DaBrinker Report

DaBrinker Mailbag: Espada & Soundview

Bob emailed me again, outlining his disgust with Espada, Soundview (Espada's organization he created) and other things. So, here's Bob:

So, I was reading the papers on Saturday because I had NOTHING better to do and I came up with a few questions. 

1. How can a state elected official legally run a biz for which he also secures state funding (Espada and Soundview)?  Doesn’t anyone think it is a little shady that a person gets elected by the people to represent them and then he uses that power to ensure that he lines his own pockets and those of his friends and relatives.

2. That's right. I’m just getting warmed up (think Pacino in scent of a woman).
How is it possible that this same illegally taxpayer funded Soundview still employs the criminals - yes I said criminals when I meant FELONS - who were convicted of fraudulently misdirecting taxpayer money that was supposed to be used to help sick people live better lives but instead was used to ensure these felons could live high on the hog? The reaction from Soundview was that the admitted crooks are no longer in positions of power. REALLY? So I guess the director of human resources and operations isn't a position of power in the world of fraudulent business activities (NOTE THE SARCASM GENIUSES!). 

3. And, finally, on a separate but related note....

How come the papers beat up Tom DiNapoli at every turn when he is acting in accordance of the laws of the state of NY which were passed by the legislature and signed by the gov (nysctd ruled he couldn't withhold pay legally and he was right to do so. To have withheld pay would have led to legal action which costs the taxpayers more money at a time when we can't afford to spare a dime or should I say a wasted per DIEM on the state senate?).  But the press won't congratulate DiNapoli and his staff for pulling the $700k from Soundview and stopping $3Million dollars to same? Selective criticism is not REPORTING. Its just plain lazy.

It is time for the public to get involved.  It's our children and their children who are going to suffer if we sit back and watch our elected officials just increase spending and taxes and debt (this is the worst part since no one sees it coming) to astronomical levels.  IT IS OUR MONEY THEY ARE USING.  Would anyone reading this let some stranger in the supermarket reach into your pocket, remove your wallet, take out all of your money and run up your credit cards to debt levels you couldn't possibly repay, put that same wallet back and then go about your business everyday as if nothing happened.  WAKE UP!  If you don't care, that's fine.  But, don't complain and be careful not to walk into too many walls or oncoming traffic.

This Times Union story covers most of the stuff Bob is talking about.  But, I’m not sure if it’s the actual lazy reporter that Bob is talking about.

More on Malcolm Smith

A comment was made on a Capital Confidential post yesterday giving us a look into the Senate.  

 
The Democratic Conference of the state Senate now resembles a group home for soulless cadavers strangely animated by a lust to regain power, as they attempt to resurrect the ghost of Malcolm Smith and aim their guns at Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserratte. Certainly, the last two are less than sympathetic figures. On the other hand, Malolm is unfit to lead anyone, and surrounds himself with very highly paid, underqualified people who attend his church. When I heard how much money Curtis Taylor makes, my eyes bulged out of my head. There is no hope with Malcolm at the top. Someone needs to tell this to Neil Breslin, who appears to be in the same catatonic state he was in when he allowed the floor vote that paved the way for Republicans to take the majority. This will never change until Malcolm finally gets off the stage. He is like the vampire who won’t go down for the count. The only good news is that Malcolm is in the state Senate and not teaching in schools where he might make an impression, a bad one, on young children.
Comment by GotToBeReal — June 25th, 2009 @ 8:28 am

This really sums up the major issue the Democratic Conference has - lack of leadership and quality support staff.  True leaders surround themselves with knowledgeable and quality staff.

Seriously Watertown Daily Times?

JB Johnson and the Editors of the Watertown Daily Times crack me up. They understand how backroom deals work.  Look how JBJ worked over the DANC board to get Jimmy Wright his new gig.  On Tuesday, the WDT published an editorial about Senator Aubertine's Misreadings.  Political Ivy wrote a very similar piece the day before, which I wrote about. It's pretty pathetic when the Watertown Town Daily Times starts carrying Political Ivy's water.  Now that Jimbo's got his fat gig, JBJ has to use his rag to prop up Wright's Mini-Me?

Aubertine and the other Senate Democrats understand that having Pedro Espada in the second most powerful position in the state is a dangerous thing.  The guy is certifiable. Look for yourself here, here, here, and here.  So I find it hard to believe that Aubertine made a deal with Skelos that would have Espada as President of the Senate.

Aubertine's biggest problem is he's too loyal.  He won't through colleagues under the bus -- which he should have done with Paterson and Skelos. 

