ALBANY - New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) said Tuesday that will stand by the Senate Democratic Conference and will not be joining his fellow “Amigo” Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate in the new bipartisan coalition.

“I will not join with them because I do not trust billionaire Tom Golisano, who reminds me of the opportunists in the South Bronx who abandoned my neighborhood when The Bronx was allegedly burning,” said Diaz.

“When we needed them, they went to better places.  And now, like that experience, Golisano has decided to leave New York after the legislature passed a budget that would temporarily raise income taxes for New York’s wealthy. 

So that more people can have much needed services, we passed a budget that would make Golisano pay $1 million more so people can have much needed services; however, he turned his back on New York.”