wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

i'm all for gay marriage, but this
isn't about gay marriage, which is,
apparently having some success in
baiting the conversation away from
the real issues. All agree: Gay marriage will
become law, if not now soon. If the
landlord lobby succeeds in maintaining
its control of the NY senate, every apartment
lost to decontrol will never return to affordability, tenants rights will continue
to erode and
the city will inevitabley succumb to further gentrification,
(a nice word for ethnic cleansing).
For years, upstate republicans -with no stabilized constituency -have determined
the fate of millions of tenants in NYC and
Mr. Espada, apparently a gay marriage supporter
is the key to the RSB's continued domination of
NYC affordable housing. He'll vote as he
chooses, but with a republican majority,
his vote will see the light of day.
And there is something just naive in this
coverage as it relates to some ideal democratic
process. I don't quite understand how someone
like Mr. Espada gets elected, but patronage
is still alive and well in NYC politics. I
bet though if you go to his district, there
is a lot more enthusiasm about rent protection
than for gay marriage and have a farily progressive agenda at least economically. And they would never elect a Republican.

Bottom Line:

Albany was trying to get away with usual Albany tactics that NYers have just accepted as "how things work". The difference is that now NYers have more information available (internet, internet access at public schools, blogs etc), NYers are educating themselves, and NYers are finally active. NYers are becoming what selfish politicians have always feared their constituents would/could become - aware. With awareness comes a voice:

http://www.thealbanyproject.com/diary/6569/voters-not-donors-scenes-from-the-protest-in-the-capitol-today

I had to turn him off. He is the embodiment of the problem and why we need term limits.

I am a liberal democrat, and Sen. Serrano was a complete embarrassment. In case he didn't notice, New orkers did not get to 'vote for a Democratic majority.' One can only vote for one's own Senator. There has been precious little criticism of Republicans turned independent or Democratic to turn over the US Senate control (James Jeffords of VT) or to get closer to 60 vote Dem majority (Arlen Specter of PA). This was not about Dean Skelos, who could have huffed and puffed all he liked, and held his breath until he turned blue in the face, but, without the cooption of Espada and Montserrate, he could achieve nothing.
The Democratic response of turning out the light, locking the door and hiding the key is unworthy of High School Student Council hijinks.
The legislature in Albany has been deplorable for years, and this is a new low. Would that there could be primaries and competitive general elections in every district.
Democratic or Republican, we should throw all of the bums out. None of these guys are worthy of serivng our interests.

pls grill him on comment 33 as well!

Brian please include content of above comments 27 and 54 in the next grilling! Pleeeese put them on the spot. Yes, you honor the 4th Estate, the Press.

I am a Democrat who wishes these 2 Democrats be voted out of office, AND put in jail for their "alleged" crimes, but what about the corruption from the 1980s and 1990s?

1. NYC always pays more to Albany than it receives back

2. If LI commuters to NYC want to get off the LIRR and walk to their jobs, rather than use the MTA, it would lower healthcare costs

3. Unfortunately, these two Democrats are provider of jobs in an area where there are very little. If they are out of office, their constituents do not have jobs in the healthcare businesses that one runs, and the patronage jobs provided by the other

4. Why would we push for property tax reform in a budget year when poor people are suffering more than they have in 35 years. If you own property, be grateful.

5. Why would someone have one resident in the Bronx, and another 20 minutes away in beautiful Mamaroneck. Could it be the better schools, less pollution and crime that this Bronx representative is supposed to fight against to help those who vote for him?

Full disclosure, I taught in the Bronx district in question, and live in Jeff Klein's because when I lived near the school I would get depressed at how corrupt the local politicians were, so I moved and commuted.

#10 - Charles from the East Village, it might surprise you that many of us lived in New York City for years. Unfortunately, King Bloomberg and his buddies rezoned many of our neighborhood making it impossible for us to stay there. Therefore we are upstate. Without Upstate natural resources such as WATER, New York City would not exist. Much of the land around the reservoirs is controlled by New York City and off the tax rolls. This hurts upstate towns and communities. There are a lot of inequities between how NYC and upstate New York in terms of how things are paid for. If everyone paid their fair share and came to gether to resolve all of the issues that effect us all, we would all be better off.

Charles from East Village,

Your 100% correct. So please don’t say stupid things like “NYS might as well be Alabama. A bunch of hicks who are afraid of their own shadow.”.

