Espada is a hit with landlords

Pedro Espada

While State Senator Pedro Espada has made few friends in the tenant rights advocacy set recently, more landlords have begun rallying around the embattled politician as he enters into a tough primary race, according to the Wall Street Journal. Espada, who has faced allegations of impropriety in recent months, has helped halt several rent-regulation bills that would have hampered landlords’ financial windfall. Experts say that his legislative pattern has helped garner landlord support, while alienating tenants rights advocates. Dan Cantor, executive director with the Working Families Party, said that Espada has played a key role in blocking rent reform. “If Espada wins, it will be a serious blow to people who believe in rent regulation,” Cantor said. [WSJ]