Charles Rangel

DENVER—This morning, The New York Post reported that a $100,000 donation from Charlie Rangel's political action committee to the Democratic National Committee was returned because Barack Obama does not want the organization to take money from P.A.C.s.

Rangel says he doesn't know anything about it.

As the congressman left a closed-door lunch at the Sheraton this afternoon, I asked him about the story--and mentioned the source.

He turned to one of his aides and asked, “Did you hear anything like that?”

The aide shrugged.

Walking away, Rangel turned to me and said, “So much for the New York Post.”

Hillary Clinton is still sending mixed messages.

Speaking at a press conference this morning following a breakfast with the New York delegation at the Sheraton hotel in Denver, during which called on her supporters to support Barack Obama, she said she would release her delegates to vote for Obama on Wednesday and would vote for Obama herself. But Clinton also argued that her delegates should have the chance to vote for her during Wednesday’s convention roll call.

Clinton spoke for about 15 minutes about the steady process of party unity and all the work she had done to convince her supporters to vote for Obama during the convention and in the election.  read more »

At the Dominican Bar Association's legislative breakfast, Charlie Rangel told attendees that the only answer to the nation's need for better immigration law is to implement amnesty.

The sparsely attended event was held this morning on West 44th Street.

Rangel criticized the compromise immigration plan proposed by fellow Democrat Ted Kennedy (and co-sponsored by John McCain), saying it was confusing and impractical.

Then, at around the 2:00 mark, Rangel references the law enforcement agents and officials who arrest undocumented workers, saying that those sheriffs and mayors are "bad guys" who work in “little towns around the country."

“All they want to do is arrest somebody and get on TV,” Rangel said, adding that the local economies rely heavily on the immigrants.

“They’re working against their interests," he said. "It’s almost like a slaveholder saying, 'Get rid of the slave, but we want them to work.”

Never heard of the Olnicks? Aside from industry insiders, pretty much no one had until July 11, when The New York Times revealed that, amid an affordable housing crisis, Congressman Charles Rangel had been hoarding four rent-stabilized apartments in the Olnick’s Lenox Terrace complex in Harlem.

It may be hard to believe that in a city so consumed with itself, so dedicated to narcissism and self-love, money and power, the Olnicks would shun the spotlight. But do a Nexis search on the family name, and aside from some clips in Real Estate Weekly—which faithfully publishes personnel and small lease announcements—you’ll find nary a hit until this month.  read more »

At the Crain's business breakfast breakfast this morning Representative Anthony Weiner spoke about "saving" New York's middle class, a theme that is likely to be at the center of his mayoral campaign.

The crux of Weiner’s speech, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan, focused on job development. He did not rule out raising taxes, but did say that high taxes stymie job development. He defended the policy that prevents Wal-Mart (but not other big box stores), from coming into the city because it does not pay adequate wages. And he said that the city has to do a better job of offering incentives to keep business in New York City, since New Jersey has lower business taxes and can still access the city's workforce.  read more »

City Room has a Q-and-A thread going on rent-stabilization with housing lawyer Joel E. Abramson. Wonder why.

Three days after the New York Times reported that Representative Charlie Rangel rents four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, Rangel's neighbor, Governor David Paterson, unveiled this public service announcement on the topic of housing for non-rich people, featuring actor Edward Norton, and two others featuring former Giant Tiki Barber and former Met (briefly) Mo Vaughn.

Paterson’s office said the ads began airing on July 14. In an press release announcing the ads, Paterson’s office said the objective is “to promote the continued development of affordable housing in communities throughout New York State. The PSAs are part of a larger campaign – Affordable Housing Works – which touts attractive and high quality affordable housing developments across New York State.”

Conservative watchdog the National Legal and Policy Center has called on the Federal Election Commission to investigate Congressman Charles Rangel's rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one used as a campaign office.

Release on the FEC complaint here. More on the Rangel imbroglio in The Observer here and here. (Hat tip: Curbed).

In his colorful response today to a Times story on the four rent-stabilized apartments he rents, Representative Charles Rangel said repeatedly (as captured in video by The Observer’s Azi Paybarah) that the below-market-rate apartments are not a gift (which would need to be reported per campaign finance law).

“If you’re paying the legal rent, and without the law, the rent could be higher, just what school did you go to that you could misinterpret that as a gift,” he said to the Times’ Jeremy Peters. “They didn’t give me anything, I’m paying the highest legal rent I can.”

