Protestors Say They Were Banned From Espada's Town Hall

Pedro Espada addresses a crowd at a town hall meeting on May 19 (photos by Alma Watkins)

A group of housing advocates who tried to attend State Senator Pedro Espada’s town hall meeting last week say they were physically barred from entering the building, according to two people who attempted to join the meeting.

Michael Leonard, a local resident and self-described activist, says he was stopped outside the Davidson Community Center, where the session was held, and told by a man in a suit that he wasn’t welcome there.

Another woman, who asked that her name not be used for fear of retribution, said she was pushed away and had her hand ripped from the door when she tried to enter the building. The man blocking her entrance told her to “get the hell out” of there, she said.

The woman said Espada's staffers recognized her from some of the senator’s previous rallies, which she had attended to protest his controversial rent freeze bill  - legislation Espada has been pushing for months that he says would freeze rent prices for a number of New Yorkers but that tenant advocates claim is pro-landlord legislation in disguise.

Five people were banned from the meeting, according to the woman. They called the police when they were refused admission, and when cops arrived, Espada’s staff told the officers that the event was private, she said.

A spokesman from Espada's office said the meeting was open to the public, with mailers being sent to addresses throughout the district. Police officers were at the meeting, he said, but only as a normal police presence that comes to oversee any public event. Some people were asked not to come inside because they were holding signs and chanting and would disrupt the purpose of the event, according to the spokesman, who denied that anyone was physically removed or blocked.

Tonight: Espada to Host Town Hall Meeting

 

Sen. Espada at a Mother's Day event earlier this month (Photo courtesy of Franck Laboy)

State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. is holding a town hall meeting this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Davidson Community Center, located at 2038 Davidson Ave. (on the corner of West Burnside Avenue).

According to his press director, Franck Laboy, the meeting is an opportunity for constituents to tell Espada how they feel about their community, and what they see as important.

You may recall that Espada's last townhall meeting was a virtual one.  Tonight, then, is a chance for local residents to talk to him face-to-face. 

Espada, who's been seen a lot in the community of late, is also holding a "Women of Distinction" event this Saturday at Mount Hope Housing Company's community center at 55 Townsend Ave. For more information, call (718) 652-4329.

Espada Holds Town Hall Meeting, Says He Supports East River Tolls

Last night, during what was billed as a "virtual" town hall meeting live from Albany, Pedro Espada, the state senator and Senate majority leader, announced that he now favors tolling four East River bridges.

Charging motorists $2 dollar per crossing would generate $525 million of revenue each year, Espada said, and "directly pay for the free students MetroCards" the MTA is threatening to abolish.

His decision to support the tolls is something of an about face.  Last year, he helped crush a similar plan.

Espada's constituents and other interested parties were able to watch yesterday's meeting online or on BRONXNET, or listen in by phone. Questions could be submitted beforehand as well as during the event. Most pertained to the economy and the budget. Aside from tolling bridges, Espada said he's proposing raising additional revenue by charging non-profits property tax.

If you were hoping to hear Espada talk about Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation into his healthcare network, or address concerns that his housing bill may benefit landlords, you would have been disappointed. If tough questions were asked, the moderator ignored them.

Some additional thoughts:

Espada deserves credit for at least trying something like this.  Many (most?) Bronx politicians have never held a town hall meeting - virtual or otherwise.

Nineteen people, myself included, watched the meeting online, according to the counter at the bottom of the live stream. Presumably a few more saw it on BRONXNET or listened in by phone.  If several others later watch it on Youtube or on his Web site, then the meeting was - ultimately - quite well "attended."

This format doesn't allow for much back-and-forth.  A question was asked (or rather the moderator relayed a question) and Espada responded, speaking for five minutes or so.  Then they moved onto the next one.   Shouldn't townhall meetings be more informal? More animated? 

The moderator had opportunities to ask Espada good follow-up questions, but seemed more interested in praising him instead.  At one point she told him, "You are a staunch advocate for civil rights, that's for sure."   It would have been helpful if her agenda - whatever it was - was made clear.  Or, better still, if someone else had run the show.

When we mentioned on Friday that this town hall meeting was scheduled, several readers left comments on the post criticizing the idea. You can read them here.

Espada to Host Town Hall Meeting (From Albany)

State Senator Pedro Espada will host a town hall meeting this Sunday "live from the Senate chamber floor."  His constituents (and anyone else for that matter) can watch proceedings online or on BRONXNET, or listen in by phone.  Questions for Espada can be submitted in advance. Here's the flyer:

Virtual Town Hall