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<DIV class=plainMail><SPAN class=520012815-20082009><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi
all-</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><SPAN class=520012815-20082009><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Barbara Bartoletti, LWVNYS Legislative Director, was recently quoted in a
New York Times article abut the recent hiring of Senator Espada's son (the son
has since resigned from this position). Since publication of the article,
Barbara has received at least 2 complimentary emails about the League and its
work (and her). I have cut and pasted the emails, as well as the
actual article. It's nice to hear that people appreciate our good work -
and thought we should share
the compliments.<o:p></o:p> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><SPAN class=520012815-20082009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><SPAN class=520012815-20082009><FONT face=Arial size=2>"I
am just writing this email to show my support of your words printed in the New
York Times regarding the hiring of Perdro Espada Jr.'s son to the Senate
intergovernmental affairs office. As a taxpayer I am outraged, and have
sent several letter to Mr. Espada Jr. since the Senate coup, only to receive no
reply. I am glad someone is standing up to his corruption and is being
heard. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sincerely, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Leif Van Cott<SPAN
class=520012815-20082009>"</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV></SPAN>
<DIV class=plainMail><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=520012815-20082009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=520012815-20082009>"</SPAN>Dear Ms. Bartoletti,<BR>I became familiar with
you through references in Jay Galleghar's book "Politics of Decline", and
I am thankful for the work you do. I just read about Sen. Pedro Espada's
son hired as an intergovernmental liaison in the New York Times. I read
your quotes in that article and they made me laugh as I cried. This is a
simple note encouraging you to keep strong in the face of this corruption.
I want you to know that I think you and your staff do incredibly important
work, and I pray that you do not despair for New York. I also say
that prayer for myself. I hope that someday our
government will work as a thoughtful democracy instead of the corrupt oligarchy
that exists now. <BR>I Thank you and thank your associates for the important
work you do.<BR><BR>With profound respect,<BR>David Bliss Jr<SPAN
class=520012815-20082009>"</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=520012815-20082009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=520012815-20082009></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=520012815-20082009>
<H1 style="MARGIN: auto 0in" align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
size=4>Espada’s Son Gets $120,000 Senate Staff Job</FONT> </FONT></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=left>Published: August 11,
2009<SPAN class=520012815-20082009> in New York Times</SPAN> </P>
<P>ALBANY — Weeks after Senator <A title="More articles about Pedro Espada Jr.."
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/e/pedro_jr_espada/index.html?inline=nyt-per">Pedro
Espada Jr.</A> helped <A title="Times article on the end of the standoff"
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/nyregion/10albany.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=senate%20standoff%20espada&st=cse">resolve
a standoff</A> in the State Senate by ending his alliance with Republicans and
rejoining the Democratic caucus, his son was hired to a senior position on the
Democrats’ central staff, Senate aides confirmed on Tuesday.</P>
<P>His son, Pedro G. Espada, is a former state assemblyman and New York city
councilman who currently works for <A
title="A Times article mentioning Soundview"
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/nyregion/24clinic.html?scp=1&sq=soundview%20healthcare%20network&st=cse">Soundview
HealthCare Network</A>, a nonprofit group founded by Senator Espada. On Aug. 6 —
less than a month after Senator Espada returned to the Democrats — Pedro G.
Espada, 35, joined the Senate payroll as deputy director of intergovernmental
relations, a job that pays $120,000 a year. The position had been created
recently. </P>
<P>Senate officials denied that the younger Mr. Espada was hired as part of deal
with Senator Espada, who became Senate majority leader after rejoining the
caucus. But they declined to answer detailed questions about the circumstances
of Pedro G. Espada’s hiring, such as whether he was a candidate for the job
before Senator Espada returned to the Democratic caucus. </P>
<P>The hiring was reported this week by New York magazine.</P>
<P>Selvena N. Brooks, a spokeswoman for <A
title="More articles about John L Sampson."
href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/john_l_sampson/index.html?inline=nyt-per">John
L. Sampson</A>, the Senate Democratic conference chairman, said in a statement
that “candidates have been interviewed for a number of positions, including for
intergovernmental operations.”</P>
<P>Mr. Sampson approved the hiring decision, Ms. Brooks said, “based on his
experience as a former legislator and private sector entrepreneur.”</P>
<P>Senator Espada, who faces investigations related to Soundview and to his
campaign finance practices, said in a statement that he had not been involved in
the decision to hire his son.</P>
<P>“This is not the result of a quid pro quo or a contingency to my ending the
Senate stalemate,” Senator Espada said. “If my son did not qualify for this
position, he would not have gotten the job. He interviewed with Senate personnel
and was hired by the Senate — not by me — on his own merits, qualifications,
experience and background as a former public servant and successful
entrepreneur.” </P>
<P>In his new position, Pedro G. Espada, who is expected to resign his job at
Soundview as of Friday, serves as a liaison to other branches of government and
to other elected officials around the state. The decision to hire him was made
as Senate Democrats have been exploring ways to reduce their staff, following a
power-sharing agreement that will require the Democrats to give Republicans a
greater share of resources.</P>
<P>“I think it is one of the worst examples of abuse of power and nepotism I’ve
seen, and that comes from a man who is already ethically challenged,” said
Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director for the <A
title="The organization’s Web site" href="http://www.lwvny.org/">League of Women
Voters of New York State</A>, a government watchdog group.</P>
<P>“We have a $2 billion deficit in this state,” she added. “He is going to be a
liaison to government? What does that mean, exactly? I guess it is a made-up
job.”</P>
<P>This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:</P>
<P><SPAN class=date1>Correction: August 13, 2009</SPAN> <BR>An article on
Wednesday about the hiring of Pedro G. Espada, the son of New York State Senator
Pedro Espada Jr., to a position on the Senate staff just weeks after his father
helped resolve a legislative standoff by ending his alliance with Republicans
and returning to the Democratic caucus referred incorrectly to the
$120,000-a-year job. The post, deputy director of intergovernmental relations,
was created recently; it is not a position that had been vacant.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=plainMail><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV>Laura Ladd Bierman, Executive Director</DIV>
<DIV>League of Women Voters of New York State</DIV>
<DIV>62 Grand Street </DIV>
<DIV>Albany, NY 12207</DIV>
<DIV>(518) 465-4162</DIV>
<DIV>(518) 465-0812</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.lwvny.org/">www.lwvny.org</A></DIV>
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