I wonder if New Yorkers care at all over what happened yesterday in the NY State Senate.
Look, I know and understand well that we are all too busy to pay attention to what goes on in Albany. In truth, I will confess I had not been paying attention myself. As a New Yorker living in this wonderful city, I have the silly mindset that NYC is the center of the universe. Of course I know it isn’t. But my point being, many of us live our lives not caring much about what goes on outside of the 5 boroughs.
Watching the local news last night, however, I was appalled to learn that the local Republicans in the NYS Senate are up to their dirty Republican tricks. According to the NY Times, Republicans had been the majority in the NYS Senate, until this past November when the Democrats were voted back in power, understandably so. But of course, the Republicans being, well, Republicans, couldn’t accept the WILL OF THE PEOPLE, who had clearly put the Democrats in charge. Of course no, the will of the people means nothing to these power-hungry, self-serving politicians.
They went around the voters and staged a coup in the Senate yesterday, gaining a new “majority” by luring two wayward Democrats with shady records. The first is the famous Mr. Monserrate from Queens, recently indicted of stabbing his partner, and –as per the Daily News– caught on video dragging her from his apartment– and the other, the famous Mr. Espada, who, according to the NY Times, is under investigation for tax issues. I wonder what made the Republicans select these two for their newly gained “bipartisan majority”. Let me guess. The Republicans must have thought, “Hey! These guys are crooked enough. They qualify to join us and will have no problem being lured in!”
I am furious. As a New Yorker I believe these two should be voted out of office in the next election, for they betrayed the will of their electorate, who wanted a Democratic majority. They have betrayed their constituents by switching allegiances. The Democrats had an agenda –which included giving tenants more rights, strengthening abortion rights and the legalization of same sex marriage, very important and controversial issues– which had a better chance in Democrat hands.
Of course, voting Espada and Monserrate out of office in the next election would be too late. By then, no doubt, the results of their actions would have had their repercussions, and without a doubt, will be irreparable and irreversible.
As New Yorkers, we need to unite and protest the betrayal of Monserrate and Espada. We should demand their resignation or removal. There are things at stake that will have no chance of passing under Republican control. In other words, the same BS we have been dealing with, all this time from the NYS senate, which for the past decades has been under Republican control, will continue, as we have fallen sleep at the wheel and remain oblivious to what is happening in Albany. I know we’ll start caring when it is too late and legislation that affect us negatively, enacted by a self-interest ruling party such as the Republicans, is passed, and then it’ll be too late to do anything.
If you are a New Yorker and care about issues that Democrats care about, call or contact the offices of Monserrate and Espada and tell them how you feel about their betrayal. (Click on the links.) If I were you I’d demand their resignation. If you’re more politically active than me, is there a way we can start a campaign to get them out?
According to the NY Times, Espada, which is now “president” of the senate, is next in line to become governor should something happen to Patterson. And this is the guy that is under investigation for tax evasion?
Is there something we can do?
I understand both of these guys are considered “powerful” in their counties, so if anything happens to me, you know who’s behind it. LOL!!!
Seriously, if there is anything that can be done, it needs to be done now. I know very little about NYS politics, I will admit it, but what I find appalling is the Republicans getting away with such shenanigans, and all of us remaining oblivious to it. They are counting on it. They can’t get away with it. It was not the will of the voters.
I just googled the situation and found that the NY Daily News covered this and had a poll on the situation. The majority –as of this evening– think Espada and Monserrate are, to quote the Daily News: “Traitors and backstabbers who should lose their seats.”
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one feeling this way. The question is, what can we do about this betrayal NOW. Anyone with any good ideas, please feel free to reply.
UPDATE: Jade, one of our readers just suggested we contact the Queens and Bronx Democratic County Committees. Thanks Jade!
