Espada, out of Albany, still in court and fighting to the finish

Former state Sen. Pedro Espada has a lot on his plate — and it’s not sushi. 

Recently released expenditure reports from the Senate show Mr. Espada spent $792,298 in his last three months in office, more than any other senator spent in double the time; he can’t seem to sell his Bronx condo (which critics said he never lived in anyway); he is battling a civil suit for not paying for his tailor-made suits; and his Sundview Healthcare Network is likely to lose $10 million in Medicaid funding for violating state law. 

Mr. Espada held a press conference in front of the Soundview Health Center on White Plains Road on Tuesday to speak out against the Office of Medicaid Inspector General’s reported plans to cut off $10 million in Medicaid funding because of repeated violations of state law.

Despite being indicted for embezzling more than $500,000 from the taxpayer-funded Soundview Healthcare Network that he founded and ran, Mr. Espada was still running the health network.

A spokesperson from OMIG refused to confirm or deny the action. According to news reports, Soundview does not have a compliance program and did not file required 2008 and 2009 tax returns.

If OMIG cuts the network off, it would mean the closure of many of the five health facilities he operates in the Bronx. 

Mr. Espada, who once represented Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights, infamously switched parties in 2009, a move that resulted in him taking over the powerful position of Senate Majority Leader when he rejoined the Democratic Party.

In his last three months in office as Majority Leader, he spent more than any other senator spent in double the time. According to expenditure reports released last week, Mr. Espada spent that much on staff and general office expenses between Oct. 1 and when he left office in January this year.

Although it’s not unusual for the Majority Leader to spend more money than fellow senators, it has raised a few eyebrows.

All of that $792,298 was paid for by taxpayers, but Mr. Espada has not been paying his own bills, according to a lawsuit filed by Custom Men, a Manhattan tailor.