Pedro Espada is the State Senator representing New York’s 33rd District in the northwest Bronx, as well as the Democratic Majority Leader. He’s also a businessman under investigation by the state attorney general for improper mixing of private and political funds – as well as one half of the Democratic team that brought the Senate to a halt in June by temporarily throwing its support to the Republicans (the other half being convicted domestic abuser Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens).And he serves as chairman of the Senate’s Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee.

Right now, it’s that last fact that has affordable housing and tenant activists across the city up in arms. They’ve directed a barrage of calls and e-mails to Brooklyn Senator John Sampson, who holds the title of Democratic Conference Leader, urging him to remove Espada from the housing post. Earlier this month, Sampson reshuffled some committee chairs, installing Republicans George Maziarz, from the Rochester area, and Tom Morahan of Rockland County to head the committees on Energy and Telecommunications and Mental Health and Hygiene, respectively. Tenant activists saw an opening to push for Espada’s removal before the spring session got underway, says housing activist Michael McKee, the new executive director of Housing Here and Now (replacing Michelle O’Brien, who recently moved out of state).

But Espada, who is halfway through a two-year term as chairman, says he intends to retain his position. And, he points out to activists, he’s got a plan to freeze rents for rent-stabilized tenants making less than $45,000 a year. In a statement last week, Espada said that his plan for housing reform – which he intends to unveil completely by the end of the month – “would create an unprecedented rental assistance program that would freeze the rents of nearly 300,000 households.” The concept was first floated by outgoing Rent Guidelines Board Chairman Marvin Markus at a housing summit Espada sponsored last April.

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