New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz Questions Selective Prosecution of New York State Democratic Part

Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, Chairman of the New York State Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus, issued the following statement in response to media reports that the State Democratic Party is attempting to oust New York State Senator Pedro Espada.

“I am troubled to learn that despite scandals and investigations surrounding several Democratic leaders in the New York State Senate, an effort is underway to oust Senator Pedro Espada, the only Hispanic under investigation, from the Democratic Party.
The selective prosecution by the State Democratic Party of Senator Pedro Espada – the only Hispanic under investigation – should not be tolerated.
Our newspapers are filled with stories highlighting ongoing investigations of other Democratic New York elected officials in the US Congress, in the State Senate, in the State Assembly, and in the New York City Council. Yet, I don’t hear about or read about any attempt by the State Democratic Party to oust any of them – no – only when it comes to Hispanic names.
In this country, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, not guilty upon accusation, not guilty upon investigation. If they are later proven guilty, then let the chips fall where they may. But until that time, especially in New York State, there should be no selective prosecution of Hispanics.”

Dems ready to give Pedro the heave-ho

This was in the Monday July 5th online edition of the New York Post.

By FREDRIC U. DICKER State Editor

Last Updated: 9:10 AM, July 5, 2010

ALBANY -- State Democratic leaders, disgusted with scandal-a-minute Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada of The Bronx, will move to oust him from the party, The Post learned yesterday. 

A top state party official, in an unprecedented move, has prepared a letter to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, the Bronx Democratic chairman, calling on him to formally begin the ouster effort. 

The letter, expected to be delivered tomorrow, was written with the approval of Charlie King, the state party's executive director and a top political aide to Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Cuomo, who has accused Espada in a civil suit of "looting" $14 million from his Soundview health-care clinic.

"This is a move by the state party to get rid of Espada for good," said a source close to Democratic leaders.

"Charlie King has been saying the Democratic Party is not for everyone, and Espada is at the top of his list for a variety of obvious reasons."

The letter, written by King deputy Edgar Santana, begins, "Quite clearly, Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. left the Democratic Party long ago in all but his official party affiliation.

"Through his repeated public statements and bad conduct, Sen. Espada has shown he is not 'in sympathy' with our party's fundamental principles," says the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.

"This letter constitutes a formal request that the Bronx Democratic Party immediately initiate proceeding to cancel Sen. Pedro Espada Jr.'s enrollment as a Democrat.

"For more than a decade, Sen. Espada has cavalierly flouted campaign finance rules," the letter says, referring to Espada's failure over several years to file legally required campaign-contribution disclosure forms.

The letter accuses Espada of serving in office "in open defiance of state residency requirements that undergird our representative democracy," a reference to Espada's ownership and use of a luxury home in tony Mamaroneck, Westchester County

The letter also makes specific reference to Espada's role in the Senate "coup" just over a year ago when, along with since-ousted and disgraced Sen. Hiram Monserrate, he temporarily bolted to the Republicans and threw Democratic control of the Senate into doubt.

"Sen. Espada's Democratic affiliation is based solely on a desire for personal gain," the letter concludes.

Espada was made majority leader as part of a political deal that saw him return to the Democratic fold.

Espada, who The Post disclosed yesterday may be indicted on criminal charges this summer as a result of Cuomo's probe, is expected to be put on trial at an administrative tribunal conducted by the Bronx Democratic organization.

If Dinowitz and Bronx leaders rule that Espada should be ousted, he could appeal the verdict in state court.

to see the entire New York Post article,
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/dems_ready_to_give_pedro_the_heave_oMiqpw1RHUcrzbAh4AtWVL#ixzz3HIxTnHVF 

Bronx Democratic County Committee Chairman Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz had the following to say.

“If it’s being done by the state committee, you would think someone would actually give me a call,” Dinowitz griped, noting Bronx leaders asked the state party for assistance prior to the infamous Utopia Paradise Theater meeting at which the Rainbow Rebels clashed with loyalists to Assemblyman Jose Rivera and wrested the county committee from his control.

“We asked the state committee to come in and observe the meeting and make sure it was done fairly, because we suspected it wouldn’t be and they chose at that point not to take a role,” Dinowitz recalled. “Maybe they’re more activist now than they were.”

More as the story unfolds further.

Fraud charges loom for Pedro

This was reported in the New York Post online July 4th 2010 updated at 7:28AM.

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. -- accused of living large off the money from his Bronx health-care empire -- could face criminal charges for lying on state and federal applications to get more cash for the clinics, The Post has learned. 

Sources say Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office is looking at mail-fraud and conspiracy charges that could land the Bronx Democrat in prison for at least 10 years on each count.

The charges relate to declarations made on state and federal forms and tax returns for the Comprehensive Community Development Corp., which runs clinics under the name Soundview HealthCare Network. The embattled Espada is CEO of the nonprofit.

The criminal charges could come this summer, The Post has learned.

