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Monday, July 12, 2010

Espada Fires Back At State Dems; Says He Has 10,000 Signatures

State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., shows off a hefty stack of supporters' signatures at a press conference today on the Grand Concourse.

Despite recent efforts to oust him from the State Democratic Party, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., made it clear today that he's ready to compete for re-election in this fall's primary race.

Espada held a press conference this afternoon in front of the Bronx Board of Elections Office, armed with a backpack full of papers—what he said were the signatures of 10,000 supporters in his district (Senate candidates who want to get on the ballot for the September primary are required to collect the signatures of 1,000 unique voters, and have them filed by this Thursday, July 15.)

Espada fired back at his detractors, including Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, as well as members of the State Democratic Committee who are urging the Bronx County Democrats to boot him from the party.

(A letter sent by party leaders to Bronx Democratic Chairman Jeff Dinowitz last week said they wanted Espada out based on his history of campaign finance violations, rumors that he doesn't live in his Bronx district, and for his role in last summer's Senate coup. )

"I am supported by 10,000 democrats," an impassioned Espada told the crowd today, holding up his stack of signatures. "The attacks against me are attacks against the community I represent, the Latinos and the African-Americans."

Espada argued that the charges against him are racially motivated and accused the media of "character assassination" and of trying to vilify him.


"We know too well about discrimination," Espada said. "If you’re brown, if you’re an immigrant, you’re not supposed to have a position of power."

Espada was flanked by supporters holding signs that read, "I'm a fan of Pedro Espada." At one point, he lifted his 2-month old granddaughter up to the microphone for a kiss and a photo-op.

Fellow Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr.--decked out in a Western shirt and his trademark cowboy hat--joined Espada at the podium. He held up a copy of today's New York Post, which featured a story about a state grant given to a group that employs Governor Paterson's wife.

"Is Pedro Espada the only one being investigated? The whole Democratic Party is under investigation. Why aren't we after them?" Diaz demanded. "Stop these political games. Pedro Espada will never leave the Democratic Party."

His last statement could prove true. A previous attempt to kick Espada from the Democrats back in 2002 failed after he appealed the party's ruling.

Fellow State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr. showed up to support Espada at today's press conference.

13 comments:

  1. 10,000 signatures - wow

    We should all wonder how many of these signatures would stand up to a challenge:

    How many are witnessed correctly,
    How many are registered Dems who live in the district at the address that they are registered at,
    How many people included their full address including their apartment #
    how many signatures are legible

    For that matter we might all wonder how many people knew what they were signing?

    We might wonder if people were told it was a petition for more health services

    We might wonder how many people signed at events where food was being distributed because they thought it was an exchange ?

    Let's hope some one pays for the legal challenge to throw him off the ballot - because regardless of how many signatures he has, the question really remains how many good ones does he have ?

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  2. One more question about the signatures:
    How many were obtained at the food distributions by asking recipients to sign that they received the freebie? Isn't that how he got signatures the last time he got on the ballot?

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  3. First, let me say that I am NOT an Espada fan. But I have to say that 10,000 is pretty impressive number. It seems that the rest of the candidates are in trouble. The only way Espada may loose is if the rest of the candidates rally around one candidate to come against Espada. This however is unlikely to occur.

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  4. Wait a minute here! Who else is running for the seat vs Espada?

    Desire Pilgrim-Hunter, the one that is collecting disability benefits because she can't get a job that does not include carrying or lifting boxes? The one that said that if elected, she will stop using those benefits? What a hipocrosy!

    Gustavo Rivera, who is unable to elaborate on any of the issues in details nor say which would be the first bill he would try to introduce if elected? The same Gustavo who can only say who he has worked for but not what he has DONE in this community? He claims to have lived in this community for 10 years and yet he can't claim ONE single thing he has done IN THIS COMMUNITY... that's a shame...!

    The other two are really just trying to get their names out there with I don't know what purpose.

    C'mmon folks, what is that old saying: known devil is better than the unknown...!

    I'm not an Espada fan but what other choices do we REALLY have? Really?

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  5. I can't wait until they lock this guy up for good. Unfortunately the justice system just doesn't work fast enough. He's a snake and a crook. His crying racism in the name of God is despicable. A charlatan of the highest order.

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  6. i wonder how many signatures the other candidates have...maybe bxnn should inquire...

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  7. LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES HERE... ALTHOOUGH THOSE 10,000 WILL NOT ALL BE VALID, I SAY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 55%-65% WILL BE SO THAT IS STILL AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES VS THE OTHER CANDIDATES WILL HAVE AT THE END OF THE DAY. ADD THAT TO THE MORE THAN $300,000 CASH ON HAND THAT ESPADA HAS (PLUS WHATEVER CAME IN IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS), HE IS UNBEATABLE...LIKE IT OR NOT...

    I HAPPEN TO PASS BY THE PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY AND FOUND IT HUMOROUS THAT THIS HORACIO GUTIERREZ, GUSTAVO RIVERA'S STRATEGIST GUY, WAS THERE AS WELL... AS IF HE WAS TRACKING ESPADA... THAT'S A SIGN OF FEAR ... HE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON GUSTAV'S CAMPAIGN, NOT WHAT PEDRO ESPADA IS OR IS NOT SAYING... THAT'S A WASTE OF TIME ON GUSTAVO'S SIDE...

    WELL FOLKS, LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE THE ELECTION TO WATCH THIS FALL... MAY THE BEST ONE WINS...

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  8. Hey what about Daniel Padernacht who is also running, a New Honest face in the race aginst Padro i heard he filed almost 5,000 signatures

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  9. I give it to Pedro. He has taught us the model of 2010 politics. Have a fruit-sign the petition. Want your baby to have a college-savings bond-just ask (how did kappy say it..lol) father pedro

    But really the model is not new-just 50 years old....just around the time the Best of the Bronx democratic party Self Destructed....OH WAIT THATS THE REAL PROBLEM----ITS OURSELVES....

    signed.....a Proud Puerto Rican-Italian...(Yes pedro you (are supposed to) represent me too

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  10. 0oH NO ANTHONY RIVIECCIO IS BACK!!!.......Still recovering from that Yudelka Defeat?

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  11. More than that buddy.......or mrs.....that darn anonymous "experts"..lol.................Im moving...................As they say in Riverdale.............."Keep voting for that NEW Democratic Party and youll see why---youll be more than sorry"..lol

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  12. Moving??.....Where??.....OOHH NOO!!...Im gonna cry

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