Published: August 30, 2010

The latest independent expenditure on behalf of Senate hopeful Gustavo Rivera and his quest to oust Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. on Sept. 14 is SEIU 32BJ, which has dropped the first of four mailers in what will be a $30,000 independent expenditure.

It’s a positive piece of campaign lit to introduce the little-known political newcomer to Bronx voters. There’s one section on fixing Albany and restoring “trust” that could be construed as anti-Espada. It’s curiously worded, however, and includes the following line:

“Gustavo knows the more control the people have, the less control special interests will have.”

Remember: This is a mailer sent by a union. And it features a list of people/entities who have endorsed Rivera, which includes SEIU 1199, the AFL-CIO, the CWA, the Working Families Party…etc and so on.

In addition to the mail, 32BJ is doing a big member-to-member outreach in the district, with volunteers knocking on 1,500 doors and making 6,500 calls to date. The union is still recruiting volunteers. So far, some 150 have stepped up to help Rivera, and another 150 are expected to sign on to the effort.