SAY IT AIN'T SO, George!...NO WORD AS TO WHETHER PEDRO JR. WILL ATTEND SCHEDULED BIG APPLE FUNDRAISER FOR MAZIARZ PUT ON BY PEDRO SR.

Last spring when the roses were in bloom and an old man's fancy turned toward backroom coups and power grabs, Senator George Maziarz was posing to anyone who would listen as the Prince of Reform, the White Knight of Niagara who was leading a crusade against patronage and corruption, despite the fact that he has placed more cronies in cushy state jobs than most residents of the Governor's Mansion.

These days, however, his credentials as a political virgin are more and more starting to fray, especially now that word has leaked out about a fundraiser being held for his benefit later this month in New York City, hosted by that other paragon of Albany rectitude, Senator Pedro Espada. You remember Pedro, he's that other great Patron Saint of Good Government who is currently being investigated by no less than three Grand Juries in his native Big Apple for offenses ranging from campaign finance irregularities to general financial irregularities to residency violations.

The very same Albany politician who recently tried to get his son and namesake, Pedro Espada Jr., an $120,000 a year job on his staff.

If you'd like to go, it will cost you $500 to honor George on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30-7pm at the Penn Club, located at 30 West 44th St. under the sponsorship of Pedro and Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos. In case you were wondering, you can make your check out to: "MaziarzStateSenate."

Naturally, we feel that it's a little odd that Espada, who is supposed to be the Democrats' Majority Leader in the Senate is holding a fundraiser in support of the man who could be that body's #2 Republican. Then again, it's also a little odd that Skelos is lending his support to an event that will help out George, who, some feel, could challenge Dean for his leadership post some time in the future.

In any case, this latest demonstration of Pedro's love for George comes only weeks after Senator Espada made that oh so noble attempt to enrich his family at public expense by hiring his son, Pedro for well into a six figure salary. Of course, we don't remember Senator Maziarz adding his pro-reform voice to the outcry of righteous indignation that arose over this particular boondoggle, nor do we remember George devoting any lung power to applauding Attorney General Cuomo when he put a stop to it.

Now we know why!