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I sincerely believe the people of this state should vote against every single incumbent in the next senate election. We need an entire new cast of characters in there. Every single one of them shares the culpability for this deplorable episode. It no longer matters to me how much I like my representative, Velmanette Montgomery. I'm sure there are good, well-meaning senators in there somewhere. But not a single one of them stood up and denounced the shenanigans in any meaningful way. As far as I'm concerned, they've all gotta go.

I hope people don't forget about this. I hope they pay attention to the election cycle and vote in the next state senate election. And I hope WNYC continues to provide illuminating and informative coverage about what goes on in Albany.

remeber that the Legislature took care of the Dems and the Senate took care of the REpublicans. When the Dens took over the Seante, it left the Republicans with no patronage.
I am upset that the Silver lead assembly is not gettin any heat on this

The question isn't the margin of victory - the question is turnout of Espada's election. Someone on this program a day or two ago said turnout was less than 5%. If so, it's quite a remarkable achievement for him to rise to majority leaer and be guaranteed no opponent! The Dems seem to be handing the next election there to a moderate GOP contender.

Staggering incompetence, staggeringly irresponsible politicians. Not even the thin veneer of serving the public who elected them. Pure self-interest, graft, back room deals and naked power grabbing. This kind of nonsense gives dictatorships a good name. What exactly are the real financial/budgetary implications of the stalemate and can we the citizens sue these s.o.b,'s for that money?

First, politicians in the U.S. do societies dirty work. Who else are we going to have do it. They handle public land-use, complaining to the Feds for more services, and talking around the system, most people don't want to do this everyday. So this is the rest...

WHY is it an eye opener? Why is anyone surprised? There's no ethical standards for politicians in our society. Gosh, people need to stop feeling so proud of democracy, it's not supposed be fun and nice, this is BLOODSPORT, closest thing to war we have, Politicians are Glatiators of our modern day. STOP being fooled. These guys are politicians for a reason. They're not delivering babies and saving lives, stopping wars.

jane
last election Kruger got 42k votes and no GOP ran conservative party got 3k
with the dem party helping the gang of 4 we are stuck with them for life.

where is the working families party?!

The word "Espada" should become a noun to refer to a politician who blackmails a caucus for self-aggrandizement and personal power.

This politician held the whole state hostage. Dispicable!!

I sent an email to Carl Kruger who is my senator, that I will not be voting for him because of his involvement in the earlier shenanigans (so called Amigos), and his stance on gay marriage. Enough is enough. They all look like clowns in the State Senate, we need to elect NEW people. After all, it is us who put them there. We can vote for other people, perhaps become more informed who we vote for on a local level.

there's a good article on Espada (pre-defection) and the housing issue:

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20090601/200/2931

nancy
espada got 52k votes, no GOP ran, the conservative party got 1k votes. so don't move unless you're going to run against him.

where is the working families party?

diaz espada and monserrate all ran without serious opposition!
diaz even ran as a GOP and democrat
maybe those parts of the city need more choice on election day.

I'm tempted to move to Pedro Espada's district so I can vote for his opponent in the next election.

Wasn't Espada elected with less than 1% of the voting population in his district?

Richard Ravitch, the kind of, sort of lieutenant governor, was sworn in at the Peter Luger Steak House in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Wednesday night, he said:

"Due to a clumsy waiter and a legal glitch, creamed spinach is now New York's Lieutenant Governor. Fortunately creamed spinach now enjoys a higher approval rating than any other NY politician!"

HOMERULE NOW for NYC