New York Times Profiles Pilgrim-Hunter

by: Roatti

Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 15:07:52 PM EDT

Without a political résumé or any meaningful connections to the powerful county Democratic party, Ms. Pilgrim-Hunter aims to portray herself as an outsider who could be an antidote to the culture of backroom dealings that critics say has poisoned Albany.

Last year, Ms. Pilgrim-Hunger was able to persuade the City Council to reject a plan to build a mall inside the Kingsbridge Armory, a huge fortress that has sat vacant for years, arguing that the developer would not promise that the jobs created by the project would pay more than minimum wage.

Her political inexperience could prove a liability against Mr. Espada, a deft politician who still expects the support of the Democratic Party establishment.

The article also mentions another potential challenger, Daniel Padernacht, and former Senator Efraín González, who was also incredibly corrupt (thanks Bronx machine- you really pick great candidates) who might be interested in jumping into the race.  To Mr. Padernacht, I implore you not to divide the anti-Espada vote.  Desiree has already staked her claim to this race and please, please so not grant Pedro's wish of dividing the opposition.  To Sen Gonzalez, you are almost as shameful as Pedro.  However, you might split the corrupt Bronx machine vote, so jump in by all means!

Fire Monserrate? Yes. Absolutely. But Replace Him With Someone Better

by: robert.harding

Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 09:53:49 AM EDT

But if there is anything that past history tells us, it's that we just can't "fire" him. We need to can him AND replace him with someone better.

Case in point: Efrain Gonzalez.

Gonzalez had some serious charges against him. He admitted to funneling state money (your tax dollars) to two nonprofits so that he could use that money for a shopping spree. A Gonzalez staffer was sentenced to prison for being the recipient of a "no show" job. (Gonzalez will be sentenced next month, so stay tuned.)

We wanted Gonzalez out. His scandal was bad news, not only for Democrats and the New York State Senate, but for the 33rd Senate District Gonzalez represents. No one wants to be represented by a crook. And that's exactly what Gonzalez is.

So who did we find to replace the scandal-ridden Efrain Gonzalez?

Senator Pedro Espada.

That's all I need to say, especially on this blog. We replaced one scandal-plagued senator with another only because the challenger (Espada), at the time, was the lesser of two evils.

If we are going to replace Monserrate, we need someone better to serve the residents of the 13th Senate District. We can't just replace him with someone that has a questionable past who will burn us in the end (like Espada). Monserrate needs to exit. He was found guilty of a crime that still has a lot of unanswered questions. While the misdemeanor means that Monserrate technically can stay in office, it still doesn't say a lot of Monserrate. Being found guilty of physically abusing your girlfriend isn't a good characteristic to have as an elected official.

The lessons we have learned about Espada should be fresh in our minds. The DSCC supported him. We saw him as a better option than Gonzalez, which is debatable. While Gonzalez had his own scandal with nonprofits, Espada also has nonprofit problems. Espada has toyed with switching to the Republican Party in the past and that culminated with his role in the June coup.

Thus, to replace Monserrate, we need to have a good Democrat ready to take over. We can't have another Pedro Espada.  

Primary Wrap up

by: Roatti

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 00:41:21 AM EDT

As I have been covering the AD-64 race with the most interest, here are a few observations.  First off, Shelly does have a Republican opponent, and let me say that I wholehartedly endorse him against his Republican opponent.  While we Democrats have the privilege of being picky in our primaries, even the worst Democrats are better than even the best Republicans any day.  Vote Sheldon Silver in November.  

Secondly, I am hoping Shelly can learn from this primary fight.  Shelly had a roughly 30-1 cash advantage against his opponents, and more importantly, he had the backing of the WFP and every union that decided to endorse in that race. He also had almost every member of the Assembly and their staffs pounding the payment, taxpayer-funded constituent mailers, and $7 million worth of pork to slather his district with.  Newell had 40 volunteers, zero endorsements by any elected officials,  and an office rented in a dance studio.  Shelly also had the downtown Democratic clubs and there were people handing out pro-Shelly literature on virtually every corner of that district today.  And still 1/3 of the Democrats in his district cast votes against him.  Shelly did about 10 points better than Martin Connor did in 2006 (who was facing a much better financed opponent), and we know what happened to Connor tonight.  

To his credit, after Shelly's leadership was challenged from within his caucus in 2002, he got the message and changed his behavior afterwards.  Let's hope he draws the same lessons from today.  If he actually starts passing rules reform in his house and works with out soon-to-be Democratic Senate to pass campaign finance reform and redistricting reform, it will be because of this courageous primary challenge by Paul Newell.  And let me say also, that if Shelly does these things, I will stop railing against him on a daily basis on this blog. But he has to do those things first.

On another note, the real winner tonight was the WFP.  I don't think they lost a single race where they endorsed.  Very impressive.  

And finally, I am looking forward to having a real reformer going to Albany in January by the name of Dan Squadron.  For a challenger to beat the former minority leader by almost 10 points is almost hard to describe in its impressiveness.  With a victory like this, Albany will have to take notice of Squadron's 11-point plan for reform, which includes Clean Money Clean Elections, redistricting reform, and rules reform. I'm looking forward to Squadron taking this plan forward with the same force as did in his enormously successful campaign.  

