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Finally, a GOOD Primary Election Night! Bronx and Queens Edition
Now I turn from my own neighborhood to the wider city. Ding dong the witch is dead! Pedro Espada and "How can I miss you if you won't go away" Hiram Monserrate both lost BIG TIME.
Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate was ousted from the State Senate after slashing his girlfriend's face. Seems that's what you gotta do to be unacceptable in Albany. Well, at least they have SOME standards. Monserrate, Pedro Espada and Rubin Diaz were all at times part of the stupid coup in Albany that stopped real reform in Albany. Monserrate was ousted. Then he ran for his old seat...and lost. Now he ran for Assembly...and lost to Francisco Moya. I think we can now add to his nicknames. He isn't just "Slasher" he is also "Loser" Monserrate. I have to admit I forgot about this race when I did my endorsements. So I don't really know much about Moya. But thank god he isn't Monserrate.
Pedro Espada may not have slashed his girlfriend's face, but he is every bit as odious as Monserrate. Even election laws don't seem to be sacrosanct to him as there were many reports of Espada and his campaign violating election laws last night. Well he lost big time to Gustavo Rivera. It was one of the biggest trouncings I have seen an incumbent endure. Rivera bears some watching since he is aligned with the increasingly corrupt WFP machine, but as I have always said not EVERYONE backed by WFP is as corrupt as they are and, just like corrupt Brooklyn Party Boss Vito Lopez, they do back some good folk from time to time. I hope Rivera is one of them. But one thing I am oh so thankful for is that Pedro Espada got his sorry ass kicked by Rivera last night by what to Espada must be an embarrassing margin.
Sadly Rubin Diaz beat back the challenge from Carlos Ramos and Shirley Huntley beat back the challenge from Lynn Nunes. But it is hard beating incumbents, no matter how awful those incumbents are.
Which seems like a good time to mention Rangel, though he isn't in Queens or the Bronx and he is in Congress, not the State legislature like the others I covered. Rangel messed up and much as I like him and his politics, I can't back him. Democrats need to quietly ease him aside since he has become an embarrassment. But Rangel won unequivocally yesterday. Even if all his myriad of opponents had pooled their resources and delivered every single anti-Rangel vote to one candidate, Rangel would have won. I congratulate Rangel even though I wish he'd do the honorable thing in the circumstances.
Overall, though, any night where Hiram Monserrate AND Pedro Espada are trounced is a damned good night.
Re: Finally, a GOOD Primary Election Night! Bronx and ...
Apart from an investigation into their election practices that was ultimately dropped without charges (and the fact that they've supported some candidates you don't like), what reason do you have for calling the WFP "corrupt?" I'm genuinely curious.
City Hall News Coverage
How quickly people forget. Lots of money was misused, some had to be given back, scandal all around. Look, even lots of what Vito Lopez does is technically legal but it still corruption. The charges were dropped isn't necessarily a defense when it was also declared that WFP routinely flouted election laws and candidates had to pay up.
City Hall News had extensive coverage:
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1043-all-in-the-family-part-...
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1046-all-in-the-family-part-...
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1048-all-in-the-family-part-...
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1049-all-in-the-family-part-...
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1050-all-in-the-family-part-...
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1062-lingering-questions-on-...
Re: City Hall News Coverage
More on the WFP scandal:
http://www.cityhallnews.com/newyork/article-1269-mastro-aims-to-haul-dat...
And, because WFP has not fulfilled the terms of the court settlement (NOTE: case was not dismissed, a settlement was reached...they violated the law and were given a chance to get off easy), they are facing a possible new trial.
Re: City Hall News Coverage
I actually didn't mean to focus my attention on the fact that no charges were brought. So let me clarify what I did mean: to me, corruption implies using public office for private gain, either corporate or personal. Thus, for example, the "consultants" candidates have been forced to hire to get on the ballot in Brooklyn is clearly an example of corruption. What the WFP has been accused of, perhaps rightly, is improperly mingling funds in support of candidates it supports and providing that support in excess of what the law allows. So let's even grant that it's true that the WFP has skirted campaign finance laws in order to funnel labor union support to some candidates, using the clout that brings in order to further a defined agenda (one that, frankly, I'd have thought you were mostly in agreement with). Where's the personal gain?
It's fair not to like the WFP for their tactics and to demand that they come back into compliance with the law. I'm just raising my eyebrows at your use of the word "corrupt"--and the extremely broad brush you seem to be willing to use to paint tar on any candidate who associates with them.
Re: City Hall News Coverage
I see...You are using what to me is a very narrow definition of corruption...on the other hand, perhaps I am using it in too broad a manner.
I would include things like influence peddling, power grabs using underhanded means, cronyism, nepotism, etc. as examples of corruption even though the person committing the act may not directly benefit. In the case of WFP I think they are using illegal or borderline illegal, and certainly underhanded, methods to increase their power and influence.
I do happen to like what WFP claims to stand for. Was even a member at one time and have voted their line with some frequency until their latest scandal and their alliance with Vito Lopez. Problem is their tactics and their alliances with the likes of Vito Lopez last year tends to belie their stated philosophy. They have become even more hypocritical than Vito Lopez who doesn't disguise his power plays as anything moral, while WFP tries to take the moral high ground while engaging in sleazy tactics.
I see your distinction. And perhaps it is an important one, since as far as I know the likes of Bertha Lewis and company didn't necessarily get personal gain from it. But I am not sure I agree that the word "corruption" doesn't apply. But perhaps "sleazy" or "underhanded" and "hypocritical" are more precise?