1. Queens County Democratic Committee: I couldn’t find an url, so, here is the phone number: (718) 268-5100 and address: 7250 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375-5355. They link to a generic Democratic site: http://www.democrats.org/contact.html
2. Bronx County Democratic Committee: OK. These guys seem better organized. Here is their webpage which has all the relevant info: http://www.bronxdemocrat.org/
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Photo credit: NY Times
For the NY Times source article that originated this commentary, click here. Or copy and paste the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/nyregion/09switch.html
For tomorrow’s article follow-up on this topic, click here or copy and paste the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/nyregion/10switchsub.html
Yes, I am an avid follower of the NY Times and CNN.
OMG, thank you so much for this fantastic article!
I’ve hounded my Senators (Squadron and Schumer) to sign on to the Duane/Latimer bill -Senate 8235/ Assembly 11097 bill (designed to protect NYC tenants by reforming the laws, including changing the rule allowing our anti-tenant Mayor to appoint ALL members of the RGB).
Neither Sen. would disclose where they stood on the issue. (Disappointing since until this, Sen. Schumer always replied to inform me of his policies.)
Despite their silence I felt there was a fairly good chance reform would FINALLY pass in NYS.
So I freaked when I heard about Monserrat and Espana’s incredible betrayal. Much is at stake this year. Not just tenants protection; gay rights and women’s reproductive rights also had a good chance of being strengthened, – that is until Monserrat and Espana decided to betray us. It figures 2 men with such shady pasts would caucus with the GOP, and be so cowardly that they wouldn’t have the decency to just become Republicans.
I contacted the Queens and Bronx Democratic County Committees earlier today and asked them to commit to NOT putting either Senator up for the Party’s nomination in 2010.
Until we all get involved Albany will continue to ride over us. I’d love to hear suggestions as to what else we can do. Progressives were able to elect President Obama, New Yorkers can certainly take back our city!
Right on Jade!
About your comment:
“I contacted the Queens and Bronx Democratic County Committees earlier today and asked them to commit to NOT putting either Senator up for the Party’s nomination in 2010.
Until we all get involved Albany will continue to ride over us. I’d love to hear suggestions as to what else we can do. Progressives were able to elect President Obama, New Yorkers can certainly take back our city!”
Great idea about contacting the County Committees. I’ll post the Contact links.
Thank you for your contribution Jade. Look forward to seeing you here again.
I’m not all that surprised that neither the Bronx nor the Queens County committees responded to me. I plan on contacting them again next week. We all should!
There is also a public hearing to tell the Rent Guidelines Board we support a rent freeze. This is specifically for the tenants of Rent Stabilized apt.’s. And yes, I am particularly fired up about this since it affects me and many of my neighbors. There are over a million tenants directly affected by the whims of the (Mayor appointed) Rent Guideline Board.
We all need to stand up against Albany’s autocratic anti-NYC policies. We need to have more say in the laws that govern us. Albany continues to chip away at Rent Stabilization protection. Further, we need to change the law back, so that millions more NYC renters will have rent stabilization. So I think this actually affects all New Yorkers.
The hearing is to propose a rent freeze on all rent stabilized apt.’s. The market rate for rents in Manhattan has fallen by an average of 20% over the last year. Yet the Rent Guidelines Board passed a huge rent hike for rent stabilized tenants. Rent stabilized tenants should not be singled out to pay more for rent during these tough times.
Anyone interested can make their voice heard at a public hearing:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 from l0 am . – 6 p.m. at the Great Hall at Cooper Union located at 7 East 7th Street (corner of 3rd Ave., in the basement). NYC 10003
Unfortunately I can’t attend since I can’t get off work. But the final vote will be taken at a public meeting on Tuesday June 23, 2009 from 5:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. at the Great Hall at Cooper Union (same address as above) and I’ll be there. I hope many others will as well.
New Yorkers can also email the RGB Board:
board@housingnyc.com
or the RGB chair:
chair@housingnyc.com
and let them know you support a rent freeze.
Let’s take back our city!