We're still three months from City Council election, but swarms of PUP campaigners are already on the streets. We call them the "Let It Be" street teams, over a hundred young people wearing blue and white t-shirts that say "Let it Be." For the past week, they've been active and visible in the Albert and Lake Independence areas. While you might think that it's party sanctioned campaigning, in fact, "Let It Be" is what might be called a guerilla operation, and it's giving rise to an ugly political turf war in the PUP.
It turns out that the man behind the "Let It Be" movement is none other than Arnaldo 'Papi' Pena. Pena first tried to run in the Albert division for the PUP in April of 1996 but was barred from participating in the convention by the party executive, Mark Espat later went on to win that convention. Well now, it seems Pena, wants back at the Albert division, and street sources say, he's spreading around quite a bit of cash to get the word out.
So what's behind all this? After all, less than a month ago, party leader Said Musa welcomed back Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde, so they should be in good standing. But it seems "look soh, noh go soh," and it seems the old guard of the PUP won't let them back in that easily. That old guard are figured to be hardliners and back benchers who are close allies of 'Papi' Pena, including brothers Luke and Mike Espat.
So while it's a cute political play to amass and finance troops from within the Albert Division right under incumbent Mark Espat's nose, it's sure to cause political mayhem within the party as Espat is likely to launch a trademark dirty war against 'Pena,' a not difficult target mainly because he owes the DFC over $11 million. And while it should make for great viewing for political observers, it seems it's an internal battle the pup can ill afford with just a few months to go before the election. We'll wait and see.
