(Bronx, NY) - Gustavo Rivera, candidate for the 33rd Senate District issued the following statement on Pedro Espada's failure to attend tonight's Bronx Talk debate:

"In two short years, scandal-ridden Pedro Espada has betrayed his fellow Democrats, taken money from slumlords to block tenants' rights laws, and stands accused of stealing millions from Bronx health clinics. He has even stooped to challenging constituents to fistfights rather than talk to them.

Our community has lots of questions for Espada, and tonight we were supposed to get some answers. But instead of directly addressing his own constituents, Espada has let us down again. Espada declared he would debate me anytime, anywhere. But when the chance came, Espada decided to cut and run.

Espada can run from tonight's debate, but he can't run from the people of the Northwest Bronx. On September 14th, we will have a chance to make change and elect a Senator who put our community first."