Gothamist: Congressman Charles Rangel and His Four Rent-Stabilized Apartments

Bottomless Chips

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:51:29 -0500

Many economists and experts say oil speculation has added as much as $60 per barrel to the price of crude. MarketWatch had an article saying that only today. So oil would still be $100-120 a barrel. Like I implied, it's a problem, but it's not the root of the problem. The price of oil has stayed flat against gold over the past 25 years. That should be the only fact you need to understand that the devaluation of our dollar is why gas and oil is so costly.

kcuttsjr

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:04:16 -0500

I extracted some highlights from the press conference and uploaded to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvGBqylObUM

NannyState

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:20:17 -0500

"Where's Al Sharpton?" Unit 16P.

west side Michael

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:39:02 -0500

We actually need more rent controls in NYC. Hello! is anyone left in this city to work in hospitals,schools,super markets,Apple stores Subways,buses,post offices,restaurants,drugstores beer delivery,Workmans compensation,Fire department Who cannot afford market rate nor have money to purchase a luxury condo for 1-3 million dollars. Only people to complain about RS & RC are those paying the banks to feed their purchase of condo airspace. Our Government just increased our debt 60% today with a 5 trillion dollar scandal related to the sub-prime & Mortgage Fannie Mae's etc. Now that's news. The NYT should have disclosure that the company that governs the paper has huge real estate holdings in NYC aside from the ne ugly NYT building.Let's be fair. Legally, Rangel who reminds me of the old(marcel) school Harlem Politico's needs a lawyer to straighten things out for his family.

Spiritof76

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:16:34 -0500

Oil speculation isn't the real root of why gas costs more in dollars Many economists and experts say oil speculation has added as much as $60 per barrel to the price of crude. MarketWatch had an article saying that only today.

Rfive

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:56:17 -0500

Leave ole cholly alone. He represents us! We don't want our wayz and meanz chair livin in some ghetto digs! We want him livin' and drivin' in STYLE!!! $700 month Caddy? Why not a LEXUS!!

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:03:43 -0500

Regulating oil speculation wouldn't be a bad thing. Ask any truck driver or anyone who's had to pay more for everything because of the price of diesel. Oil speculation isn't the real root of why gas costs more in dollars. The price is rising because our dollar is worth less, so it requires more dollars to buy oil. The consumer is hurt most, though, because the Average Joe doesn't have his salary adjusted anywhere close to the annualized inflation rate. So their salary and wages stay flat while oil against the dollar continues to cost more and more. This is part of the reason why Gisele and Jay-Z want to get paid in the Euros. It's still a paper currency, though.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:00:05 -0500

Wall Street is currently begging the US government to regulate the mortgage and banking industry. And the government is screwed either way it turns. I read newspapers; they report the facts but not economics. Wall Street doesn't want to face a prolonged bear market, so of course they want the government to bail out the lenders and the borrowers. But is that really best for us? I agree that the government is screwed either way. They can either bail out whatever industry is the flavor of the month with borrowed money from China, Japan, and Europe, or they can let things fail and take the hard medicine that we really need. Whether you want to face the pain now, or more pain later is the issue.

WorksInDUMBO

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:27:46 -0500

He also leases a $700/month Cadillac on the taxpayer's dime. And I don't agree that he is SMARTER than the rest of us--he is just PRIVILEGED.

dbc

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:19:20 -0500

He gave a rebuttal press conference this morning--details are at: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/rangel-defends-use-of-rent-stabilized-apartments/

heycarrieann

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:01:28 -0500

This is just another abuse in the loooong line of abuses that this bum and the rest like him are allowed to get away with. He has the nerve to have FOUR below market rent apartments, while many of his constituents(remember them?)are struggling in these tough economic times. No politician should be given any allowances for living expenses, transportation, etc. They make enough money to pay for their own and that of their families. It's time for Charles to put up, pay up, do what you were voted in to do, or get out...better yet people, vote him out.

Spiritof76

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:57:59 -0500

Like oil? Like water? Like health care? Um, yes. Price controls on all of those would be horrific. Um, isn't the price of tap water regulated by the city? Regulating oil speculation wouldn't be a bad thing. Ask any truck driver or anyone who's had to pay more for everything because of the price of diesel. Rangel needs to be under an ethics investigation. That, or some kind of impeachment.

sinisterteashop

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:36:10 -0500

The both are pieces of regulation in the private marketplace over private property. Any attempt to put price ceilings on a good, which is what RS and RC are, are anathema to me. They are about regulation. You're cherry picking from your own quote. Do you read the newspaper? Wall Street is currently begging the US government to regulate the mortgage and banking industry. And the government is screwed either way it turns. If it continues to pick up the debts of these collapsing giants who failed to self-regulate it will continue to bankrupt the US government. If they don't pick up the debts it will continue to destroy the US economy.

Dejola

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:18:15 -0500

While we're doing away with rent control let's do away also with all these thousands of special parking permits and placards that those with money and influence are able to get. Even the ones for public officials. Let them struggle like the rest of us to find parking, let them feel our pain. Maybe then those with legislative powers will be motivated to do something about parking in the city. The vast majority of these permits are issued for bullshit reasons, are not necessary, and are merely perks for people with connections.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:16:35 -0500

Like Fannie May and Freddie Mac? Like Bear Stearns? Apples and oranges. The mortgage lenders and i-banks fell apart because of a debased currency through an easy monetary policy. That has nothing to do with price controls.

sinisterteashop

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:15:05 -0500

Any attempt to put price ceilings on a good, which is what RS and RC are, are anathema to me. Like Fannie May and Freddie Mac? Like Bear Stearns?

