powerful and principled state senator representing all of our communities. But it seems we only have the former.
Pedro Espada, Jr., who has been in office representing the 33rd Senate District for only five months, has already managed to catapult himself to leadership positions on both sides of the aisle of the state Senate by capitalizing on the razor-thin majority Democrats gained for the first time in 40 years.
On Monday, he abandoned the Democrats for the Republicans, and in so doing, shook up city and state politics in a way that makes Eliot Spitzer’s resignation look like a minor gossip-page item in comparison.
Now that Espada has essentially thrown power in the Senate to the GOP, thus bringing New Yorkers divided government once again, every single issue the state legislature was moving toward resolving this session is in jeopardy – gay marriage, mayoral control of the city’s school system, rent laws, ethics reform, etc.
Aside from the chaos, putting Espada in the driver’s seat of state government (and next in line to succeed Governor Paterson should he be incapacitated) is sending shudders through the body politic.
Espada has never been convicted of a crime, but a litany of ethical transgressions defines his life in public service.
Though his actions tell us he’s not much interested in hearing from his constituents, we all must hold Senator Espada accountable any way we can in the meantime. The phone number for his Albany office is (518) 455-3395 and we’ll get you the address for his district office – if he ever opens one.
Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal to charge a five-cent fee on plastic bags is asking for too little money, I think, for each bag if he is trying to make a change. I am kind of afraid that I will not be ready for these changes and that I may forget to bring my own bags to the supermarket, but I care about the environment enough to take a chance.
In Bedford Park, many single-family houses are slowly falling into disrepair or being replaced by multiple-story apartment buildings.
On Perry Avenue, however, between Bedford Park Boulevard and East 201st Street, there remains a row of nine quaint, well-preserved Victorian houses and the city wants to keep it that way.
On Perry Avenue, however, between Bedford Park Boulevard and East 201st Street, there remains a row of nine quaint, well-preserved Victorian houses and the city wants to keep it that way.