Maybe.

Unanswered questions in this Rangel rent-stabilization saga-to-be are many, but based on New York’s arcane, sometimes-twisted rent-stabilization laws, here’s one thought of how the apartments could be construed as a gift:

Mr.  read more »

Rent stabilization is one of the nation's most successful affordable-housing initiatives since World War II, but it's increasingly harder to defend thanks to the sorts of performances today by Representative Charles Rangel of Harlem.

As The Times' City Room blog notes, Mr. Rangel was recalcitrant, rude and vulgar in his defense of renting four stabilized apartments in Harlem's Lenox Terrace complex at West 135th Street. Here he is responding to a question from Times reporter David Kocieniewski:

“I have decided unilaterally that you have asked more than your share.” He added, when Mr. Kocieniewski tried to press him, “Hell no, I’m not going to respond to you.  read more »

• 2 comments

Hat tip: Politicker.

Here’s Charlie Rangel responding, after a fashion, to a question from Jeremy Peters of The New York Times about those four apartments he occupies at below-market rates.

The Times' Sewell Chan has a run-down on Representative Charles Rangel's public defense today of his four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem. Mr. Rangel, who entered Congress in 1970, a year after the state introduced rent-stabilization in New York City, seems rather flustered by all the attention:

Toward the end of his news conference, Mr. Rangel suggested that it was absurd that he should be criticized, asking rhetorically whether he should place an ad in a newspaper asking, “Is there any place I can get this at a higher price because there’s some crazy reporter who thinks I have a good deal?”

Charlie Rangel is not pleased with The New York Times.

Dogged by a Times reporter after a just-ended press conference in which the dean of the New York Congressional delegation claimed he did nothing wrong by combining a series of rent stabilized apartments into one residence, Rangel bristled at the suggestion that his low rent amounted to an illegal gift from his landlords.

“Paying the legal rent is not a gift. Are you doing this deliberately or are you just stupid? Listen -- if you are paying a legal rent and without the law the rent would be higher, just what school did you go to that could misinterpret that as a gift?”

When the reporter tried to push Rangel, asking if he declared the rent on his income taxes, Rangel said to the reporter, Jeremy Peters, “Don’t make yourself look more dumb than you want.  read more »

Manhattan real estate attorney Lucas Ferrara (who recently fielded questions from New York Times readers about landlord and tenant issues) thinks there's nothing inherently wrong with Charlie Rangel having four rent-stabilized apartments.

Asked for comment, Ferrara e-mailed:

What's wrong with that? :)

The mere fact that he may have multiple apartments in his name is not necessarily indicative of some irregularity or misconduct.

The number of units is not the principal consideration or focus. The test is whether the Congressman can show that he and/or his family members make these units their "primary residence."

If they can show an actual physical nexus to the units, the whole arrangement could be quite kosher.

(And for those keeping close track, Choire said something similar this morning.)

David Dinkins has been named campaign chairman for Manhattan Surrogate's Court candidate Milton Tingling. The campaign also announced that Charlie Rangel will serve as honorary chair. Ravi Batra (of Law and Order fame) is serving as the finance chair.

It just adds a bit more name recognition to this competitive, quiet race.

Tingling is running against Nora Anderson and John Reddy.

Charlie Rangel and the New York Democratic congressional delegation announced their endorsement of Barack Obama today in Washington, D.C.

Rangel said, “We come here collectively to endorse the decision that has been made by our fearless leader, who comes as a member of the state of New York that makes us so proud, and we’re here to laud her efforts and what she is about to do.”

He added, "It was a great campaign."  read more »

Some prominent members of the New York congressional delegation are raising money for a Florida congressional candidate, Christine Jennings, who lost a race against a Republican in 2006 by just 396 votes.

The seat, which opened up when Katherine Harris decided to run for Senate, was ultimately won by Vern Buchanan and now Jennings is mounting another challenge.  read more »

Charlie Rangel, a major supporter of Hillary Clinton, is joining Chuck Schumer and a growing number of superdelegates who think the Democratic nominee should reflect the popular vote, not the will of the superdelegates.

From Newsday:  read more »

City Councilman Miguel Martinez was one of the politicians who helped deliver Hillary Clinton's February 5 primary win in Harlem, which looked far from a sure thing beforehand, despite the support she had from much of the political establishment in the district.  read more »

Charlie Rangel was busy yesterday morning.

