Pearls of Wisdom

At the end of the Cretaceous Period, 65,000 years ago, scientists theorize that the dinosaurs died out, most probably as a result of a giant asteroid crashing to earth in the Yucatan peninsula. The reelection of Charlie Rangel appears to dispel the theory that dinosaurs are extinct. 

Last week, Charles Rangel, Congressman from Harlem, was reelected with an overwhelming majority of votes. His opponent, State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, even gave a concession speech. 

Then, lo and behold, it is reported on the news that the Board of Elections “magically” seems to have had some problems counting the votes properly. Rangel’s substantial margin of victory has now been reduced to a handful of votes, with some absentee votes still to be counted. The election results are now being challenged in State Supreme Court by Mr. Espaillat’s campaign, and rightfully so.   

Mr. Rangel is 82 years old, with some serious health problems. For almost two months in 2012, Charlie Rangel had been dealing with what his staff describes as a back injury that led to "multiple hospitalizations" and his longest absence from Congress in over a decade. He was physically unable to campaign actively due to his health problems and was rarely seen in his district, even though he was facing several challengers in his latest re-election bid. As a result of his disability, at a candidates’ debate shortly before election day, Councilwoman Inez Dickens spoke on his behalf. One might note that Ms. Dickens, reportedly a longtime friend of Rangel's, and a real estate developer in NYC, was cited in March 2011 for numerous building violations. www.observer.com 4-5-12 www.nydailynews.com 3-21-11

In 2008, allegations were raised regarding Mr. Rangel’s improprieties as a Harlem Congressman. While aggressive evictions were reducing the number of rent-stabilized apartments in New York, Representative Charles B. Rangel was enjoying four of them, including three adjacent units on the 16th floor overlooking Upper Manhattan in a building owned by one of New York’s premier real estate developers.

Mr. Rangel’s net worth had been estimated at between $566,000 and $1.2 million, according to Congressional disclosure records. However, his total rent was $3,894 a month in 2007 for the four apartments at Lenox Terrace, a 1,700-unit luxury development of six towers, with doormen, that is described in real estate publications as Harlem’s most prestigious address. To add insult to injury, Mr. Rangel was using the fourth apartment, six floors below his other three, as a campaign office, totally ignoring state and city regulations which prohibit rent-stabilized apartments to be used as other than a primary residence. Had he been paying market rate for similar apartments in the same building, he would have been paying an estimated $7,465 to $8,125 a month, as listed on the website of the Olnick Organization, the reported owners of the property.

Also in 2008, government watchdog groups criticized Mr. Rangel for pushing through a $1.9 million earmark to build the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York, which is to include an office for Mr. Rangel and a presidential-style library for his official papers. The congressman and the college said that by lending his name to the project, he had helped the college raise millions from private donors. It is fairly certain that this will add to his legacy, which is clearly very important to him. It kind of reminds us of Joe Paterno doesn’t it? Legacy before integrity! www.nytimes.com 07-11-08

In November 2011, a House ethics panel convicted Rep. Charles B. Rangel of all but one of the 13 ethics violations he faced, for offenses ranging from accepting a rent-stabilized apartment from a Manhattan developer, to failing to pay taxes on rental income from his Dominican villa, to raising charitable donations from companies and corporate executives who had business before the committee he led.  Prior to these charges, Mr. Rangel had been the very powerful head of the House Ways and Means Committee, the House committee charged with writing tax legislation and bills affecting Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. www.nytimes.com 11-16-2011

Prior to the recent election, former city Comptroller and 2012 mayoral hopeful, Bill Thompson endorsed Rangel, saying, "This is a man whose track record is simply unmatched — his contributions to our city, state and country are too numerous to count."

“His extensive experience, relationships, knowledge and complete and full understanding of how Congress works [make] him distinctive among all the others," Thompson continued. "That’s what we need in Congress right now — someone who is capable of delivering tangible results and has the know-how to get it done.” www.nydailynews.com, 6/12/12.

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York followed Mr. Thompson with his endorsement, citing Mr. Rangel’s decades of service in Washington and his seniority. 

“He has seniority ... he knows the system," Cuomo said. www.nytimes.com, 6/22/12

Charlie Rangel is the classic insider, “who knows how to get things done.” He is 82 years old and has been a Congressman since 1972, serving for 21 terms.   Just 19 people in history have served longer in the U.S. House of Representatives than Charles Rangel! Most of them left voluntarily or died in office! But Charlie Rangel has no intention of going anywhere, not if he has anything to say about it! Go.Bloomberg.com 6/26/12

Thompson and Cuomo want a powerful friend and a fellow Democrat in Congress. It doesn’t even phase them that Rangel was convicted by an ethics panel in 2011 or that he abused his power in Harlem to procure four rent controlled apartments. “Business as usual” is the byword. Boss Tweed would be proud. 

Charlie Rangel is a “dinosaur,” and the people in Harlem should be ashamed of supporting his candidacy. Charlie Rangel is the “poster boy” for term limits. Yes, he has done some good things for Harlem but only while expanding his power base and enriching himself at public expense. Let’s hope that by some miracle the election results are overturned and that this dinosaur will finally become extinct.