In a deal reached yesterday around the leadership of the New York State Senate, a group of rebel Democrats may have walked away content. But the real test will be whether a new power arrangement will translate into boosted leverage for Latino officials and the communities they were elected to represent.
Under the agreement, State Senator Malcolm Smith would become president pro tempore of the Senate while State Senator-Elect Pedro Espada Jr. would serve as majority leader. Espada Jr. says he will have oversight of key committees and influence in budget negotiations and legislative re-apportionment. His fellow rebels also landed prizes. State Senator Carl Kruger walked away with a committee chairmanship and so did State Senator Ruben Diaz.
The three Democrats had held out their support of Smith becoming State Senate leader and made their party sweat when Republicans began to woo them. This was threatening the control that Democrats had waited more than 40 years for in the State Senate.
With several other players at yesterday’s table—Republican billionaire Tom Golisano was reportedly among them—, we’ll soon see who are the other winners and losers.
But what is troublesome is that Democrats will not put gay marriage on the table any time soon, to Diaz’s relief and the disappointment of people who have been denied this right.
On the issue of Latino empowerment, Diaz and Espada Jr. both complained, and rightfully so, about the under-representation of Hispanics in government. They may have succeeded in beginning to turn a page. And they have an opportunity here to build momentum not only for increasing representation, and the quality of it, but ensuring that it yields effective policies and resources for families struggling to get by every day.