On his way to speak at three churches uptown within 90 minutes, Rangel made an unscheduled stop at West 155th Street, where Clinton supporters were kicking off a 61-block march north.

“Okay, what a gorgeous day,” said Rangel when he emerged from his Cadillac, surrounded by campaign volunteers and reporters.  read more »

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama weren’t in New York today, but their supporters were.

A rally for Obama at Columbus Circle this afternoon was billed as a show of strength among women, but the theme, judging from at least one speaker, was a changing of the guard in New York politics.

“County leaders don’t run me—other elected officials don’t run me," City Council member Helen Diane Foster of the Bronx told the crowd of about 500 people. "The people run me.”

Foster went on to say, “I say we get rid of Bushes. I say we get rid of the name we won't mention [because] this isn't her state."  read more »

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C.—We were at a community center attached to a megachurch-ish place called the Brookland Baptist Church. No one seemed to know we were coming. Charlie Rangel ambled in, looking Ranglian. He took three questions. The first, from a Greenville news reporter, was basically, what are you doing here.

"I have no idea,” Rangel responded. “I'm campaigning for Hillary Cllnton and this is my first stop...I'm here to do what campaigning is all about."

The second question was about why people should vote for her versus Obama.  read more »

Discussing George W. Bush's proposed economic stimulus package this morning from the podium at the A.B.N.Y. breakfast at the Sheraton, Charlie Rangel shied away from saying outright that he would discontinue the Bush tax cuts when they expire in 2010.

"As most of you know, there seems to be a lot of concern about whether or not the tax cuts of President Bush will be extended" he said. "Well, people have asked me, as Chairman of the [House Ways and Means] Committee, do we plan to extend these tax cuts in 2010?

"And I remind them--David Dinkins, who's older than me--that at 78 years old, I don’t buy green bananas," he went on. "And so I don’t know what’s going to happen in 2010."

Then Rangel, who is a long-time supporter of Hillary Clinton, said, "And after seeing the great fights on the screen last night at the Democratic debate, I don’t know what is going to happen in 2008."

He finished, "But having said that, it would seem to me that when we take a look back, not only did Hillary Clinton find her voice, but it seems like Chairman Greenspan has found his voice in saying that we should not have had those cuts unless what? Unless they were paid for."

“It’s going to be ethnic politics as usual,” said Al Sharpton during a commercial break from his radio show on Tuesday afternoon, a few minutes before Bill Clinton called in to defend his wife’s campaign, once again, against allegations of racial insensitivity. “The beyond-racial candidates are having the biggest racial attack I’ve seen in a long time.”

“All of a sudden,” Mr. Sharpton added, “we are back in The Bonfire of the Vanities, with a new cast and the same old script.”  read more »

John Hall, a freshman Democratic congressmember from the Hudson Valley, is having a fund-raiser at the home of Democratic super-donor George Soros on December 17, and Representative Charlie Rangel will be in attendance.Tickets start at $500.

The invite notes that Hall is a Democrat facing a tough re-election, and:

“won election by the closest margin of any N.Y. race last year. He was on Karl Rove’s now notorious target list and is already facing a multi-millionaire G.O.P. opponent.”

 

 

 

 

 

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It's worth noting that Hillary Clinton isn’t the only one trying to get squared away with Eliot Spitzer’s new license policy.

The governor’s (original) plan would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's license, but now it's being linked to federal guidelines that will be outlined in the Real ID Act. Although Spitzer backed Real ID this week, a number of Democratic congress members from New York opposed it during a 2005 vote (which may explain why it hasn't been easy getting most of them to say anything about Spitzer's new plan).

One congressional aide was kind enough to refer me to the results of the 2005 vote on the Real ID Act.

Democrats Gary Ackerman (Queens/Nassau), Tim Bishop (Suffolk), Joe Crowley (Queens/Bronx), Eliot Engel (Bronx/Westchester), Carolyn Maloney (Manhattan/Queens), Greg Meeks (Queens), Jerry Nadler (Manhattan/Brooklyn), Charlie Rangel (Manhattan), Jose Serrano (Bronx), Ed Towns (Brooklyn), Nydia Velazquez (Manhattan/Brooklyn/Queens) and Anthony Weiner (Queens/Brooklyn) all voted against it.

UPDATE: Another congressional staffer, putting this story in context, noted that every Democratic congress member in the state voted against Real ID, except for Mike McNulty, who voted for it, and Maurice Hinchey who was absent.

