Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Now Espada's (Allegedly) Stiffing His Tailor
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 19, 2010
Modified Aug 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 19, 2010
Modified Aug 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who was last seen literally throwing money away, has earned the enmity of a tailor who says he made $7,200 worth of threads for Espada and never received payment. Vijay Rajkumar, owner of Custom Men in midtown, claims he made and delivered Espada's $1,200-a-piece suits last year without taking an upfront payment or deposit, telling the Daily News, "I'm a small tailor, usually I don't do this, but I thought that he's a senator, where's he going to run away? That was my biggest mistake." But Espada says it should be obvious to everyone that Rajkumar is lying, because he's talking to the press.
"The facts are obviously in my favor or else he wouldn't be trying to try this in the media," Espada tells the media. The Bronxchester senator claims he sent the suits back to Rajkumar for alterations, and that's the last he saw of them. But Rajkumar says he never received the suits, and points to a recent photo of Espada: "He says he doesn't have them and he's wearing them!" Fed up, Rajkumar turned the matter over to a collection agency, which is now suing Espada, just like everyone else.
Tagged
bronx
custom suit
pedro espada
suits
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Washington Square Park snowball thrower gets community service for pelting NYPD
Police had arrested Gusmane Coulibaly, 28 — AKA “Diaper Man” — for assault.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Nov 2, 2026 at 3:38 p.m. ET
Stabbing of Brooklyn runner believed to be ‘random attack,’ NYPD says
“ Nobody else would've known that she was running there at that particular time,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
Stabbing of Brooklyn runner believed to be ‘random attack,’ NYPD says
“ Nobody else would've known that she was running there at that particular time,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD investigating bullying as possible motive in Bronx teen's killing
By
Charles Lane
NY opens HEAP applications to help pay for heating costs
By
Louis C. Hochman
Here’s what drove NYC gas prices higher and whether relief is on the way
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .