What Happened to Bronx Dem Machine?

We're all a little bleary-eyed here at BxNN after a very late night of Tweeting (did you follow us?) and shuttling between candidate events. We'll have more for you later, but for now just a couple of items/thoughts  ...

By now, you know that incumbent Pedro Espada was defeated by a significant margin and that he conceded early in the evening. But, as for upsets, Gustavo Rivera's victory was the only defeat of a Bronx incumbent legislator despite several primary races. Assemblyman Nelson Castro appears to have beat back a tough challenge from Hector Ramirez (though he has yet to officially concede). The top, and perhaps only, priority of the Bronx Democratic Party was defeating Castro.

And seeing that the Party, headed by east Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie, formally stayed out of the Espada-Rivera match-up, it's hard to see what, if anything, they accomplished last night. What happened to their mojo and focus of two years ago when they ousted Jose Rivera and other leaders of the Party and elected Ruben Diaz, Jr. borough president? 

Gustavo Rivera's victory, on the shoulders of labor unions, individual elected officials acting independently of the Party machinery, the Working Families Party, an impressive crew of young volunteers, and a slew of engaged and fed-up Bronxites, shows that formal Party support is not always necessary for victory.

We'll have more for you soon, including video of Gustavo Rivera's victory speech. In the meantime, share your thoughts in the Comment section.

Espada Concedes

WNYC and their site it's a free country are reporting that incumbent Pedro Espada is conceding. Gustavo Rivera will take the Democratic nomination into the November election.

Here is what NY1 is reporting:

"With 15 percent of precincts reporting in Espada's District 33, Gustavo Rivera held 69 percent of the vote to Espada's 25 percent."

You can read Twitter feeds from Bronx News Network staff on the right. They have more detailed results there from the candidates' after-election parties.

Tweeting the Results

Just a reminder that from this point on most of our reporting will be done via Twitter. Follow @JordanMossBxNN and @NorwoodNews. You can read the Tweets at the right side of this page.  If you want to contact us directly about anything this evening, please e-mail me at jmoss-at-norwoodnews.org.   -Jordan Moss

On the Last Leg of the Campaign Trail with Gustavo Rivera

Here are some snippets from a couple of hours I spent out at the polls and visiting a few senior centers with the Gustavo Rivera campaign earlier today. When I arrived at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center on DeKalb Avenue in Norwood, I saw Hasan Ali, a former member of Community Board 7, who was the coordinator of this polling site. As of about 11:30 a.m. 143 people had voted. Ali said things were going pretty smoothly with the new polling machines, essentially a scanner that reads the voters' penciled-in cards.

Poll coordinator Hasan Ali with voter-card scanner at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. 
(All photos by Jordan Moss)

Outside, just across the street, Councilman Oliver Koppell's staffers, including chief-of-staff Annie O'Connor were handing out Rivera palm cards. Their team included Jonathan Furlong of the Brooklyn-based Pratt Area Community Council. His group is part of the Real Rent Reform Campaign which sees Espada as the enemy of strengthening rent laws. 

Jonathan Furlong of Pratt Area Community Council distributes palm cards for Gustavo Rivera 
across from the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center earlier today.

Candidates Hit Up Senior Centers, Campaign for Last Minute Votes

Espada near PS 33, a busy polling site. In the background is one of his bodyguards (Photos: James Fergusson)

The elderly typically vote in large numbers, and so most candidates running for election (or reelection) penciled in visits to local senior centers today.

At around 1 p.m., Senate candidate Gustavo Rivera and Councilman Fernando Rivera, who's endorsed him, spoke to seniors at Morris Senior Center on East 181st Street.

Rivera, seniors said afterwards, is a relatively new face at the center, unlike his opponent, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. who's well known. "He [Espada] comes around, he shakes your hand, a lot of people are swayed by that," said one 80-year-old woman, who was quick to say that she, personally, "cannot stand him, because of all the things they're saying in the [news]papers."

