NY Senate Dems Approve $350.000 for Espada's Staff
WNYC Newsroom
NEW YORK, NY August 20, 2009 —New York's Senate Democrats not only gave Senator Pedro Espada a lucrative leadership post after he allowed them to regain majority control of the chamber. They also approved $350,000 to hire his friends and give raises to staffers.
State records show the Democratic conference approved the hiring of a former employee at Espada's Bronx health clinic, whose mother had pleaded guilty in 2004 to steering state AIDS funds to Espada's campaign. The Senate also gave a legislative aide a $36,000 raise, bringing his salary over to $120,000.
Earlier this month, Espada's son resigned from a newly-created Senate position.
The Democrat's spokesman defended the spending, saying it will help Espada meet his new responsibilities, and was not an enticement or payback.
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YFP Editorial: by Sebastian Soto
While Pedro Espada continues to suck up power faster than a Hoover vacuum cleaner on steroids, other political amigos have not fared as well. State Senator Martin Dilan was forced to cut staff this week due to budget concerns.
Is there a correlation between the number of people Espada hires and the number of people laid off by fellow senators? Or is it a case of Espada calling the shots in regards to who stays and who goes?
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