Bronx News Roundup, August 14

State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. negotiated a job for his son as part of the deal he struck to return to the Democrats, a possible violation of state law, an anonymous senior Democrat told the NY Post. Espada denies this claim.

On Wednesday, Espada's son, Pedro G. Espada, a 35-year-old former City Councilman, resigned from the plum $120,000 a year job that was specially created for him under a cloud of controversey. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was satisfied with the younger Espada resignation and the elder Espada's assertion that he didn't influence the hiring of his son in any way. Still, it doesn't look good for Espada or Senate Democrats who are still holding onto a slim 32-30 majority.

Newsday's snarky editorial on Espada and other political "spin" efforts of the recent past.

The Albany Times-Union says, based on the latest episode inolving his son's employment/resignation and several other legal investigations currently underway, Espada should step down from his post.

Others are calling on Cuomo to continue investigating Espada's role in the hiring of his son.

Liz Benjamin writes that Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. says there's a big difference between political family dynasties and nepotism.

In other news:

Student riders in the Bronx and other outer boroughs who depend on express buses to get to school will see their discounts disappear this fall as part of the MTA's budget hike. Students will have to pay the full $5.50, up from the $2.50 they paid last year.

Yesterday, authorities found two piles of human waste on the lobby floor of the Bronx County Courthouse.

A Bronx man has been accused of exposing himself to a woman on the subway.

Montefiore Medical Center is having success with its electronic records system as well as dispensing information to its Bronx clients via the internet.