SENATE RESOLUTION removing Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. from the position
of Majority Leader and relinquishing the emoluments attached to the
position

WHEREAS, The holding of public office is a public trust; and
WHEREAS, The use of public money for the good of the persons of this
State is likewise a public trust; and
WHEREAS, The public has expressed concern over excess compensation,
bonuses and severance packages for executives in private corporations in
a time of economic need; and
WHEREAS, There has been an expression of concern and alarm concerning
the benefits and packages for executives of not-for-profit corporations;
and
WHEREAS, More and more not-for-profit corporations have been inter-
ested in assuaging public concerns about where their money is actually
going; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York has a similar interest and concern
about the use of public money by New York not-for-profit corporations;
and
WHEREAS, Not-for-profit corporations are seeking to apply principles
of openness, accountability, transparency; and
WHEREAS, Not-for-profit corporations in New York who receive monies
from the state and federal government should be held to a high standard
insuring that the monies obtained are actually used for the services for
which they are provided; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York
has a bureau charged with monitoring and regulating not-for-profit
corporations; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York
has filed a civil complaint against New York State Senator Pedro Espada,
Jr. concerning the use of the public monies granted for public purposes
to Soundview Health Centers and its parent company; and
WHEREAS, The allegations themselves call into question the propriety
of the expenditure of public monies, the compensation and future compen-
sation of Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. as the Chief Executive of the
Soundview Health Care system; and
WHEREAS, Senator Espada has been designated by the Democratic leader-
ship of the State Senate as their Majority Leader; and
WHEREAS, The Majority Leader has control over the spending of public
monies in the area of staff, expenses and other emoluments attached to
the office; and
WHEREAS, The unsettling and disturbing nature of the charges call into
question the judgement of Senator Espada in his use of public monies in
all areas; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of the State of New York are entitled to repre-
sentation and leadership of the New York State Senate that provides them
with the confidence that the members and leadership are acting in the
public interest and free of any conflicts of interest or shadow upon
their use of public monies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Senate as a Body demand that the
Democratic Leadership which named Pedro Espada, Jr. to the post of
Majority Leader, revoke and rescind such title; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Pedro Espada, Jr. hereby be ordered to relinquish all
titles, emoluments and benefits attached to the position of Majority
Leader until such time as the civil allegations against him are
resolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That failing the voluntary relinquishment of such titles,
emoluments and benefits, that the Senate Democratic leadership strip him
of such title, emoluments and benefits until such charges are resolved
against him.