If the Watertown Daily Times wants to do a real story, they should track down Wright's $30k. 

Enough With The Clowns

How many incompetent leaders can New York handle at one time?  Time and time again, Paterson unveils ideas to the media that won't work or he doesn't have the authority to implement.  It's Paterson's lack of leadership that has the Senate and New York as a whole in it's current state.

From the most recent follies:

• Paterson creates the "office of Taxpayer Accountability"  -- which I thought was the role of the Division of Budget.  Paterson should stay focused on buying $20k rugsand traveling overseas to places like Switzerland during our fiscal crisis.  

• Governor pushes to have Chief Court of Appeals Judge Lippman preside over a special session of the state Senate - which is viewed by many as unconstitutional. 

• Paterson hand picked Malcolm Smith to be the Leader of the Senate Democrats -- and Smith has proved himself incapable of leading, which has led to the Senate coup.

Now, Senator Smith has hand picked Senator Sampson to lead the Senate Democrats.  It has been said in the halls of the Capitol that Senator Sampson has paid more attention to his law practice than his constituents over the years.  Further, Sampson is known to lay on the couch during Senate Democratic Conference rather than join the other Senators at the Conference table -- ccharacteristics you find in most strong leaders.

Sounds like things should be turning around in the Senate soon.  Yeah, right.

 

  

DaBrinker Mailbag: Senator Monserrate compares himself to Jesus

In this email, Bob comments on one of the Senate "reformers":

This blows my mind.  I wish someone would shut this guy up.  He's a f%*#ing woman batterer who cut the s#*t out of his girlfriend, betrayed his party time and again and now is acting like he is the ONE who is the SAVIOUR of the Democratic State Senate.  Wasn't it this f%*#ing douchebag who joined forces with the other future felon from Mamaroneck and gave the keys to the GOP?  Now, SHARPTON is coming out and saying that it is because of HIRE'm Monserrate that the Dems still have a shot at power again? 

It's amazing to me. 
 
In case you haven't seen it, this is what I am talking about.
http://www.politickerny.com/4144/cup-hirams-blood-

It really makes you wonder what Monserrate, Espada, and Golisano were like before they saw the light and became reformers. 

Political Ivy's Miss Understanding 2009 Post

On Friday. Political Ivy did a post where he photoshopped Senator Aubertine's picture on the body of a beauty queen.  Political Ivy post states:

Almost one year ago today NYPA was the misunderstanding - here.

And yesterday's Congressional race political stunt with Dean Skelos was a misunderstanding also - here.

There was no misunderstand last year. Bumbling Dave misled the Senator and the public on this one.  The Gov has demonstrated time and time again that his story changes based on who he's talking to.  Senator Aubertine took the hit last year to try and protect the Governor.  And relating to the Dean Skelos misunderstanding  -- any deal involving Espada is bad for New York.  Senator Aubertine should stay away from the Senate Republicans and let them implode  over Espada.

Finally after seeing that photoshopped picture, why do I get the feeling Political Ivy still plays with dolls?

DaBrinker Mailbag: Regarding Padavan

A reader sent in this email regarding the note I sent to Senator Padavan:

Regarding your Wednesday note to Padavan about the President Pro Tempore:
 
You are too kind. It didn't do anything to my spine but the actions of the whole crazyness together did make my stomach retch. You'd think a person would get used to such things by now but I haven't.
 
I have found a way to beat the whole system though. I've espoused poverty so I don't have to pay into their lunacy. Its really not so bad; I may not own a car but at least I get cheap medical care.

OK?!  Thanks for that.

Is Political Ivy Clueless?

  In a post yesterday, Political Ivy states that the Senate should follow the lead of a small town in Arizona that settled a tied election for Town Council with a draw of the cards.  I'll accept this as a tongue-in-check, although I'm probably giving him way too much credit.  I think he's trying to be cute.  Kinda like how he put Ivy up on his blog, after I've been calling him Political Ivy for months. 

But, Political Ivy's post of Saturday, June 13th regarding the Senate Coup is a different story

It was a good move Monday for Republicans to regain control of the Senate and stop the radical agenda of the Democrats, but the Republicans should have thought through the long term relationships needed to move valuable legislation forward. The coup was successful, but governing is the ultimate test of success, time will tell.

The Senate Republicans have made a deal with the devil to get control of the Senate.  No one disputes that Pedro Espada has broken campaign finance laws for numerous years.  Furthermore, it seems he lives outside his district as required by law; funneled state money to not-for-profits that he formed; and much more that will soon be coming to light.  From the Daily News (the Johnson refered to in this piece is the Bronx DA Robert Johnson):

Johnson is looking into whether Espada (D-Bronx) lives within his Senate district, as required by law.

