Now I turn from my own neighborhood to the wider city. Ding dong the witch is dead! Pedro Espada and "How can I miss you if you won't go away" Hiram Monserrate both lost BIG TIME.

Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate was ousted from the State Senate after slashing his girlfriend's face. Seems that's what you gotta do to be unacceptable in Albany. Well, at least they have SOME standards. Monserrate, Pedro Espada and Rubin Diaz were all at times part of the stupid coup in Albany that stopped real reform in Albany. Monserrate was ousted. Then he ran for his old seat...and lost. Now he ran for Assembly...and lost to Francisco Moya. I think we can now add to his nicknames. He isn't just "Slasher" he is also "Loser" Monserrate. I have to admit I forgot about this race when I did my endorsements. So I don't really know much about Moya. But thank god he isn't Monserrate.  read more »

I am doing these columns now, in order to set the record straight and clear up some misconceptions out there. I want to believe that most of those who are seriously involved in NYC politics, know that I am an insurgent to the core. I hardly ever endorse electeds. There have been one or two exceptions over the years, but for the most part I feel strongly that most incumbents (especially the black ones) are incompetent, inept, unimaginative, trifling and corrupt. Thus I have written extensively about the need to replace most of them. Nothing has been done over the last decade to make me change this point of view.  read more »

Now that some of the State Senate races are shaking out, I see two key primary races that are critical for reformers to focus on. The NY State Senate has been one of the most dysfunctional in American history. But not all State Senators are bad. My own State Senator, Velmanette Montgomery, has been a leader on many key issues, like introducing effective sex education into our schools (not currently a requirement!!) and leading on the bill (recently signed into law) that requires women prisoners to be unshakled while giving birth.

But there are key State Senators who are central to the dysfunction. Almost all of the Republicans are obstructionists who refuse to support reform in NY State. But also some Democrats are obstructionists who collaborate with the Republicans in the dysfunction. Among these obstructionist Democrats are Pedro Espada, Ruben Diaz, Shirley L. Huntley, Carl Kruger, and William Stachowski. (Getting rid of Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate was a first, very important step). If we can get rid of any or all of these losers, we will be taking a step towards genuine reform in Albany. However, not all of them have viable challengers who are worth supporting.  read more »

To complete my coverage of the challengers to some of Albany's worst State Senators we come to Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, who is challenging the gay-hating, corrupt ally of "Slasher" Monserrate: Pedro Espada, jr.

From Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter's website:

Over the past two decades, Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter has become a trusted Community Leader in the Northwest Bronx, where she fights to improve the quality of life for local residents and families.  read more »

One of the most venomously anti-gay members of the New York State Senate is not some Teabagger Republican, but is pseudo-Democrat, friend of Hiram "Slasher Monserrate" Ruben Diaz, Sr. This guy is one of the prime examples of what is wrong with Albany. Diaz is also one of the traitorous "Gang of Three" who deliberately derailed reform in Albany by joining Slasher Monserrate and Pedro Espada in switching to the Republican party in a cynical power play that made New York state the laughing stock of the country. Diaz is also anti-choice and opposed to life-saving stem cell research.

Meet Charlie Ramos, former Bronx liaison for the Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. and challenger to Rubin Diaz. Ramos, in sharp contrast to Diaz, believes (from his website):

Civil Rights: Every individual’s civil rights must be protected; discrimination and harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or physical and developmental ability should be banned.  read more »