Rivera at East Concourse Senior Center

About an hour later, at East Concourse Senior Center on East Tremont Avenue, Cabrera and Rivera repeated their message, interrupting a game of bingo in the process. "I'm here to introduce you to the man who's going to be your next state senator," said Cabrera. "We need an honest man, not crooked politicians." Then he added: "This man is going to help me bring money into this senior center."

Rivera told the group of about 60: "The main difference between my opponent and me is simple. I want to work for you. I want to be accountable to you."

For local senior Dina Alverez, Cabrera's and Rivera's message fell on deaf ears: she'd already voted, and for Espada. "I know he has a lot of problems, but I like Espada," she said. "When he talks to you, he listens to you and your problems. You can't believe all you read in the papers."

Mary Kelly, another senior, seemed bored by the whole spectacle. "People [candidates] all basically say the same thing, 'cos they know what you want to hear," she said. She voted this morning but wouldn't say for whom.

When Cabrera and Rivera were done, the bingo continued - for a minute or two. Then Hector Ramirez showed up. Ramirez, who's running against Assemblyman Nelson Castro in the 86th Assembly District, gave a brief speech, before stepping outside and talking to local residents. He got chatting to one woman, who, during her walk up the block, had been given several campaign fliers - one of Ramirez's, one of Rivera's, and one of Castro's. Smiling, Ramirez gently removed Castro's from her hand and discarded it.

Stories Not About Politics in Norwood News

While we're waiting for election results, just a reminder: the latest edition of the Norwood News is out on streets and online now. Here's a sampling of some non-election stories you'll find.

Rashaad Ernesto Green, a young film director from the Bronx is putting the final touches on his new movie, "Gun Hill Road" -- filmed largely on and around, you guessed it, Gun Hill Road.

Police are still looking for witnesses to come forward with information about killing of a 20-year-old father who was exiting St. James Park in University Heights. The victim was shot six or seven times in the chest in broad daylight. Police and experts say it's difficult to find witnesses willing to aid in the investigation of violent crimes for a variety of reasons.

Plus more crime news in our Police Report.

As part of the Norwood News' new "Be Healthy" section, we profile a new kidney transplant clinic that caters to Spanish speakers. and also offer some health tips for parents with kids heading back to school. 

A Norwood artist looks to break into the world of cartooning.

In our Business Beat section, we take a look at the string of shops offering fruit smoothies in the area.

Also, don't forget to access our online-expanded Neighborhood Notes section for all the latest on local programs, services, events and announcements.

Rivera Campaign Alleges 'Illegal Activity' at Polls By Team Espada

Earlier this morning, volunteers for Gustavo Rivera's campaign were attempting to have one of Pedro Espada's staffers, Michael Gary, kicked out of the Amalgamated Houses Polling site: Vladeck Hall.

Gary, an Amalgamated resident who was involved in a little dust-up with political blogger Rafael Martinez Alequin two weekends ago during an Espada campaign event in front of Mosholu Library, was one of two volunteer poll watchers assigned to the Amalgamated site. The other was Carl Tucker, Espada's legislative director, who said he got there at 5:30 a.m.

An hour ago, Rivera's campaign sent out a press release saying Gary, who said he started working for Espada in February, "steered people to vote for Espada. Once voters were inside the poll site, Gary said, 'I speak Spanish, I can help you vote.'"

Espada's camp has, of course, denied doing anything improper.

Other allegations of impropriety include:

--At 268 East 207th Street: Senator Pedro Espada was inside the polling location, talking to voters,
handing out literature, and saying "vote for me" with his campaign workers.

--At P.S. 33: Pedro G. Espada handed out literature for his father inside the poll site.

--At Middle School 80: As soon as the police left for lunch, Espada volunteers started leafleting within the poll site vicinity. Also, the person who is giving instruction for voters changed the instructions from English to Spanish for an English-speaking voter so the voter could not understand. The Spanish interpreter gave Espada volunteers high-fives and hugs as he walked out of the polling site.