handsomedevil

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:13:18 -0500

I don't care about Charlie Rangel - like others have said, it's common knowledge that wealthy people have always abused the rent regs, and being selfish is apparently the New York way of life. (Seriously, has anyone *ever* moved out of a rent-stabilized apartment because they felt they didn't deserve it?) This should be a story about the lunacy of rent stabilization with no means test. The bottom line should be that if you make six figures, you pay market rates.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:11:37 -0500

Like oil? Like water? Like health care? Um, yes. Price controls on all of those would be horrific.

kissel

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:10:47 -0500

ny democrats are the absolute worst. they make the crap republicans look fantastic. they know they will always get voted back in in this city and don't give a damn. they have all their constituents on the public hand out (payoff) for their votes. the whole lot of them need to be thrown out. a friend of mine who was lucky enough to inherit a fairly crappy 1 bedroom apartment pays about 700 bucks a month in property tax alone on an apt that is about 500 sq ft -- now i fully understand why rents are so high. throw in the maintenance charges and other bills and a market rate 1 bedroom in the city can't ever possibly rent for less than 2k. meanwhile these idiot politicians who raise these taxes constantly are basically scamming the system intended to help the poor. i am seriously outraged and we find out more and more of these scum are gaming the system.

dbc

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:55:03 -0500

The NY Times has a picture of the interior of Rangel's apartment. My 1-bedroom rent-stabilized apartment would practically fit in his foyer.

sinisterteashop

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:53:42 -0500

Any attempt to put price ceilings on a good, which is what RS and RC are, are anathema to me. Like oil? Like water? Like health care?

Steven

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:51:21 -0500

What else is new with politicians. Most of them only care about themselves and their wealth.

Armchair_warrior

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:50:42 -0500

get rid of all the current rent laws.

Dejola

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:43:05 -0500

Come, come. Why should anyone be surprised at this. Charlie Rangel is smart. Smart people make more money than less smart people and know better how to game all kinds of systems, and have more stuff than the rest of us poor unfortunate souls. That's the way it is, that's the way it has always been, and that's the way it will always be. Most everyone would do the same thing that Rangel is doing given the opportunity. And he was right when he said, "Why should I help you to embarrass me?" Look at the Ikea commercial currently running on TV. A woman shopper gets the impression that Ikea is inadvertently selling her an item at a cost lower than it should be. Does she alert the cashier. Of course not. She quickly leaves the store and, in the safety and privacy of her husband-driven car, exclaims, "Yes!" with the appropriate fist and arm gesture that we all recognize signifying that she pulled one over on Ikea. Charlie Rangel is no more honest or corrupt than the rest of us. He's just unfortunate that his "gaming" has been exposed for all the world to see, much to his chagrin and embarrassment. And to expect our smart politicians, the ones we ask to solve all our governmental problems, to live like monks is quite unrealistic.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:37:31 -0500

is anathema to me. I hate the non-edit feature.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:36:50 -0500

fyi, rent control and rent stabilization are not the same thing. The both are pieces of regulation in the private marketplace over private property. Any attempt to put price ceilings on a good, which is what RS and RC are, are anathema to me.

smacky

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:34:40 -0500

Say GOODNIGHT jerky. You got caught. Now let's see you pay.

fugothamist

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:06:02 -0500

but both RS and RC suck and need to be eliminated

moocow

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:58:06 -0500

fyi, rent control and rent stabilization are not the same thing.

fugothamist

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:56:50 -0500

ny democRATS

WorksInDUMBO

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:51:33 -0500

I cannot begin to tell you how angry this makes me. In a city where common hard-working folks pay exorbitant prices for a tiny, crappy apartment, this guy has the ARROGANCE to use his wealth and influence to take advantage of the system? He should go to jail. (actually, what IS the punishment for something like this?)

sinisterteashop

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:48:35 -0500

New York Times doing what it does best working overtime to end rent control and glamorize condos... while offering no coverage of the rising commercial vacancy rates and homelessness in the city.

bobchadwick

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:43:26 -0500

the cockroaches that live in my building are getting a pretty sweet deal. i don't see why things should be an different for this one.

esquared

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:33:15 -0500

And he will get re-elected and re-elected over and over again. Just like DC's Marion Barry.

jenspellnogood

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:30:06 -0500

he actually claimed in another interview that this doesn't affect his constituents. this guy has always been a filthy liar and a thief, hillary's best friend.

cucarachita

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:21:41 -0500

He's not the only one, kids. Lots of super rich people are living in supercheap apartments. Still, four is a lotta cheap apartments. That's greedy.

Art Stewel

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:11:38 -0500

This story should develop. I believe under RSL, a unit must be a primary residence. A person can have only one primary residence. I think it would be up to a landlord to move against the tenant in housing court and assert a unit was not a primary residence and therefore evict the tenant from that unit. So here, apparently the landlord knows, as does Rangel, that every unit, except for one, is not a primary residence. They may have acted in concert to evade the law. Tsk, tsk, Congressman.

Bottomless Chips

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:08:19 -0500

Get rid of rent control---the worst policy in the city.

twakum

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:52:31 -0500

Throw his ass out. Doesn't he make more than the income threshold anyway?

whantmoore

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:51:51 -0500

I hate that I have to live in a crappy apt and this guy has more than one rent controlled apt. I make to much for low income housing but to little for a nice apt. The only thing I do like is when the report called and he said why should I help you embarrass me thats classic

interlard

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:47:26 -0500

"Slug". Brilliant, #1!

JenChungsBra

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:43:29 -0500

Everyone who's surprised by this raise their hand.

other_islander

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:40:55 -0500

What a dick.

HowBoutDemCowboys

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:40:07 -0500

Of course he's a fraud... he's a politician.

jibbly

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:32:03 -0500

Corrupt slug, he can posture and preen all he wants about how he serves his constituents and community, we now know he's a fraud. Ugh.