Bronx News Roundup Aug. 20

In this week's Voice, Tom Robbins dissects the dubious histories of State Senator Efain Gonzalez and Pedro Espada, his challenger in the upcoming primary, saying the contest "shapes up as the toughest taste test since the Iran-Iraq War." [Village Voice]

Gonzalez and Espada aren't the only Bronx pols Robbins has bashed in recent months. Check out his equally scathing column on Larry Seabrook, who manages to stay in politics despite a waterfall of investigations and subpoenas through the years. And here's Robbins take on Maria Baez and Joel Rivera's attempts, last year, to block a pro-tenant housing bill.

Baez and Rivera eventually backed down and the "Tenant Protection Act" was signed into law. But the debate rages on. The Rent Stabilization Association (RSA), the biggest pro-landlord lobby group in the city, is trying to overturn the legislation - legislation that is designed to protect tenants from being harassed and forced out of their homes. Yesterday, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, one of the architects of the act, held a press conference outside City Hall to protest the RSA's lawsuit. [The Indypendent and NYT]

Jose A. Padilla, who was running for Michael Benjamin's seat in the 79th Assembly District, has been knocked off the ballot because of a lack of signatures. Sigredo Gonzalez (no relation to Efrain) is now Benjamin's only challenger in the primary. [NYT]. See here for a full list of who's up against who in the Bronx and beyond.

The parents of a 12-year-old Bronx girl presumed dead after falling into the rapids near Niagara Falls last week, will hold a candlelight vigil this evening, near the spot their daughter was last seen. [Daily News]