Chutzpah

Espada: Coup Sparked ‘Quantum Leap’ in Reform; More Needed

A year after he joined briefly forces with Republicans, leading to a total paralysis of the Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. wants new reforms. 

Espada, honoring the anniversary of the coup, issued a statement this afternoon that trumpeted the effects of what he simply described as “Albany reform.”

“The so-called coup is greatly Read More

Crimes

Cuomo on Espada: ‘Even We Never Heard of That Arrangement’

Andrew Cuomo held a press conference–in person!–to discuss the raid on Pedro Espada’s office this morning by agents from the AG’s office, the I.R.S. and the F.B.I.

Cuomo, speaking inside the lobby of 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, declined to say if Espada should step down, and brushed aside Espada’s comments yesterday that this probe Read More

Sampson Envisions New Look, Same Leaders

ALBANY—John Sampson thinks, not unreasonably, that the State Senate needs a new look.

“We need to come out of the box in January and start to really pass some progressive and positive legislation because people have one characterization of us,” Sampson, the leader of the chamber’s Democratic conference, told reporters during an informal chat in Read More

An Amigo Meal

ALBANY—The State Senate’s four amigos will meet for lunch today, to discuss anything and everything.

“We’re going to be discussing everything. Everything! The agenda for next year.” Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. told me by phone this morning, after his office put out an advisory that the meal would be taking place–at the Nautilus Read More

With Sampson’s Support, Malcolm Smith Might Just Hang On

ALBANY—Malcolm Smith is supposed to leave the top post in the State Senate with the New Year. But nothing in the chamber is ever that easy.

Smith, a Queens Democrat who was

“He’s like an ambassador for the State Senate,” said his spokesman, Austin Shafran. He added that Smith and Sampson “have an outstanding Read More