It is so disingenuous of this LI Republican to say Espada has two homes! Espada has lived in Mamaroneck for years. He worked in Soundview, a neighborhood in the South Bronx, for years. He only bought an apartment in Bedford Park, in the North Bronx, so that he could run for Efrain Gonzalez' seat. Gonzalez, under indictment for stealing government money, was vulnerable. Despite what he says about no one complaining earlier, it was a BIG issue in the primary campaign -- Espada was even pressured to have a mattress delivered to his putative residence in the Bronx.

What's as bad or worse: Espada is years behind on his campaign finance filings. Just hasn't filed them. Why is he even allowed on the ballot, much less allowed to take a seat in the Senate?

JP - I don't disagree with you on that one. Too bad the conversation is not about toughness.

@Kerry Thornburn

How can you seriously accuse Brian of being UNFAIR for grilling someone who wants to deny a select group of NY residents the right to marry, which -not sure if you noticed - is UNFAIR.

charles play nice anyone can comment!!

Paolo, maybe you should look up the word "coup" in the dictionary before you post something online. Maybe what you are referring to is a "military coup." Brian never referred to this fiasco as a military coup. Big difference.

Charles from East Village, #10

If I had to choose who was tougher, someone from Alabama or someone from the East Village, I’d pick the person from Alabama over those folks on the mean streets of the East Village any day of the week…..

Thanks for giving Senator Marcellino a good grilling! We're supposed to believe that after 40 years in power the Republicans have had an epiphany now that the Democrats have control. I think not. And it's a disgrace to threaten to use the marriage equality bill as a political tool in their power play.

JP - I went to syracuse. And please, this is a NY issue - not jersey. I don't think you want to get anyone started on Bridge & Tunnel. If you want to live in NY, please move here. If not, stay home.

Monserrate and Espada achieved powerful Senate positions themselves. It is obvious that the Republicans as well as the ne'er-do-well Senators wanted power.

Paulo (32), DO NOT go into public office unless you are capable of standing up to public scrutiny and our 4th Estate, the press. We need more public pressure on all branches and all levels of government, not less. Did you see what Bush and Obama went through during the campaign, and they won? Think about the lies and slander that John Kerry endured, for instance, by trying to get into the highest office.

Bravo, brian. Great interview.

It is a circus up there. You got your 'circus Elephants' not happy with their share of peanuts so they got those two 'clowns' to lead them to the big stash.

humph...Politics.

Paulo 37
i was think the same thing and then i looked coup up in the dictionary :
1.A brilliantly executed stratagem; a masterstroke.

#39: I have to agree on this. I thought trying to undermine one point with the other was at best a real stretch and ultimately rather unfair.

The Republican party basically is like a child who was told by their mother (NY voters) to play nice and share their toy (leadership/representation/good of the public). Instead the Republican party smashed the toy.

Childish and I can't wait until the next election.

Brian, we shouldn't use the word "coup" as you and so many others in media are doing. The word calls to mind violent (or at least extra-legal) seizures of state power. There are places on earth right now in which coups are anything but metaphorical, and our hyperbole may serve both to minimize their problems and to be over-dramatic about our own. Note that whatever the result of the court challenge to this political maneuver, there is no question that the court decision will be respected -- or, if it is appealed, the appellate court's decision will be respected. This struggle for power is taking place entirely within a larger framework of the rule of law, and should be characterized as such.

Hey, Brian, good for you, I'm noticing that lately, now with espada, you are really holding these jokers' feet to the fire. It is so rewarding to listen to a host who is up on his material, at the top of his game, and educates while questioning his guests. Next"operate" on Bloomberg. Get him to outline exactly what he has done for the city!!!

Whoah, Brian. You are usually fair, but that question about gay marriage was out of line. What happened to respectfully disagreeing about issues? A person giving someone the benefit of the doubt in a criminal prosecution and believing that marriage is between a man and a woman is not so outrageous unless you have made up your mind that those individuals are guilty and a person cannot vote against a gay marriage bill without being homophobic, making you the close minded individual here.

Charles from East Village, #10

Wow!!! And you wonder why upstate folk hate NYC folk….. Do you even know anyone upstate or have you ever even met anyone upstate?

I'm no fan of the Republicans by any stretch, but can we also drop the word "coup"? As someone who comes from a country that has actually had real coups, it seems a little shrill and excessive. While there might be some definitions of the word that might include what has happened in Albany, the term is widely understood to mean the violent overthrow of a government, and I can't help but wonder if WNYC would be using the word "coup" to describe this if it was the Dems pulling these shenanigans.

Thanks Brian for the hot seat questions and putting these jerks on the spot.

Can't win on a cut tax platform so stage a coup. Who said the Lee Atwater school of politics is dead!

Huzzahs Brian from a non-fan

I thought I was going to hear an interview, not a public beating.