Espada's representative did not respond to requests from the Post for comment.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fraud_charges_loom_for_pedro_IXZ2NqPHzcaCteaXatPvWN#ixzz3HMVWMltF

We suggest you read the New York Post article at the link above as we have taken only some of the article.

We are intrigued by the line criminal charges could come this summer. Does this mean right before the Democratic Primary in September?

Fundraiser for Hector Ramirez

Please join

Bronx Democratic Party Chairman, Assemblyman Carl Heastie

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera

&

Friends of Ramirez

in honoring District Leader

HECTOR RAMIREZ

Democratic Candidate for NYS 86th Assembly District

ENDORSED BY THE  BRONX DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Thursday, July 15, 2010 - 630 - 9:00 p.m.

THE MONTECARLO ROOM

2700 Jerome Avenue

(Between Kingsbridge Road & West 195st.) 

To RSVP, please call 646.208.3874, e-mail friendsoframirez@gmail.com
Please note that this event is a fundraiser for candidate Hector Ramirez.

Senator Espada Visits Tolentine-Zeiser Senior Center

On Friday Jule 2^nd Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. was greeted by seniors at the Tolentine-Zeiser Food Pantry as monies set aside by Senators Espada and Ruben Diaz Sr. once again saved the nine slated to be closed senior centers in the Bronx. Senator Espada joined in the singing and shook the maracas as he and the seniors celebrated. Senator Espada warned however that Governor Paterson is vetoing over 6,000 lines in the budget, as he held up an issue of the New York Post calling the budget full of pork. Espada added “do you call what you see here pork, or do you call it people”. The Tolentine-Zeiser senior center was founded by Sister Margret McDermott who is still the executive director 30 years later. 

Above are pictures of Senator Espada and Seniors from Tolentine-Zeiser senior center celebrating the center staying open.

Marble Hill Youthmarket 2010

OPENING July 8^th at 2:00 PM, Bronx Community Board No. 8 (BXCB8) announces the much anticipated re-opening of the Marble Hill Youthmarket, an innovative program of GrowNYC which brings fresh food into underserved areas.   The market, located on West 225^th Street between Broadway and Exterior Street, will operate on Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM through October 28^th.  See info on our website: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8. 

Opening day will have free giveaways including Free DOT bike helmets.
Bronx Community Board No. 8
5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 100
Bronx, New York 10471-2194
Tel: 718-884-3959   Fax: 718-796-2763
Email: brxcb8@optonline.net   
 

#1 Subway line to undergo major repair 6-2010 thru 6-2012

The Dyckman Street station on the #1 subway line will undergo major renovations that will close the station for ten months northbound and 10 months southbound. In addition for 14 weekends (to be announced) from 11:30 PM Friday night to 5AM Monday morning the #1 line will be shut down from 168th Street to 242nd Street. Northbound #1 riders will have to transfer at 168th Street to the A train to 207th Street, then board shuttle buses for stops to 242nd Street. Southbound #1 riders will have to board shuttle buses to the 207th Street A line stop and take the A train to 168th Street to catch the #1 train southbound. 

Regular weekday #1 service will bypass Dyckman street the side of construction in progress. Additional repair work consisting of no more than one months duration will occur at the W.207th Street, W.215th Street, W.225th Street, W.238th Street, and W. 242th Street stations. These stations will also be bypassed during construction as riders will have to come back on the other side to exit at the stations under construction with the exception of W.242thStreet.    

Work at the Dyckman Street station northbound will begin in September 2010 and continue through June 2011. Work southbound will begin July 2011 and continue thru June 2012. It was not announced as to when construction work will begin on the other five #1 stations. 

There was a meeting in Manhattan near the Dyckman Street station to inform local residents, and Councilman G. Oliver Koppell is seeking a meeting from the MTA to inform Bronx residents who use the #1 train of the construction work and service interruptions.

NYOFCO Sludge Fertilizer Plant Closes After 18 Years in Hunts Point

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is hailing the closure of the New York Organic Fertilizer Company (NYOFCO) plant in Hunts Point. Thanks to the closure, this will mark the first summer since 1992 that neighborhood residents will be able to spend time outdoors without being forced to deal with the noxious odors emanating from the sludge processing plant.

The plant, which has been processing human waste from New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) wastewater treatment plants into fertilizer pellets for the past 18 years, will begin to wind down operations this week.

“The closing of this plant has been a major priority of mine from the day I entered elected office,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Finally, we are able to declare victory in the fight against this environmental nuisance, and the residents of Hunts Point will be able to breathe easier at long last. This has been a long fight, but it was a fight worth having. A healthier Bronx is a top priority of my administration, and this is a major step towards that goal.”

The closing of the NYOFCO plant in Hunts Point heralds the era of a cleaner, greener Bronx, where the health and well-being of Bronxites is no longer compromised by incompetent industrial operations. However, while the exit of NYOFCO from the Hunts Point neighborhood is a cause for celebration, many are cautious about the fact that this turn of events will add truck traffic to the streets of Hunts Point, which are already overburdened with trucks traveling to and from this industrial neighborhood.