As the returns filter in, it looks like Jose Peralta is trouncing Slasher Monserrate in the special election to fill Monserrate's State Senate seat after Monserrate got kicked out by his colleagues after he beat up his girlfriend.

Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate has always been something of a thuggish DINO. He really pissed people off by briefly switching to Republican to throw the State Senate back into paralysis out of some immature tantrum. I was disgusted by how NY State Democrats welcomed him back when his petty tantrum was over and he switched back to Democrat.

Then came the allegation, partly based on behavior caught on film, that he slashed his girlfriend's face with broken glass then brutally manhandled her to the hospital. Yes, we are talking about a State Senator here, not some common thug...or maybe he IS a common thug who happened to get to the State Senate. Here is footage of him manhandling his girlfriend...you tell me. Is this how YOU would handle your injured beloved?  read more »

Let's review just why we need to get rid of Slasher Monserrate in the special election in Queens on March 16:

Here is video of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend outside after the slashing he claims was accidental. Is this how you would treat YOUR loved one after accidentally slashing her? From Albany Project:

More reminders here: The Facts on Hiram Monserrate

So for the sake of Queens, New York City, New York State and ALL of us, let's get rid of Slasher Monserrate in the March 16 Special Election

This comes from Democracy for NYC:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, there will be a special election for State Senate, right here in NYC. Democracy for NYC is proud to announce that we have endorsed Assemblymember José Peralta. Here are the results of the endorsement vote:

74% José Peralta
26% No Endorsement
0% Hiram Monserrate

If you've heard about this race, it may seem like Peralta will win easily. But Monserrate has big name recognition in this district - he was the Senator until he was expelled by vote of the State Senate after a serious domestic violence offense. Peralta is a great candidate, but unknown to many in the district and it will take a lot of grassroots volunteers to make sure the voters know about this very important election.

Homophobic Flyer:
José Peralta is a strong supporter of marriage equality, and his opponent Hiram Monserrate voted against the marriage equality bill. As reported by Daily News reporter Liz Benjamin, the following homophobic flyer is being distributed by supporters of Hiram Monserrate at churches in the 13th Senate District:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/anti-gay-rhetoric...  read more »

Believe me when I say I didn’t want to touch Kevin Parker -as the subject of one of my columns- again. I have taken enough flack over the years for writing the truths about him and his anger-management issues. So I was quite happy as time went by, to see my columns vindicated time after time, by Mr. Parker’s own public behavior(s); while continuing to sit on information I have been privy to about his private bad behaviors for some time now. Information I have chosen not to release, since no matter what others may think, this isn’t personal on my part. I just strongly believe that electeds should be held to a higher standard of behavior (both private and public), given that they are role models for our youth; and also given that we have chosen them to represent the best in all of us, at one of the highest levels of government: the legislature.  read more »

In response to my previous article on the pros and cons of expelling Hiram Monserrate from the State Senate due to his misdemeanor conviction for reckless assault (basically abusing his girlfriend on camera), I got a response from someone closely associated with the State Senate which contradicts what I presented State Senators Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblywoman Joan Millman as believing. Adams, Montgomery and Millman basically argued variations on three themes. 1.) the State Senate rules allows expulsion for felonies but is silent on misdemeanors, and thus it sets a possibly unwelcome precedent to expel Monserrate 2.) the voters should decide whether Monserrate should represent them in the senate or not, and 3.) if Monserrate is thrown out, the Republicans will likely re-paralyze the legislature and prevent anything from getting done.

In response to this, someone well-connected to the State Senate, but who wishes to stay anonymous, wrote the following in response: (altered slightly to mask style)  read more »