Talk Bronx New York

Let’s see. Arrogance. Greed. Sleaze.

Are we leaving anything out here?

It all happened last week:
# State Sen. Pedro Espada toppling Democratic control in the Senate by crossing over to shake down the Republican camp.

That, after Dems stopped the Wascally Wabbit from trying to sneak $2 million in pork barrel funding to two questionable groups linked to his health clinic chain - not the first time he has tried it.

Some folks are also wondering if those files Pedro temporarily claimed were stolen in a burglary at his Mamaroneck “home” might not have been on someone’s subpoena list.
# State Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo and City Councilwoman daughter Maria (Will Change Last Name for Votes) del Carmen Arroyo glomming free flights to the Caribbean.

Those trips courtesy of Carmen’s grandson/Maria’s nephew Richard (Little Ricky) Izquierdo Arroyo.

The feds charged him and Margarita Villegas with stealing $200,000 in goods and services from a South Bronx nonprofit linked to one the Arroyos funded and larded with relatives. Read more..

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Well, our guayabera shirt stayed in the closet and not on our back in San Juan this weekend.

The boss said sending Liz Benjamin, this newspaper’s energetic and talented political columnist and blogger, would be sufficient to cover Somos El Futuro, the annual winter conference of New York’s Hispanic legislators.

I fear Liz and I are at cross-purposes in this Brave New Media World of slapping news right onto the Web site vs. saving it for Kappy’s Tuesday gossip column.

Unfortunately, the Bronx political scene has become hot news citywide, and just won’t wait for the column.

Herewith, the big Bronx stories - with some exclusive updates:
# Bronx state Senators Ruben (The Rev.) Diaz Sr. and Pedro (The Wascally Wabbit) Espada joining a rogue devil cult in the Senate with Hiram Monserrate of Queens and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn, trying to spoil Democrats’ winning edge and elevating Malcolm Smith of Queens from minority to majority leader.

Monserrate, who we hear got a rather heavy duty call from Queens Democratic boss and Bronx/Queens Rep. Joe Crowley, cut out of the cult over the weekend, trading his vote in to chair the Consumer Affairs committee.

We hear The Rev. may be the next to bail, at least remaining neutral, beyond stalling a vote for legalizing gay marriage.

“If Malcolm doesn’t find some way to woo Carl and Pedro,” said an Albany source, “the Democrats are screwed.”

The cult is set to hold a conclave today in the Bronx. Read more..

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Bronx Democrats were buzzing this weekend about a verbal altercation between embattled party boss Jose Rivera and his formerally, election law attorney Stanley Schlein, that took place at the tony El San Juan bar on the first night of Somos el Futuro.

According to several witnesses, Rivera “got emotional” when he saw Schlein talking to Senator-elect Pedro Espada Jr., pointed his finger at the attorney and said: “You better watch yourself in Puerto Rico.”

Rivera, speaking in a raised voice in both English and Spanish, also reportedly called Schlein a “rat.” Read more..

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Bronx Trivia: ‘Fort Apache, the Bronx,’ starring the late Paul Newman, was not filmed at the real Fort Apache in Longwood, but at the 42nd Precinct stationhouse on Washington Ave. in Morrisania.

Nelson Castro took political heat over having a criminal record and for having nine people listing his one-bedroom apartment as their addresses on their voter registrations.

But he triumphed in the Democratic Primary for state assemblyman in the west Bronx.

Now, Richard Soto of the Rising Voices Coalition, whose brother Mike ran against Nelson, told us he has filed a complaint with Bronx District Attorney Rob Johnson, alleging that Nelson committed perjury over that voter thing, since Nelson supposedly testified under oath in a civil court hearing that he didn’t know those voters.

Soto said the DA has pictures of Nelson posing with them at various affairs.

The DA’s office, as usual, had no comment, and after we spoke twice with Nelson, he’s yet to respond to the allegation.

Hector Ramirez, 86th A.D. district leader, probably wouldn’t mind seeing Nelson in hot water. Hector was Assemblyman Luis Diaz’s choice to succeed him after Luis went to work for Gov. Paterson. But Party Boss Jose Rivera backed Nelson instead, and Hector joined the rebels challenging Jose.

Neutral surf

We guess San Juan will be declared neutral surf, er, turf for warring Bronx political camps when the Somos El Futuro (We Are the Future) Winter Conference is held Nov. 6-11 at the San Juan Intercontinental.

Whatever the result of an Oct. 27 court date to try to settle who’s the legal Bronx Democratic boss, San Juan could be the place to mend fences over piña coladas.

Put together by the Assembly’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, the confab features daily workshops - for those who can manage to break away from conducting serious business poolside and at the bar. Read more..

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