In Fund-Raising Efforts, Espada Out in Front

Last week, state legislators running for reelection, and those challenging them, filed financial disclosure reports with the state's Board of Elections.  Those reports are now listed on the Board's website.  To see how much money a candidate has raised, click here and enter their name.

In the 33rd District senate race, the picture looks like this:

• Pedro Espada Jr. (incumbent) has raised $81,775 since March, and a total of  $386,225 since the beginning of last year. 
• Gustavo Rivera has raised $65,535. 
• Daniel Padernacht, $19,405.   
• Fernado Tirado, $2,335.

To see how much candidates have spent, click here and search by name.  (For Padernacht, search "Citizens for a Brighter New York.")

A few initial observations:

• Espada, the chair of the senate's Housing Committee, received a glut of money from the real estate industry, which is only likely to fuel critics' arguments that he sides with landlords over tenants. He also received big bucks from several beverage companies, as have many state legislators who opposed Gov. David Paterson's "sugar tax."
• Rivera received $6,000 from the union 1199 SEIU, whom he once worked for but has not yet officially been endorsed by. 
• Tirado has spent all the money he's so far raised. 
• Staples has been doing some good business these past few months. 

In the coming days, we'll try and delve a bit deeper - who gave what to whom, what this means, etc.  In the meantime, feel free to chime in with your own thoughts (no personal attacks please) in the comments section.

By the way, unlike in city races, candidates in state races don't receive matching funds, so what they raise is what they get.  Earlier this year, Paterson proposed overhauling this system in an effort to fight corruption.

Bronx News Roundup, Sept. 10

Yesterday, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and others held a memorial service at the Bronx County Courthouse, in memory of the Bronxites who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

A Bronx man, allegedly drunk at the wheel, was arrested last night after driving his livery cab the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester.

James Groves, a 49-year-old laborer from Harlem, says he's the mystery winner of last month's Mega Millions lottery jackpot. Two tickets split the $336 million prize. One was bought in California; the other - the one Groves is laying claim to - was purchased at a convenience store on Fordham Road.

Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz applauds Ruben Diaz, Jr.'s decision to stand up to Related Companies by demanding that they sign a community benefits agreement before redeveloping the Kingsbridge Armory.

The boyfriend of a young woman found stabbed to death in Mount Hope on Sunday has admitted to killing her, police say.

The Gotham Gazette takes a detailed look at the 14th District City Council race.

Last year, Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo dipped into her campaign war chest to help pay off her grandson's credit card debt, according to a Daily News investigation into campaign spending.(That would be the same grandson who was recently charged with stealing more than $200,000 from a non-profit.) Assemblyman Peter Rivera, meanwhile, used campaign money to treat himself to an Audi A6.

According to the article, politicians routinely raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations despite facing token (or non-existent) opposition. Two current examples: in their quest for reelection, Council members James Vacca and Maria del Carmen Arroyo have raised a whopping $293,495 and $206,338 respectively. Neither will face a primary opponent on Sept. 15. Other Bronx council members - even those facing stiff opposition - have raised a pittance by comparison.

On a lighter note:

The band The Bronx are fans of the borough the Bronx.

Here's some footage of three playful mongoose pups, newly born at the Bronx Zoo.

Tapia Gets Her Matching Funds

Today, Yudelka Tapia received $72,721 in public matching funds from the city Campaign Finance Board.

On two prior occasions, Tapia, a City Council candidate in the 14th District, had been denied the funds because her campaign, she said, hadn't submitted the required documentation.

Tapia's opponents - Maria Baez, the incumbent, and Fernando Cabrera - have so far been awarded $70,170 and S81,670 respectively.

The next (and final) payment date is scheduled for Sept. 11, four days before the primary.

More here on the rules and regulations governing public funds, and how the system is designed to help "grassroots and insurgent candidates" (like Tapia) who typically miss out on large donations from unions, etc.

See here for how much each candidate has raised, received, and spent.

Bronx News Roundup, August 6

Two men were murdered yesterday: a 65-year-old was shot dead on Hughes Avenue in Belmont, and a 63-year-old was stabbed to death inside his Marion Avenue apartment.

The Orchard Beach lifeguard station looks like "a house on fraternity row," according to the Post, with cases of beer stacked up outside, and staff drinking at their desks. The Parks Department says no laws were broken because the men were off-duty, and swimming was over for the day.

A housing project in Castle Hill has received a $25 million "green" makeover, with the aim of reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.

Congressman Joseph Crowley (D - Bronx/Queens) wants his constitunents to speak up about health care reform.

More on Kubwa and Kidogo, the two hyenas that flew in from Denver recently and now reside at the Bronx Zoo.

The Campaign Finance Board should seize Pedro Espada's assets, the Daily News argues in a strongly worded editorial. The majarity leader (aka the "Senator of the Year") continues to make a complete mockery of the rules governing political money, the paper says, and should be stripped of his Senate salary.

With the US Senate likely to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination later today, Puerto Ricans living in New York are bursting with pride.

Early Start to BP Race

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the city’s term-limits law has led to a flurry of early campaigning for the 2009 citywide elections for Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate and Borough Presidents.

A graphic accompanying the story identifies two Bronx council members as candidates for Bronx Borough President: Helen Foster and Joel Rivera. Both have filed campaign finance disclosures with the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
Two other rumored candidates for Borough President have not yet filed any paperwork: State Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. and State Senator Jose Marco Serrano. Serrano said he’s exploring the possibility.

“I’m definitely looking at all angles, but there is something to be said for where I am right now,” Serrano told the Norwood News. “The State Senate is controlled by the Republicans, I took a Republican seat by defeating Olga Mendez, and we are very interested in helping take back a Democratic majority.”

If Serrano and Diaz run, the Bronx could see four second-generation politicians running for the same seat.