Espada owns a co-op in the Bronx but also has what he calls a second home in Mamaroneck, where he spends much of his time.

A June 2008 court document that surfaced Wednesday showed that Espada listed the Westchester address as his residence. Espada was borrowing money on the house to raise $250,000 to bail out a relative jailed in Connecticut.

Espada said he chose the Westchester house because it had more equity than the one in the Bronx.

Johnson's office is also jointly probing with state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office whether the Soundview Health Center that Espada created has misused funds to aid his political campaign.

Senate Democrats recently rejected Espada's bid for $2 million in state pork-barrel funding for two new nonprofits linked to Soundview.

Not only did the Senate GOP make a deal with Espada, they made him President of the Senate.  So, without a Lt. Governor, Espada becomes Governor if anything happens to Paterson (or if Paterson travels outside of the state -- I think).  The Senate Republicans will not be able to control Espada.  He is certifiable.  Espada will cost Skelos his leadership post and will rip apart that conference.  Senators Padavan, Larkin, Morahan and others aren't going to deal with this wingnut for long.  The Senate Democrats are actually glad to be rid of Espada.

My best guess is that Political Ivy is so eager for power, he can understand when other people make unconscionable deals to get what they want.  Or maybe, Ivy is so use to losing on the local/regional level that he feels he's helping the state representatives out and will claim he led them to victory. 

Just look at his string of loses recently.  Ivy worked every backdoor and angle to clear the field and run the following candidates (which all failed miserably):

Will Barcley
Dave Renzi
Patti Richie

Ivy is desperate to be part of a winning team (the Jefferson County GOP deal with him because they have to - he's certainly not part of their team).  

What ever Ivy's reasoning for viewing a Majority with Pedro Espada as Senate President as a good thing, it all adds up to cluelessness. 

 

DaBrinker Mailbag: Dicker's Math

This was sent to me a few days ago:

Somebody can't count.  In a piece on Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate at the Yankee-Mets game, Fred Dicker and the Post cite a "Democratic insider" on Senator John Sampson's play on Malcolm Smith's job as:

A Democratic insider told The Post that African-American Brooklyn Sen. Sampson, the likely successor to embattled Majority Leader Sen. Malcolm Smith, has the votes of 14 African-American senators and at least four others.

Um, counting Senators Smith and Sampson, there are only 10 black Democratic senators, 17 white Democratic senators, and 5 latino Democratic senators. (including Espada and Monserrate.)

Unless of course, Tom Golisano got pissed off at Dean Skelos over the weekend, switched sides and parties again, and is now paying for a slew of race-change operations.
(Here's the list. Or at least how it appeared Friday. The math's not hard, I promise.)
I thought Dicker was sharper than this.

 

 

So It Ain't So Senator Padavan

Senator Padavan (R,C, I) represents Senate District 11 (part of Queens).  Last Election Padavan beat James Gennaro by less than 500 votes.  I don't know him personally, but everything I hear about Senator Padavan gives me the impression that he is an honorable statesman. 

So why did Senator Padavan vote for Pedro Espada as President of the Senate.  A position that would give Espada the authority to appoint people to jobs and boards across the state.  Espada would also be next in line for the Governorship.  Is Senator Padavan just doing this to regain the majority in an effort to help him get reelected in 2010?  Here is a glimpse of Espada as reported by the NY Times:

 

Law enforcement officials are reviewing records of taxpayer-financed travel, campaign records and legislative earmarks, as well as Mr. Espada’s residency, people with knowledge of the investigations said Saturday.

----------

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomohas been working with Robert T. Johnson, the Bronx district attorney, for months. The parallel inquiries are focused on several areas, according to people who have been briefed on the investigations but spoke on condition of anonymity because the cases are continuing.

Both are said to be examining attempts by Mr. Espada — who was elected Senate president on Monday, although his elevation was being challenged in court — to direct legislative earmarks to a Bronx nonprofit group that he founded, Soundview HealthCare Network. The investigation has also focused on whether Soundview, which Mr. Espada still serves as chief executive, has misappropriated money. Questions also continue to be raised as to whether Soundview employees have engaged in political activities on Mr. Espada’s behalf.

Investigators are also examining whether Mr. Espada actually makes his primary residence in the Bronx district that he represents; he spends much of his time at a home in Mamaroneck, in Westchester County.

And Padavan wants to give Espada more power?