--At Fort Independence Community Center at 3350 Bailey Avenue: An Espada poll worker said to Rivera workers, "you better tell your people to behave because I'm likely to stab first."

--Fordham Hill Coop, 2440 Sedgwick Ave: Several canvassers said the apartment building security guards at the poll site have asked voters who they are voting for. Only Espada voters have been allowed into the building.

--At P.S. 70, Eastburn Avenue and 173rd Street: There was no Spanish interpreter at the poll site. The Espada poll watcher had a "poll workers" certificate and a sign that said, "I speak Spanish". She was told to cease and desist.

--P.S. 93 at 182 Washington Street: Espada's workers set up a road block to stop traffic and are giving out literature.

--At P.S. 57: Ruth T.P. Smith, one of the poll inspectors who is close friends with Espada, told people to vote for Espada inside the poll site.

--At P.S. 23: An Espada worker wearing campaign paraphernalia inside the poll site, was asked to leave, but refused.

Mixed Reviews for New Voting Machines



A woman tests out a new ballot scanning machine in Bedford Park
last month. (Photo by Jeanmarie Evelly)

 So far, there's been both good and bad feedback about the Board of Election's new voting system that debuted today--a paper ballot and scanner to replace the traditional lever machines, which have been used in New York since the 1960s.

Mayor Bloomberg said this morning that the BOE's handling of the new system was "a royal screw-up," and some Bronx voters were inclined to agree.

"They don't know what they're doing," said Nora Baerga, who was chatting with friends on Prospect Avenue and E. 185th Street after she'd returned from voting at Grace Dodge High School nearby. Staff at the polls were "more lost than I was," she said, adding that they didn't have enough pens at the site for people to use--despite the fact that the new paper ballots require voters to fill in their choices by hand.

"I had to use my own pen," she said. "They could have just gone to the TD Bank down the street and gotten the free pens there."

Espada Visits the Polls

Esapda outside of a polling station at PS 57 in Crotona (Photo by Jeanmarie Evelly)

Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., pictured above, was making the rounds today, visiting the polls in his 33rd Senate District.  He was spotted outside of PS 57 Crescent School, on Crotona Avenue, flacked by a group of staffers and looking dapper in a navy blue suit, pale yellow tie and matching pocket handkerchief. 

The Senator, who cast his own vote this morning at PS 8 in Bedford Park, said he was visiting various polling sites to make sure things were going smoothly with the state's new voting machines, which use paper ballots and a scanner instead of the traditional lever system. 

"We've seen some significant problems," Espada said, saying he heard some polls were late getting open in time for their 6 a.m. deadline, and that some voters were confused with the new system. "I don't think it will affect the outcome, but there's always a concern of disenfranchising voters."

Espada went on to say that he was feeling confident about a victory in today's election, and then criticized his rival, Gutavo Rivera, for running a negative campaign that he thinks will make people less likely to vote.

"What we need is more outreach and less negative campaigning," he said. "[Rivera's] camp totally dwelled on the negative, and that has the effect of reducing voter turnout." 

(For the record, there have been a number of negative mailers circulating that blast Rivera--you can see a few of them here--though Espada's campaign denies having sent them). 

Espada then got into a dark blue Cadillac Escalade and drove away. He and his supporters are hosting a "celebration event" tonight at the Luna Lounge, at 1832 Webster Ave. We'll have more on that later.

What You're Seeing Out There

We asked readers to tell us what they're seeing out there and one Norwood resident sent us this dispatch from MS 80 on Mosholu Parkway in Norwood.

I vote at MS 80 on Mosholu Parkway -- To vote here you need to be persistent - there is a line of parents and kids trying to get there kids registered that I had to push - pass - then I had to firmly tell the school guard (an obnoxious fellow) that no I did not need to get on his line -  I finally just walked around him.

