New York - Tenant groups take over Esapda's office


This is probably not what embattled Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada (D-Bronx) had in mind when he put the words "PLEASE WALK IN" on the door to his Capitol office.

Tenant groups staged an unexpected takeover of Espada's fourth-floor suite this afternoon, flooding through the door and demanding that the senator be stripped of his leadership post and removed from his chairmanship on the Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee.

The protestors, including members of SEIU, DC37 and other groups affiliated with the Real Rent Reform coalition, stormed the office carrying a giant mock blank check to Espada from "Landlord lobbyists."

"He's a crook! He's a crook!" the group of about 60 protestors shouted as state troopers and Senate sergeants-at-arms attempts to remove infiltrators who had slipped into the office. Organizers passed out flyers showing Espada's face on a mock up of "Go directly to jail" from the Monopoly game.

Espada was nowhere in sight, but could have been holed up in his office.

The move came a week after a blockbuster lawsuit by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo forced Espada to put off any vote on his so-called "rent freeze bill." The legislation has been dismissed by tenant groups as insincere and an attempt by Espada to deflect criticism of his support of landlords.

Cuomo has accused Espada – the ringleader of last summer's failed coup - of siphoning more than $14 million from his Bronx healthcare network for personal gain over the last five years.

The feds are also reportedly investigating Espada for a host other issues related to his management of the firm.

NY Post

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