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Our Consultants Corner debated whether State Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. is to blame for the leadership fight in the State Senate. Watch the video above.

Tonight’s program includes: Our NY1 Wiseguys; Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis.

Jeremy Peters wonders: “What would happen if Gov. David A. Paterson were to die suddenly, resign or become so incapacitated that he could no longer carry out his duties as governor? Who would lead the state then?”

Tongue firmly in cheek, NYC Columnist Clyde Haberman predicts the stalemate will end in 2014.

Julie Bosman notes: “Because the homeless population this spring was up more than 20 percent over last spring, possibly because of higher unemployment, officials are girding for an all-time high in the number of families in shelters at once, expecting close to 10,000. Already, the number has reached 9,420.”

Charlie Bagli writes: “It appears that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s attempt to usher in an era of reconciliation and compromise at ground zero is over.”

Michael Barbaro notes: “Since becoming New York City’s transportation commissioner in 2007, Janette Sadik-Khan has crisscrossed the globe, visiting far-flung locales like Bogotá, Copenhagen and Beijing. In the process, she has run up a travel bill of about $35,000, according to city records. And in some cases, Ms. Sadik-Khan has allowed outsiders, including transportation advocacy groups, to help foot the bill. City records obtained by The New York Times show that such groups have paid for $10,200 of her travel. The costs include transportation, lodging and food.”

New York Post

Dave Seifman reports: “Reacting to the state Senate's mind-boggling fifth week of do-nothing deadlock, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday ordered an immediate citywide hiring freeze that will block 250 recruits from attending the Police Academy tomorrow. The mayor also delayed 770 other public-safety hires for as long as a $900 million city tax package is held hostage to the Senate stalemate. It was scheduled to take effect July 1.”

The edit-heads write: “Mayor Mike yesterday ordered an immediate freeze of virtually all city hiring until the state Senate ends its unseemly civil war and passes legislation needed to keep Gotham on an even fiscal keel. Good for him.”

New York Daily News

Blain & Lovett write: “A Queens Assemblyman says he's found a magic bullet to end the five-week-old Senate stalemate. Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gianaris and two good government groups said Monday Gov. Paterson can appoint a lieutenant governor under an obscure provision of the state's Public Officers Law.”

The edit-heads thinkPaterson should ask the courts for their opinion on the succession mess.

Newsday

Reid Epstein reports on how Rep. Peter King has stirred up a ton of controversy for criticizing Michael Jackson: “Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, said King's remarks are ‘racist,’ adding ‘Sometimes you think you know people... I thought at least he was a decent person. He is like Jim Crow Jr., the way it came out.’"

Until tomorrow.

Bob Hardt