When I got to the cafeteria - the workers were in turmoil -- only one of the scanners was working.  The "Captain" for the site had never showed.  A woman was taking charge who actually seemed to know what she was doing but the other workers were not paying much attention.  The woman who I asked to double check the book for my ED did not know how to look up an address - I showed her.  I also had to find my name in the book with the signatures.   

Just up the hill from MS 80, BxNN guest blogger Gregory Lobo Jost had this to say in a comment earlier about voting at St. Brendan's School.

No problems for me at Saint Brendan's. I went at 8am and it was not crowded, but there was a steady trickle of folks coming in to vote. I was worried about the new voting system, but it was very smooth, and our poll workers were helpful and seemed to have things under control.

There were two scanners in operation. I didn't check the number on mine, but I heard the other machine was up to vote #24.

Outside the polling site on 207th heading just west of the school were two Espada staffers/volunteers (not looking enthused at all) and one Rivera staff/volunteer who seemed upbeat.

Please keep letting us know what you're seeing and experiencing at the polls.

Voter Turnout Looking Up in the NW Bronx

Lynn Schwartz, a longtime local activist in the northwest Bronx, voted early this morning at the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center. She was the 20th person to cast her vote there. Normally, Schwartz said, "I'm like number three."

Former candidate in the 33rd Senate District Dan Padernacht (who is now telling his supporters to vote for fellow challenger Gustavo Rivera), said he also votes at the nursing home. In 2008, Padernacht said only 17 people total voted at that site.

At the Amalgamated Houses' Vladeck Hall, a polling site for several election districts, voters were steadily coming in and casting their ballots using the new electronic voting machines. As of about 10:30 a.m., 216 people had voted there. Poll workers, many of whom were returning from previous election days, said they thought turnout seemed relatively high.

Haile Rivera, a staffer on 33rd Senate District incumbent Pedro Espada's campaign, said 221 people have already voted at PS 86 on Reservoir Avenue near Kingsbridge Road. He said only about 300 people voted there in 2008.

"That's pretty good," he said, adding that a lot of parents getting off work would probably voter there later.

Scene From Outside the Polls at Amalgamated Houses

 

As Gustavo Rivera walked over to greet a couple of campaign volunteers -- one of them an exchange student from Dusseldorf, Germany -- a couple of heavy drops from above fell onto his head and glasses. 

He took off his glasses, checked them. Good. Just water. "I can see the headline now," Rivera joked. "Gustavo Rivera: Poop Head."

Rivera, wearing a bright multi-colored tie given to him by a supporter, and his staff were in good spirits in front of the Amalgamated Houses this morning, a long day of campaigning ahead of them. "I just go where they tell me to go," said Rivera, a long-time political aide and operative who is stepping out as a candidate for the first time. He's taking on the incumbent and controversy lightning rod, Pedro Espada, Jr. in the 33rd Senate District race.

Joining Rivera to do some last-minute campaigning were Dan Padernacht, a former candidate in the race whose base would have come from Amalgamated and elsewhere in Kingsbridge Heights; Councilman Oliver Koppell, wearing an American flag-themed tie on what he called "my holy day" (election day); and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, who brought a campaign box (see photo) -- his secret campaign weapon developed over the course of several election cycles -- and a box of Mallomars for his mother.

A couple of residents walking by said they wished Padernacht would have stayed in the race, but most said they were going to vote for Rivera, who earlier in the day was campaigning at PS 86 in Kingsbridge with Comptroller John Liu. 

"I think we feel confident," Rivera said.

Several yards away stood two Espada volunteers: Harry Kresky (pictured, left) of Manhattan and Kirsten Fulda (pictured, right) of New Jersey, both members of the Independence Party who said they admired Espada for his, well, independence. 

"He doesn't do what the parties tell him to do," said Kresky, a lawyer who, interestingly, once represented Dr. Lenora Fulani, a radical former presidential candidate, who endorsed Espada last week. 

Both Kresky and Fulda said they were impressed with Espada's record of creating a string of health clinics in the south Bronx.