"She is no stranger here," said Calvin Butts, the Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where a "homecoming" rally was held for Hillary Clinton on Saturday.

In a very specific way, at least, the origins of Clinton's Senate career can be traced back to the 125th Street offices of Charlie Rangel, who, Clinton lore has it, was the first person to suggest she run for office. Rangel is also credited with finding Bill Clinton his uptown headquarters.

On the rainy Saturday afternoon, Rangel sat on one side of the church's marble altar and Bill and Hillary sat on the other.

"He loves being home," Clinton said of Rangel when it was her turn to talk.

"It's great getting off that plane and being able to come back to Harlem. Isn't it, Charlie?"

The audience was thrilled to have Rangel and Hillary on the same stage.  read more »

Fun quote from New York congressional dean and Hillary supporter Charlie Rangel from a recent conversation about Barack Obama's criticism of Clinton's vote in favor of a bill labeling Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group:

"Poor Obama. He thinks he is raising hell by saying he didn’t like Hillary’s vote. He thinks that's an attack, you know? Well, goddamn. They can get me to say I don’t like her vote either, but that’s not an attack."

A reader in DC called in to remind me that a number of City Council members were there last night for a dinner hosted by Rep. Joe Crowley, and to attend a breakfast there this morning hosted by Rep. Charlie Rangel.

They’re there to deliver the City Council’s federal agenda to Congressional lawmakers (and check out some new office space).

Does anyone know if anything interesting happened? Or, while we're at it, whether the affected Council lawmakers are going to get back in time to vote in the local elections taking place today?

UPDATE: A reader called to inform me that Quinn met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss 9/11 health issues, the Council's number one
legislative priority. 

A reader sent over this invitation to Gregory Meeks' October 5 fund-raiser. (Maybe this was an early draft?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Charie Rangel blew out his birthday cake last year, he had two wishes: "That we win back the House and I become Chairman of the Ways and Means committee."

That's according to an early invitation obtained by The Observer to his 77th birthday gala, set for August 8 at Tavern on the Green.

His dreams having finally come true, Mr. Rangel is apparently celebrating what one New York City contributor to his campaign is calling "possibly the largest congressional fund-raiser in the history of New York."

The evening's special guest will be Rangel endorsee Hillary Clinton, but she won't be alone: the source told The Observer (and Rangel campaign finance executive director Walter Swett confirmed) that David Paterson, Sheldon Silver, Malcolm Smith and Tom DiNapoli will be joined at the event by playwright-poet-activist-actress Ruby Dee. Chevy Chase will be in attendance and Aretha Franklin is also likely, according to Swett. No word yet if Eliot Spitzer will be on board for the festivities. (And it's probably not the right time to ask.)

Chairs are asked to raise $20,000 and the lowest fund-raiser level -- patrons -- are expected to bring in $1,000. According to the invitation, proceeds will go to Rangel's National Leadership PAC to ensure the expansion of the Democratic majority in Congress.

"Most of all," Rangel writes in the invite, "we celebrate living in the greatest democracy on earth, a country where dreams can come true and a high school dropout from Lenox Avenue can get a second chance from the GI Bill and make something of himself."

Al Sharpton is going Michael Bloomberg one better in a fight over garbage facility siting here at the OEM building in Brooklyn, where the mayor is urging state lawmakers to approve a citywide garbage plan that includes using a state park in Manhattan as one of the trash-processing locations.

"The mayor has said this is a city issue -- to me, it's also a civil rights issue," said Sharpton. "It seems to me ironic, if not pathetic," he continued, that some liberal lawmakers are opposing the plan.

Representative Charlie Rangel, who spoke immediately after Sharpton, added, "To get caught up in the politics of the day, the children really deserve better." Rangel also said somewhat pointedly that the "other side" -- lower Manhattan lawmakers including Assembly members Deborah Glick, Richard Gottfried and Linda Rosenthal -- isn't willing to share the real reason for their opposition publicly.

Charlie Rangel, who said he doesn't want to see the debate about Medicaid spending turn into a "food fight," seemed ready for one on Saturday in Long Island City, where he was awarded the the Kung Hwa Medal by the Korean government.

[Photo credit: Grace Meng.]

-- Azi Paybarah

Representative Charlie Rangel just called now to explain his strident and surprisingly personal objections to Eliot Spitzer's health care spending plan, which included an assertion that the governor has an anger problem.

In a brief interview with Rangel just now, he said, "We're going to have to clear the air if we're going to operate as professionals. Period. No further comment."

