New York - Protesters Demand Espada's Ouster At Suburban Home

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New York - Democratic activists descended on the Mamaroneck home of besieged Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Saturday in an open challenge to get him out of office. 

The bus rolled in from the Bronx on a suburban field trip of sorts, a political demonstration at the out-of-his-district home of State Senator Pedro Espada. 

Standing at the home on Beechwood Drive in Mamaroneck, they called for his political scalp. 

"He doesn't live in the district, he doesn't represent the district, he doesn't care about the district," demonstrator Marian Feinberg said. 

"I want him out," protestor Yolanda Maya said. "I want him and his cronies out of Albany." 

The festive protest was timed to commemorate the upcoming first anniversary of Espada's senate coup in Albany, when he and cohort Hiram Monserrate joined with Republicans to oust the Democratic leadership, essentially paralyzing the state capital for much of last summer. That's one big beef. 

"The people gave the Democratic Party a mandate last election, and he and his friend dismantled it," demonstrator Richard Brander said. 

Espada is also accused of skimming money from a Bronx healthcare clinic. He has been dodging questions and storming out of interviews that didn't go his way, and has generally tried to bully his way past critics. Among those critics is Governor David Paterson, who is still fuming over last year's Albany coup. 

"It was all about power. It was all about control," Paterson said. "It was a horrible experience, and anyone who was associated with it should not be proud." 

Espada was not available on Saturday, but did post guards at his house. The guards took pictures of the demonstrators, who say they're shopping for a reform Democratic candidate. 

"We would prefer one good candidate, because the purpose is to oust him," political activist Bill Samuels said. 

The irony is that Espada's legal troubles, investigations and scandals have drawn so much opposition that the anti-Espada vote could be split among several candidates in the September Democratic primary. So far, Espada shows no signs of going quietly. 

The other state senate defector, Hiram Monserrate was expelled from his office after being convicted in a domestic violence case. 

CBS 2

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