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Gang of Four

An Amigo Meal

ALBANY—The State Senate's four amigos will meet for lunch today, to discuss anything and everything.

"We're going to be discussing everything. Everything! The agenda for next year." Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. told me by phone this morning, after his office put out an advisory that the meal would be taking place--at the Nautilus Diner Read More

Amigos Rally to Monserrate

ALBANY—Who will speak for Hiram Monserrate? His amigos.

There are now five Democratic state senators either publicly calling Monserrate to resign or for the chamber to take what action it can to rebuke him: Liz Krueger (who was the first to call for Monserrate to resign) David Valesky, Darrel Aubertine, Brian Foley and Neil Read More

The Old Gang, In Charge

ALBANY—Malcolm Smith spoke first at a press conference announcing Democrats had regained control of the fractured State Senate, but the amigos spoke the longest. And the message was clear: They're in charge. "The four amigos stand here once again today, proud and tough, supporting our communities, but most importantly, in friendships that didn't even exist Read More

Espada’s Promise

ALBANY—The four amigos walked out of the office of State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. and onto the floor of the chamber—saying little, if anything—where an extraordinary session by David Paterson has been called for 3 p.m. Republicans were there, too, and one handed me a letter that Espada, who has apparently flipped back to the Read More

Diaz: You’ll Never Know Our Thursday Plans!

ALBANY—It's Thursday, so what will the Amigos do to blow up the State Senate stalemate? "We said if they didn't do something, we're going to do something. They did something. So what do you want me to do now? Whether it's legal or illegal is his problem," Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., the spokes-amigo, told me. Read More

Kruger and Espada Are Confident an LG Will Be Named (‘A Manhattan Businessman!’), But Split on Whether That’s Good

ALBANY—If nothing else, David Paterson has succeeded in dividing the four amigos.

"What on God's earth is he thinking?" Senator Pedro Espada Jr. asked reporters, saying he heard from "businesspeople in my district" that Paterson would indeed appoint a lieutenant governor this evening.

He said it would blow up ongoing negotiations. "We're on a Read More

Kruger and Espada Are Confident an LG Will Be Named (‘A Manhattan Businessman!’), But Split on Whether That’s Good

ALBANY—If nothing else, David Paterson has succeeded in dividing the four amigos. "What on God's earth is he thinking?" Senator Pedro Espada Jr. asked reporters, saying he heard from "businesspeople in my district" that Paterson would indeed appoint a lieutenant governor this evening. He said it would blow up ongoing negotiations. "We're on a path to Read More