This is a real element of your party, and par for the course in old school New York politics..
State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. requested more than $2 million dollars in Senate earmarks this year for two groups with links to the health care organization that he founded and which appeared to have been created in part to receive such grants
But Senate Democrats rejected the grant requests in early April because they could not confirm that the groups were legitimate nonprofit organizations. Around the same time, Mr. Espada began discussions with Senate Republicans to leave the Democratic caucus
Like water, corrupt politicians take the path of least resistance. So don’t let some BS about “reform” cloud your judgment – pay very close attention to what’s really going on here. Democrat or Republican – these sort of people are not public servants; they are self servants. That’s not rhetoric, it’s fact. They do not care about you, your needs, or this state. These two tipped their hand long before this coup, yet constituents and political establishments in their districts and beyond enabled this behavior. This is part of the culture of politics in this state, as much or more than it is in any other part of the country.
The price for this can either be the continued (and understandable) apathy of New York voters – or it can be the jobs of people like Pedro Espada Jr.
Before Defecting, Espada Sought $2 Million for Bronx Groups
Democrats you almost deserve what happened in the NY State Senate on Monday. Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrat are hardly shining examples of what great Democratic State Senators should be. Having said that, the people of the state of NY do not deserve this. The Republicans – I can’t imagine what they are thinking, but my guess is that they are laughing – at the people of New York, at the Democrats for not managing bad – corrupt, wifebeating mambers out. Your chickens are coming home to roost.
Jaymie–Thanks so much for commenting! I agree with you. I completely agree that we need to raise the caliber of Democrats all across the state. Things like this would happen less if we had better Dems running around. That being said, I still can’t countenance what’s happened. The people of NY voted for a Democratic majority (NOT a “coalition” government) and to have two ethically-challenged individuals hold the whole state hostage is just wrong.
As I wrote before, I think the silver lining will be if this makes NYers more aware and pay more attention to their state gov’t. Democracy is a two-way street and pols can only get away with it in an environment where apathy overrides engagement.