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Volume XVII • Number 42 • September 9 - 15, 2010 • FREE!

Drop-outs and dirty tricks at eleventh hour

Padernacht throws in the towel
By CANDICE M. GIOVE it as an absolute win, whereas
Daniel Padernacht bowed there is a better chance to un-
out of the contest for embattled seat Pedro Espada if we support
state Senator Pedro Espada Jr.’s Rivera,” he said. “We need a
seat over the weekend, and on new mix of personalities in Al-
Tuesday he endorsed Espada’s bany—legislators that are willing
now-lone opponent, Gustavo to work together. My decision
Rivera. comes with the hope of reform-
“After careful examination ing Albany.”
of this race—one of the most Padernacht’s optimistic as-
important races in this state—I sessment did not match one com-
have determined that the right missioned by the New Roosevelt
thing for me to do is step aside,” Initiative, a progressive Demo-
Padernacht said. cratic organization founded by
Local leaders and groups Bill Samuels, who is supporting
supporting Rivera reproached Rivera. Their poll found that
Padernacht’s candidacy early Padernacht would siphon off
on, and they branded him as the enough of the anti-Espada votes
33rd state Senate district’s very and heighten the incumbent’s
own Ralph Nader. The local at- chances of victory. FORCES UNITE AGAINST ESPADA – Days after Daniel Padernacht dropped out of the state Senate
torney and community member, Voters will still see Pader- race, he endorsed his former opponent Gustavo Rivera. The announcement was made in front of the
however, brushed off the spoiler nacht’s name on the ballot, and Municipal Building on Tuesday morning. Elected officials, who joined Padernacht and Rivera, say
criticisms and decided to move in an effort to spread the word the move increases Rivera’s chances of winning on Primary Day. -- Photo by Jon Reznick
forward with his campaign. about his exit from the contest,
But with a little more than the former candidate will spend Diaz Jr. and Assemblyman Jeffrey
a week left until Primary Day, the days leading up to the Sep- Dinowitz and labor union repre- EDITORIAL
Padernacht said that he and his
team evaluated the odds. They
tember 14th primary politicking
for Rivera.
sentatives, who have dedicated
their support to Rivera. Riverdale Review Endorsements
D
believed, he said, that he could He began that push on Tues- “Dan Padernacht has worked emocratic party voters in Riverdale face a sparse ballot
have outpaced Rivera at the day morning when he ceremoni- hard in our community and he next Tuesday in the Primary Election. There is only one
polls, but not the beleaguered ously endorsed Rivera in front of worked hard in this campaign,” primary election statewide for Attorney General and primaries
Espada—who, in the public’s the municipal building in lower said Assemblyman Dinowitz. in two of the area’s three State Senate districts. Important
view, has become the incarnation Manhattan. The two former “He has selflessly stepped aside choices need to be made, making a trip to the polls worthwhile
of all of Albany’s corruption. opponents were surrounded by for the good of our entire com- even for so few races.
“While we thought we had other elected officials including munity.”
a great chance, we did not see Bronx Borough President Ruben Continued on Page 17 RICHARD BRODSKY for ATTORNEY GENERAL
We were ready, willing and able to endorse Eric Schneider-
Espaillat foe rapped for fraudulent phone calls man, who currently represents one of the three Senate districts
here, and in the past represented even more of Riverdale and
By CANDICE M. GIOVE And in a similarly crafty campaign e-mail—with parts of The Bronx. We like Eric and found him to be generally
State Senate candidate Mark Levine disingenu- the subject line “The New York Times”—Levine supportive of our goals for our community. But he is running
ously led voters to believe that he received the New again made the implication. A hyperlink in the for state Attorney General, a position that has grown in influ-
York Times’ weighty endorsement in robocalls and e-mail does not lead to the actual endorsement. ence and importance in recent years.
e-mails sent out this weekend. The Levine campaign did not return a call for This is why his statements regarding the role of Rev. Al
The Grey Lady’s editorial board, however, comment. Sharpton in his possible administration were so distressing.
endorsed his opponent, Assemblyman Adriano A touché came from Assemblyman Jeffrey We see even the acceptance of the endorsement from Mr.
Espaillat. Dinowitz, a major Espaillat supporter, who im- Sharpton as a questionable tactic for a candidate for a law
“Good afternoon,” the deceptive call began. “In mediately recorded a truthful robocall. enforcement post, given that Mr. Sharpton is frequently a
today’s endorsement editorial, the New York Times “Adriano’s opponent may have called you earlier target for investigations by state officials regarding his finances
said Mark Levine has ‘impressive credentials and with a message designed to make you believe he and taxes. But Mr. Schneiderman promised that the reverend’s
workable proposals for orchestrating the kind of was endorsed by the Times. Sadly, Adriano’s op- organization, “will have an annex in Albany for the first time
reform we keep pushing for in New York.’” ponent was being deceptive,” he said. in the history of the state.”
The call omitted the rest of the paper’s words, “The only candidate endorsed by the New York Even liberals such as Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice
which crowned Espaillat with their honor. Times is Adriano Espaillat, the one real reformer were disgusted. “It was craven excess, an unconscious decla-
The editorial continued, “But it is Mr. Espail- ready to shake up the state Senate,” he added. ration of how transactional Schneiderman actually sees the
lat, a 14-year Albany veteran, who has been an He said he wanted to counteract the Levine call office he seeks. No one really expects a Sharpton cubicle in
outspoken voice for the most crucial reform of in case voters were hoodwinked by the message, Schneiderman’s office, but the AG-to-be was declaring that an
all—an independent redistricting commission to which, the assemblyman said, would have lead organization that the current officeholder, Andrew Cuomo,
create fairer elections in the State. If Mr. Espaillat any reasonable person to believe that Levine was investigated just two years ago would have an inside track
works hard to represent this diverse district, he in fact tapped by the Times. with Schneiderman because its leader was helping to make
could become an important leader in Albany as “It’s really a scandal,” Dinowitz said. him AG.”
Continued on Page 22
well as a proud model for Hispanics.” Continued on Page 5