Do Voters Confuse Espaillat with Espada?

Looks like Adriano Espaillat's campaign thinks he has an Espada problem -- that is that voters may confuse the assemblyman who is running to fill the 31st District Senate seat of attorney general hopeful Eric Schneiderman with Pedro Espada, the incumbent state senator in the neighboring 33rd District. They're both Latino of course and share the first four letters for their last name, but Espaillat apparently wants to make sure that voters know the similarities end there. This flier was distributed in at least one building in Riverdale this morning.

More Endorsements for Rivera

Gustavo Rivera, one of two State Senate candidates looking to unseat Sen. Pedro Espada, has received three more endorsements this morning. According to press releases, he's scored the support of State Senator Eric Schneiderman, who represents Northern Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, as well as that of Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Rivera is also being backed by the grassroots organization Citizen Action of New York.

"Today, I'm not just endorsing Gustavo Rivera for State Senate-I'm endorsing reform, I'm reforming leadership, and I'm endorsing integrity," Schneiderman said in a statement sent this morning.

Schneiderman, who is running for Attorney General this fall, is the first State Senator from the Bronx to endorse Rivera (he's also been endorsed by Sen. Liz Krueger, of Manhattan).

It's been a good week for Rivera, who's received a slew of other endorsements recently, including support from Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera and former Borough President Freddy Ferrer last week.

B.P. Diaz Talks "Green" Initiatives with Dominican Delegation

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and with a delegation of representatives from the government of Dominican Republic today to discuss environmental protection and other "green" initiatives. Above, (right to left) Diaz, Manhattan Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat and the Dominican Republic's Secretary of State for Environmental and Natural Resources, Dr. David Fernandez plant a tree at the New York Botanical Garden to symbolize the need for reforestation.

Espaillat calls Tapia a 'Bad Dominican'

Yudelka Tapia's campaign wants Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat to apologize after he allegedly called her a "bad Dominican" during last Sunday's Dominican Day Parade.

Espaillat, a Dominican-American who represents parts of Upper Manhattan, has endorsed Fernando Cabrera, an opponent of Tapia's in the race for the 14th District City Council seat.

"In our community there are good Dominicans and there are bad Dominicans and that is why I am supporting Fernando Cabrera," Espillat told the Public Access show Contacto, according to Tapia's campaign.

"Assemblyman Espillat [sic] needs to apologize to all of the women of the Bronx for maligning one of our most distinguished community leaders," said Lucila Rutinel, who heads the Committee Dominicanas for Yudelka, in a press release. "In this climate when so many public officials have come under investigatory scrutiny it is offensive for Assemblyman Espiallat [sic] to refer to our sister - whom he knows well - as a Bad Dominican."

Cabrera Picks Up More Endorsements

Fernando Cabrera, the pastor and college professor who's running for City Council in the 14th District, was endorsed this morning by Dominican-American Assemblymen Adriano Espaillat and Jose Peralta.

In a press release sent out by Cabrera's campaign, Espaillat, who represents parts of Upper Manhattan, said:

For over 20 years, Dr. Cabrera has provided outstanding service to the 14th District including counseling services to residents in need and has worked to improve the environment through community clean-up efforts. I am most impressed by his community action against violence, the youth leadership programs he has created, and the free drug rehabilitation services he has helped provide to constituents. I am proud to endorse him.

Cabrera said he was "truly humbled and proud to receive the endorsement of two of New York’s most distinguished Assemblymen."

UPDATE: So the rumors (posted in the comments section of this post and others) that the Working Families Party is no longer supporting Cabrera appear to be false. In a telephone interview, Dan Levitan, a WFP spokesman, called them "ridiculous" and "completely untrue." He said Cabrera's "on the list of people that we're really excited about."