Espada has connections to New York Independents you should get their input on what's going on probably a totally different angle on this.

Also, tell Marcellino that nothing was "flipped" to the Democrats. Last time I checked, the Democrtas were democrtically elected. I am not sure that means much to him.

Our membership dollars at work. Call me a satisfied customer. Brian, keep their feet to the fire (both Dems and Reps). Bravo.
btw, Circus music 100% appropriate.

why are espada monserrate & diaz allowed to run unopposed by any major party.

What are the Republicans offering Monserrate?? I dated Monserrate in 2007 and was his date at the Scientology 9/11 rescue worker detox center hosted by Tom Cruise. I got to know Monserrate very well and he was then and I am positive he still is now, a very, very strong DEMOCRAT. I see no reason for him to "shake up Albany" unless he is being offered something big from the Republicans, perhaps to help him with his "slashing his girlfriend's face" trial.

What about medical marijuana? No one is talking about it and it has the power to transform New York's economy for the better. Please ask the representatives about the identical bills in the Assembly and Senate; A. 7542 and S. 4041-A.
Thanks

Nauseating. If only there were a means to throw all of them out in one fell swoop.

The Republicans were in charge for years and that is why the State budget is so screwed up. What a joke!

SOCK IT TO EM, Brian!
Sufficiently aggressive and thoughtful questioning.
Thank you.

Why are these ELECTED officials voting their "conscience" instead of the will of their constituents?

Brian, I am so proud of your questioning of Senator Marcellino on gay marriage. Thank you!

"The wrong two guys fall in love, that you have to stop"

Go Brian!

This is corruption pure and simple. new york city needs to take back its money and stop funding these power hungry crooks.

Misleading since Janaury as opposed to misleading since Pataki!

great job brian. don't let him off the hook!

I agree about the hike in commuter tax. Maybe they could offset it by lowering corporate taxes, keeping the jobs here and maybe making it better for people to live in NYC instead of living in areas where buffoons like Carl Marcellino are their State Senator.

Does he not understand what an "allegation" means? Allegations can be discussed! Real open minded and intelligent. Yeah...hahahha!

This guy's attitude appears to indicate he, like all of these State Senators, think that they are above the law. No wonder New York State is so f---ed up!

As much as I think Monserrate and Espada are slimy, it is true and is one thing that I really love about the U.S., theoretically speaking, a person is innocent until proven guilty.

HAHAHAHAAH! Brian you didn't know this was a free country? HAHAHAHHAHAHA! Does he understand the issue that's being discussed? His constituents should be cringing right now. I hope from now on we could elect smarter people.

If Espada is convicted and removed from the Senate, will a new Democrat be appointed as President pro-temp? Please ask, Brian.

If this is a revolt against NYC thats fine. If you live in Long Island, Orange County, Westchester, etc. STAY THERE!! We don't want nor need you clogging our roads and utilizing city resources. Its time to raise the commuter tax. Without New York City, NYS might as well be Alabama. A bunch of hicks who are afraid of their own shadow.

Maybe I am just a natural cynic, but this smells of two little fish playing at being more important than they should be. This is embarrassing, and they aren't fooling anyone. I am sure they love the attention, and I hope they get their fill because the voters are disgusted with the whole bunch in Albany. Incumbents may be a rare commodity after the next round of elections (at least we can hope). If the voters voted in a Dem majority, perhaps we have a right to expect it to hold. Dis-function, thy name is Albany. GEEZ...

Monserrat and Espada were erradically finding a way to keep their jobs, NY Republican leaders were disgruntle that they can no longer bully everyone to do what Republicans want to do and the NY PUBLIC IS DISSATISFIED!

We would like them to "join us". You're with me or you're against me. That has been the motto of NY Republican leaders since one can remember. How about working together without joining you? It seems the NY Republican party never learned in grade school to "play with others".

Good job with the circus music as an opener. What a bunch of clowns. Between Rueben Diaz earlier in the week, and Hiram Monserrate in the spotlight now (for something besides allegedly assaulting his girlfriend) I am in shock that these jackasses have actually been elected to office. sigh.

why didn't the rules get changed when bruno held power?

Is this guy joking? It seems that they are making stuff up as they go along.

i guess, 3 men in a room was OK with this guy when pataki and brono were in the room!

NYC pays the bills!
NYC should have all the power!

The reason he doesnt see it as a circus is because it's always been a circus and he can't see it!

ask about the implications in albany on environmental initiatives, like protecting ALL of nys against cheney and halliburton frack gas drilling, and not just the limited divided areas councilman gennaro is working in a a NIMBY way