He went on to say that the whole debate is "very unpleasant for me," and "we're not going to be distracted by television ads."

The conversation also included this fun exchange:

CR: So, I don't want to get any further involved. I will be getting further involved, but not where you're taking me.

AP: I'm not trying to take you anywhere.

CR: Well you should, if you're a professional reporter...

The full transcript is after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

After Rep. Charlie Rangel reportedly called Eliot Spitzer's budget "disastrous," a spokeswoman for Spitzer emailed this response:

"The Governor's budget is good for the people of New York and New York City who will benefit from an historic investments in education and a move to patient centered health care. No amount of distortive rhetoric or advertising will cause the Governor to back down from the core reforms and necessary reality check embodied in this budget."

-- Azi Paybarah

Charlie Rangel, who once sarcastically called Eliot Spitzer "the smartest man in the world," said that Spitzer's health care spending plans would be "disastrous," the AP reports.

Rangel attended a business breakfast last week at which Spitzer blasted the health care industry, but these are his first comments on the plan.

-- Azi Paybarah

Later today, Representative Joe Crowley of Queens will be reappointed as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Business Council, the fund-raising arm that reaches into the deep pockets of business leaders nationwide.

Crowley's fund-raising prowess was cited in the recent past by Charlie Rangel earlier as a reason to give him a seat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

It seems he still has the touch.

UPDATE: Crowley will also perform with his Bruce Springsteen tribute band in DC tonight. Details after the jump.  read more »

-- Azi Paybarah

Saturday Starting at 10 a.m. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion will give veterans info about various services available to them, at the Bronx County Courthouse.

At 6:30 p.m., the National Book Critics Circle will announce their award finalists, at the Housing Works Used Book Cafe.

At 7 p.m., a taped interview of Hillary Clinton discussing her trip to Iraq and Afghanistan will air on CNN.

Sunday At 9 a.m., Charlie Rangel will be honored at a breakfast at the Center for Jewish History at West 16th Street

At 2 p.m., Hillary and others discuss expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, on 10th Avenue

At 3 p.m., Lt. Governor David Paterson will deliver the keynote speech at Newark Mayor Cory Booker's MLK celebration, in Newark.

Monday At 10 a.m. at Ground Zero, Chuck Schumer, Hillary, and Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerry Nadler and Vito Fossella and first responders attending Tuesday's State of the Union speech call for more federal funding to monitor and treat 9/11health problems.

At 12:30, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and others kickoff efforts to increase food stamp participation among immigrant communities, at the Queens Museum of Art.

And Bill Clinton hosts a book party for former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe.

-- Azi Paybarah

Mike Bloomberg, jokingly I think, just told the audience at the National Action Network's Martin Luther King Day event that his personal choice for president in 2008, standing on stage with him right now, is Charlie Rangel.

Bloomberg also said that he's been known to change his mind.

-- Azi Paybarah

Technically, the Democrats can end America’s presence in Iraq.    read more »

Jason Horowitz writes about the efforts of Washington Democrats to assert themselves on Iraq without handing the Republicans a political gift. As Charlie Rangel put it:

"The President will say we're in business with Osama bin Laden. Anytime, politically, you have to explain what you are saying, you have a problem. And so if I am there saying, 'Cut the funds for Iraq and the war in Iraq,' then someone is going to say, 'You are taking away rifles.'"

Joe Conason thinks the Democrats ought to cut funding for the war anyway.

Steve Kornacki explains the political perils of the McCain Doctrine.

And John Koblin writes, from amid the steaming wreckage in Foxborough, about the feel-good season of the New York Jets.

-- Josh Benson

Picking a new comptroller is dividing Democrats in Albany.

Foreign policy questions are dividing Democrats who are running for president.

Chuck Schumer thinks domestic issues will drive the agenda in 2008.

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants Mike Michael Bloomberg to run.

Charlie Rangel encouraged Barack Obama to run.

Christine Quinn is apparently gearing up for a mayoral run by bringing aboard Hilary Keller, a key fundraiser for Eliot Spitzer.

And Bloomberg told the Financial Times "those who worked their way up the legislative branch of government have absolutely no skills to do the job" of mayor.

-- Azi Paybarah

So now that the Democrats have won control of Congress, what should they do about the war in Iraq?  read more »

So now that the Democrats have won control of Congress, what should they do about the war in Iraq?  read more » <