(For the latest click on www.bxnews.net orhttp://bedfordparknews.blogspot.com/) 

100 PERCENT By Robert Press Vice-Chairman The Committee of 100 Democrats Pedro Espada Jr. won the democratic primary and the general election in the 33rd state senate district in 2008. The democrats also then took a 32-30 majority in the state senate. However it took less than six months for Senator Espada to align himself with the republican minority, bringing fellow democrat Senator Monserate (of Queens) to throw the New York State Senate into chaos. For 31 days nothing was done as crucial bills expired. The State Senate became a three-ring circus, as Senator Monserate quickly returned to the democratic fold stalemating the senate 31-31 with no Lieutenant Governor to break the deadlock. In ring #1 were the senate democrats who clocked in then clocked out. In ring #2 were the senate republicans doing the same thing. In ring #3 was Governor Patterson who huffed and puffed threatening all the senators with convening a special session everyday (including weekends) until the stalemate was over. Since he was no steamroller (as was the case in the previous governor) Patterson's second act was to appoint a Lieutenant Governor to break the deadlock in the state senate. This act was challenged by senate republicans as to the legality of it in the New York State constitution. No governor had ever appointed his second in command, and as for state-wide vacancies the state legislature selects the replacement, as was the case in Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell, and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli most recently. There has never been an appointed or selected Lieutenant Governor as prescribed in the state constitution. Even before the legal proceedings will end, the stalemate in the senate has ended as Senator Pedro Espada Jr. has decided to return to the democratic fold, only to be named majority leader by the democrats, second only to Malcolm Smith who Espada had said was not and will not be the senate leader. As for the senate republicans, if you play with fire you are likely to get burned. Remember there is always next year for Espada to change his mind again, or possibly that soon to become vacant upstate democratic senate seat that should be up for grabs in a special election. $36 million dollars and counting. No that is not the cost of the General Motors bailout or the MTA shortfall this year, but how much money Mike Bloomberg has spent so far before anyone has even filed a petition to run for mayor. At this rate he will spend well over $100 million dollars, breaking all records on a local election to brainwash the voting public. It is to bad most of the millions are being spent out of state to generate Bloomcrap. If you have any comments about this column or The Committee of 100 Democrats, you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com , or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press Vice-Chairman, or write to The Committee of 100 Democrats 212 Lisbon Place Bronx N.Y. 10458 Attn Mr. Ricky Martinez Chairman.

By Dan Gesslein

   During a true WTF moment that can only happen in Bronx politics, instead of one Democratic Party leader we now have two. Both Dem Chairman Jose Rivera and the Rainbow Rebels' Carl Heastie claimed victory during a raucous vote yesterday. Now the court will decide who is the real Dem leader.
   Sunday's vote made the split 2000 election look like a cakewalk. Although there were no hanging chads there were some flying elbows as both pro Rivera and pro Rebels supporters clashed. The raucous meeting took place at the Utopia Paradise Theater on Sunday night. Our spies tell us that there were loud disputes over trying to keep cameras out of the meeting. News reporter Dave Greene was allowed by a security guard to take photos of Rivera and his supporters from the stage but not when the Rebels took the same stage. Our spies also saw Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz suffering a few scrapes during a shoving match with some of the Dem supporters.
   The showdown started early. While Rebel supporters were still lined up outside to enter the theater, Rivera held his own meeting. He claimed his was the true vote even though some took to shouting down the longtime Dem Chairman. After declaring victory, Rivera and his supporters left taking the microphone with him. The Rebels then had their meeting using a bullhorn to speak to the crowd.
   The Rebels claim theirs was the true vote since it was the majority of district leaders who voted for Heastie and that Rivera's vote was illegal. Both sides are expected to be in court this week.
   Our man Dave Greene was on the scene and will have more. (Developing....) See the latest @ www.bxnews.net

   A diverse group of elected officials and supporters crammed into a Co-op City meeting hall united and in one voice stated Jose Rivera’s days as Party Boss in the Bronx will soon be over. Chanting “No way Jose,” the group wildly cheered the Rainbow Rebels in their crusade to replace Rivera.

   The crowd of 400+ that filled the hall in Co-op City’s Dreiser Loop Community Center expected to vote Rivera out. However, the veteran assemblyman secured a court victory claiming that the vote could not be held because the room could not hold the 2,800 voting committee members. Rebel Assembly member Aurelia Greene joked that the judge obviously was unfamiliar with Co-op City and the community center because the hall had removable walls that allow the smaller rooms to merge into a giant meeting hall, which is used during Co-op City board meetings.

How do you know who's winning the hearts and minds of people and eventually your campaign workers and voters? It depends on what you're serving. 

At Bronx County headquarters on Tuesday night where volunteers crammed into that closet-like office, it looks like workers got stiffed. Our spies saw no sign of food for the people who tried unsuccessfully to save the County races. In the past County threw some raucous victory parties with volunteers treated to foot long sandwiches and cases of beer (usually Bud). Though not exactly high dining this was a way to reward haggard workers who volunteered their time to support the cause. This time they served nothing. You get more food at a funeral which is what this was.

The victorious Pedro Espada, Jr. served potato salad, chicken but no beer. Workers were more high on Espada being returned to office and removing County backed Efrain Gonzalez who court papers claimed lived the high life himself on the taxpayers' dime. 

And to truly understand how Sen. Diaz and his fellow Rainbow Rebels won just look at the spread- the man knows how to throw a party. At Maestros Catering, workers had a smorgasbord. The buffet lined stretched almost as long as the line for the open bar. And the DJ had volunteers dancing the electric slide. You didn't see that at the Dem or GOP conventions. If a political army runs on its stomach then Diaz and Co. sured up the troops in their attempt to completely take over the Bronx political landscrape. 

Hope for his sake Obama has a good caterer. 

More on the political fallout @ www.bxnews.net

Named after one of New York's great runners, the Spitz List presents a running list of people rumored, blogged or reported to be running for Bronx Borough President in 2009 with some suggested camaign slogans.

Ruben Diaz Jr: Don't you know who my daddy is?

Pedro G. Espada: Don't you know who my daddy is?

Helen Foster: Don't you know who my daddy is?

The connection between the Yankees and the Bronx Filtration plant is not obvious.  Unless you think about it for about 60 seconds.  The shadow of the Bronx County Democratic Party, its agents, lawyers, etc., are hovering, not even so surreptitiously. What do they stand to gain?  It reminds me of what Plunkett called "honest graft."  Won't some reporter spend some time with this?  Ben:  you couldn't be that busy these days. There's a Pulitzer a-waiting.