So celebrate tonight everyone, because we live in a democracy where we can have these discussions in public without fear of government retribiution.  Even if your candidate lost, you can't argue with the voters having their say.  

SD-21, SD-33 Results: Parker Holds On Gonzalez Does Not

by: phillip anderson

Tue Sep 09, 2008 at 22:37:43 PM EDT

SD-21

226 of 226 reporting

Parker - 9,334   49%
Felder - 6,994   37%
Stewart - 2,638  14%

SD-33

192 Of 192 reporting

Espada - 4,588     60%
Gonzalez - 3,113   40%

Efrain Gonzalez: The 'Hardest Worker'

by: phillip anderson

Mon Feb 18, 2008 at 07:33:51 AM EST

Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper and Senator Efrain González Jr. recorded more travel expenditures last year than any other lawmakers in their respective houses, according to records obtained from the state comptroller's office.

Ms. Hooper, a Long Island Democrat and the deputy majority leader, billed the state $36,452 in 2007, more than any of the other 211 legislators. Only four lawmakers billed more than $30,000 in per diem payments, mileage, train tickets and taxi fare; totals in the $15,000-to-$25,000 range were typical.

Ms. Hooper charged the state the per diem for working in Albany on dozens of Saturdays and Sundays. She charged the full per diem for 18 consecutive days in February and, after the session ended, for 12 consecutive days in July, according to her travel vouchers, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

...

Mr. González, a Bronx Democrat, filed the highest travel expenses in the Senate, billing $34,268.

Don't worry though. Gonzalez can explain. He's the "hardest worker." No, really. He said that.

"That makes me the hardest worker," he said in an interview, adding that he frequently traveled to Albany, even in the legislative off-season, to meet with state officials in different agencies.

"The real stuff is done here," said Mr. González, whose expenditures also included reimbursement for working on many weekend days. "It changes the dynamic if you do things personally and build working relationships. That's the way real life is."

Well, OK then. If you say so. The problem is, there isn't all that much going on in Albany on the weekends.

Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director of the League of Women Voters of New York State, expressed shock at Ms. Hooper's billing.

"Is outrageous too strong a word?" she said. "Very little goes on in Albany on the weekends. Nothing's open. It's not plausible that she's working here on the weekends, because the state government isn't open. That's extraordinarily troubling."

Want to know what else is troubling? It troubles me that a man who is facing a CENTURY in federal prison for literally robbing the public blind is in a position to be billing the public for anything.

Trial Date Set For Senator Gonzalez

by: phillip anderson

Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:27:21 PM EDT

Legally-embattled State Senator Efrain Gonzalez will enjoy at least six more months of innocence when a federal judge in Manhattan recently set his trial date for Nov. 26 .

Gonzalez faces nine separate counts ranging from mail fraud to embezzlement for allegedly funneling more than $400,000 in government grants (known as member items), through three non-profits, back into his own pocket.

I'm sure you'll remember what Senator Gonzalez was accused of doing with that money. For those who may have missed it, he allegedly used all that loot to buy houses in the Dominican Republic and to prop up his cigar business.

What a piece of work.

Senator Smith Can Apparently Talk The Talk...

by: phillip anderson

Wed Jan 03, 2007 at 10:04:00 AM EST

From the New York Daily News:

Indicted Pol Quits Albany Boss Post

Bronx state Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr., who has been indicted on corruption charges, will give up a legislative leadership post today - but not his seat, the Daily News has learned.
 Gonzalez's office confirmed the move last night.

For the past two years, Gonzalez, a Democrat, has earned an extra $8,250 on top of his $79,500 annual base pay as chairman of the Senate minority conference, the position he will quit.

Gonzalez is accused in a federal indictment of scheming to steal $423,000 in pork barrel "member item" funds to run his cigar business in the Dominican Republic and pay for Yankee tickets, jewelry for his daughter and expensive apartments.

Gonzalez's office said in a statement that the senator was giving up the chairmanship because of the "impact the indictment would have on his time."

Know what could really have an "impact on his time"? The fact that he could possibly face 20 years in prison if convicted of stealing over $400,000 from the people of New York state.

Why the Gonzalez Indictment matters.

by: NYBri

Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 18:56:06 PM EST

ALBANY -- State Sen. Efrain Gonzalez, D-Bronx, was indicted today for allegedly stealing member item money he directed to a nonprofit organization in his district.

Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Michael Garcia claimed that the member item money -- more than $420,000 over six years -- ended up being used by Gonzalez on homes in the Dominican Republic and other personal expenses. Member items are discretionary funds in the state that lawmakers and the governor send to groups and organizations they feel are deserving.

Gonzalez and three of his ``criminal associates'' engaged in mail fraud, wire fraud, theft of federal funds, conspiracy, and money laundering, the indictment alleges.

This is bad news for all New Yorkers. Let me explain after the flip.